Emotional story-driven adventure game
Somerville is a premium adventure game for PC from developer Jumpship. In this story-driven title, players take on the role of a father who sets out on a journey in order to find his family in the wake of a catastrophe that has hit the world.
Similar to Inside and Limbo, Somerville is a side-scrolling adventure that boasts hand-drawn art and a dark and atmospheric presentation. As players search for their loved ones, they will slowly unravel a sinister sci-fi-themed plot that threatens the safety of their family and the very existence of the world as they know it.
Invaded and torn apart
The first thing you need to know about Somerville is that it’s devoid of dialogue. Instead, it relies solely on its visuals to convey its narrative. It follows the story of a happy family who was torn apart after the world was invaded by aliens. Separated and alone, you’ll embark on a journey to reunite with your loved ones and witness the aftermath of the invasion.
Explore a barren, post-apocalyptic world and meet characters who put up resistance during the invasion. Along the way, you mysteriously gain the power to put out a light beam that is able to melt alien structures. This ability will help you overcome various challenges and solve puzzles revolving around otherworldly technology and debris left behind during all of the battles that took place.
You’ll also have plenty of encounters with hostile characters. Assess the situation, and decide the best course of action to take. You’ll also get to unlock multiple endings depending on your actions and which path to take. However, despite all that, the game still felt a bit short and could have used a longer runtime to flesh out the experience a bit better.
A moving tale
Overall, if you’re a fan of story-driven games, Somerville is an adventure that is definitely worth experiencing. The art style is beautiful, plenty of characters to meet and interact with, and the post-apocalyptic world draws you in. What’s more, the story itself is gripping, yet grounded and relatable. The unique superpower aspect is a nice touch, but the narrative is really where it’s at.
