DeVuego

Grotto es verdaderamente un juego único. Es evidente que su premisa, esa de convertirnos en el adivino que encauza la vida de una tribu a través de leer las estrellas, es de las más atractivas y originales que hemos visto en los últimos tiempos; pero es que, además, está llevada a cabo con un gusto impecable tanto en lo que respecta a su apartado artístico, destacando tanto gráficos como sonido, como en la escritura de los delicados temas que trata y en la construcción de de sus personajes. En cuanto a la fórmula narrativa sí encontramos algunos escollos, como cierta sensación de repetitividad, quizás azuzada por la manera tan directa que tiene de hacernos tomar decisiones fundamentales constantemente, pero en general es un juego que se puede disfrutar bastante gracias a que plantea una atmósfera mística en la que es fácil adentrarse para interpretar el papel de este augur. Es una obra imperdible si te interesa saber hasta dónde llegan y cómo se traspasan las lindes narrativas del videojuego, lástima que de momento no nos llegue traducido al castellano.

Un viaje astral sin moverse de tu cueva, tocando temas sensibles y de sociedad usando el chamanismo como trampolín para conversar y conocer a una tribu de animales antropomórficos, ayudándoles a lidiar con su problemas hasta llegar a puntos que escaparían de nuestras manos.

Grotto is an interesting experience that might lose many of its players around halfway through the first play-through. The idea of telling a small number of characters what to do, from the small to the big questions, is an intriguing one. The universe that the developers create is intriguing. I like the way the game moves towards a deeper plot and begins to show the player something deeper than the first few interactions.

“Songs, traditions and rituals are things that cannot be seen, but they give meaning to other things” you’ll be informed by the village -or “The Place We Live In”- bard-like creature, dressed in sheep-like attire and wearing creepy masks. Grotto talks about words, and does so in a really unique way, excellent in its writing, really atmospheric and incredibly interesting. If you can look past the simplistic gameplay and some not fully realized mechanics, and if you find the core concept alluring, play Grotto. You’ll struggle to find another game like this one.

Whilst there are restrictions in terms of the gameplay and location, Grotto is one of those most unique of indie experiences. It’s full of strange world building and weird language, but that does mean it comes across as a great experiment, one looking to utilise communication and diviners.

What keeps the game engaging over the course of a playthrough is the depth of the storytelling on display, and how strangely removed you are from your interactions. I don’t think I’ve ever played a game where the consequences of my actions were entirely related to me secondhand. 

For a game limited to a single location, Grotto does a surprising amount with it. The constant visitation of the cave gives you plenty of interaction and the use of the constellations can feel relatively novel. The writing works well to weave these little decisions together and give off the impression of a larger narrative. It does settle into a repetitive loop but I was still determined to see it through. It's unique enough to recommend and I do find it a memorable and atmospheric experience.

Grotto non è un'avventura per tutti. È più un'esperienza visiva che un videogioco, dato che le immagini e i suoni raccontano più delle azioni e delle parole. Quindi, abbiamo un titolo da un lato spettacolare a livello artistico e, dall'altro, castrato a livello videoludico. È la rappresentazione vivente del dilemma che affligge questo medium: a quale aspetto va dato maggiore peso? La risposta è diversa per ognuno di noi. C'è chi darà più importanza al lato tecnico, chi a quello artistico e chi a quello ludico. Noi, in questo caso, non ci sentiamo di bocciare un progetto come Grotto, ma nemmeno di lodarlo. È uno di quei titoli ai quali un giorno guarderemo con affetto, ricordandoci più la sua atmosfera generale che non il singolo difetto.

Grotto si rivela subito e si conferma fino alla fine un esercizio di stile sul come approcciare il linguaggio e di quanto le incomprensioni comunicative tra le persone possano portare a conseguenze spiacevoli. Nei panni di un indovino, ci troviamo ad avere per mano il destino e le richieste di un’intera comunità, destreggiandoci tra diverse costellazioni di stelle per trovare le risposte che stanno cercando, consapevoli di non poter accontentare chiunque. 

Grotto is certainly a unique narrative experience, but one that may not be appreciated by all audiences. Communicating through constellations creates a particularly refreshing experience of branching conversational paths, but one that is ultimately housed within a slow and repetitive gameplay loop.

 When a game provokes these kinds of feelings in me, I don't mind so much if the choices I'm making are actually a little bit fake. Grotto stands on its own as an engaging story about the way we communicate with others and how their meaning can be polluted and morphed over time, and I reckon fans of such things will likely enjoy it even if the game-y aspects of it feel a little undercooked. If it's a meaningful, branching narrative you're after, though, then you'll be better off finding a different rabbit hole to hunker down in than Brainwash Gang's Grotto.

Grotto can be best recommended to those who can look past simple, repetitive gameplay in service of a thick and emotional story. All others should look elsewhere.

Grotto no volará la cabeza con unas mecánicas jugables profundas o innovadoras, pero el juego es consciente de ello. Y si eres capaz de darle el poco tiempo que te pide, recibirás una historia cruda y profunda con giros muy interesantes y dilemas morales que sorprenden por muchos motivos. Grotto es una de esas historias que te hace meditar y que te deja un sabor de boca único. Con unos personajes cuya personalidad y carisma sorprende, y a los que quieres conocer y ayudar (o no).