being your own worst enemy | The Other Side
2ain't that a female dog
REVIEW
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Life in dystopian worlds often follows a cruel formula. Bleakness, threatening forces that be and a cost to your freedoms are themes usually present in these scenarios and "The Other Side" does not shy away from them.
TOS presents a world where humanity is imprisoned in a metallic structure built millennia ago where it hides away and stigmatizes the notion of the outside world. Despite it being for everyone's safety, it is ushered through force and fear if the thought is brought up, and even more deadly if a glimpse of it is exposed. The protagonist is the only survivor out of 100's that were exposed to it and quickly eliminated to "keep the peace". In an effort to find out the truth, you operate a rudimentary drill assisted by a computer to drill open part of the structure's wall to find out the truth once and for all.
Gameplay is the crux of the game's presentation as you have to manually keep the drill in working condition with the computer handling the automation of the drill as well as analyzing and fixing any anomalies that occur. The game establishes "no hand holding" as you have to infer and make use of what's around you in the environment but thankfully, common sense and basic logic allows for quick familiarization. An emphasis of time and speed builds up tension at the later half of the game too as you're not given much time to finish the drilling process so panic and tardiness will be unforgiving. No hand holding is right.
I really like the climax of this game's plotline as I was certainly not expecting it to go that way. Initially, everything seemed quaint and upkept, that the outside world (at least nature) was still functional and habitable. But as the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat as there was a reason why humanity felt there was no choice but to enclose themselves off. Being met by some alien creature once you escape that is most likely hostile would explain a thing or two. Human civilization was threatened as these foreign entities destroyed what used to be and now inhabit the planet's surface looking for fresh prey (or for other nefarious purposes). Perhaps the pursuit for the truth and possibly dying to it would be more preferable than living a life of authoritarian imprisonment; which is the lesser of two evils?
Like I mentioned at the end, it seems so cliché that humanity becomes a terrible version of itself by working through fear and cruelty just to survive as opposed to being transparent about the reality outside. Maybe in a sick way it works as the truth would unravel everything built but having faith in people making the right choices seems a lot preferable and optimistic than the classic oppression and tyranny approach.
A very neat game, making use of a timeless trope and adding unique differences to enhance the experience as I had very little expectations which gives way to pleasant surprises. I'm glad I played this game as it's a reminder there are many diamonds in the rough, all one needs to do is simply look for them.