Actual Sunlight Review

Whilst taking a 3 hour trip down to Cornwall a few weeks ago, I decided I needed a game to play to pass the time. One of the game I picked up for £4.49 was a game I had seen mentioned by Greg Miller of Kinda Funny fame. This game was Actual Sunlight, a game that was said to be completely different to anything most people had played before...a game that dealt with the issues of a man suffering from depression and considering suicide. 

The Good.

Actual Sunlight does have an emotional element. The storyline of the game really does throw you back as your character considers death whilst being unhappy with his life. It's a shocking world to be thrown into.

For a short game as well, it really does take you deep into the characters mind. The game also show effectively what the people around him think with some thinking that your character, Evan Winters is just really a Scrooge and kinda lacks the emotion to be able to be depressed. Others may like him but see him as a guy they can never be close too and some may be those that have made him feel how he is today. The game really shows a day in his life at two spots, one where he's merely depressed and having thoughts and one a while later where shit hits the fan. 

The final positive is for anybody who likes their trophies, the list is easy. 

The Bad.

Okay so if you're somebody who enjoys high graphic games with action this is clearly not for you. Also if you want to hear the characters talk or for some reason can't read (if so why are you looking at this review!?) the game isn't for you. Dialogue is all set out like one of your old Gameboy Games, which is really where the gameplay seems to be in this game. To be fair, it was made to discuss issues with depression, not to be beautiful and seemless.

The game also really does leave some open questions about some of the characters you meet on the way. That said, again, it was focusing on one guys depression.

Would I Recommend it

If you are a gamer who likes something different I would advise this game, possibly a game for if you've been depressed or you're trying to understand depression. It doesn't really gloss over the edges of the issue and I'm pretty sure the games maker was taking the stance of if it makes one person understand it's a success. 

If you're only interested in the next big game, with beautiful graphics or want to find an immersive world on your vita, you don't want to read a lot of dialogue or you just are impatient, then this may not be the game for you.

This said, once you're into the game, you'll finish it in that one go. It's only a couple of hours and you never know, it may come in useful. 

Actual Sunlight is available for PS vita and PC via Steam.