Developer: PolyAmorous Games
Publisher: All in! Games
ReleaseDate: 24th March 2021
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Steam
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5 via backwards compatibility
I have always been a fan of alternate history. I find it really interesting to see how things could have turned out had key moments in time gone differently. This is the premise behind the new game from PolyAmorous and All In! Games. However, this isn’t a World War II first-person shooter though. Instead, we get something slower-paced, calculated and thought out. This is the story of Szymon, a 12-year-old boy who is on a journey of discovery.
The gameplay in Paradise Lost is very simple. Walk, interact with items and fleshing out the story with the ample amounts of reading material is how you will spend the bulk of your time here. That isn’t a bad thing though. The world that PolyAmorous has created is deep and letting the player advance through it at their own pace, unhindered by combat, feels right. It would however benefit from a faster walking pace, as it can feel like an eternity getting from point A to B.
The story that has been crafted here is fascinating. Young Szymon is on the hunt for a man seen in a picture that his late mother cherished. Making this journey harder is that Poland remains in the aftermath of deadly radiation and is still inaccessible to the rest of the world. We start right as Szymon enters a German bunker, where he believes the photo was taken.
What starts off as a huge train yard quickly transforms into a high-end shopping centre, beautiful living quarters and more. The architecture in the game is a sight to see and it makes exploring the world PolyAmorous has created a real treat. Please beware that there are serious themes mentioned throughout and referred to that may cause some offence, but they fit with the real-life conflict the studio is trying to convey.
The further into the bunker you venture the more the mystery unravels. I don’t want to give too much away as the narrative really is the bread and butter of Paradise Lost, but while strong voice acting does a great job in feeding you the necessary plot points, you should seek out and read as many of the notes and letters scattered around as you can. Each paragraph plays its part in fleshing out the story and building a more intriguing and believable world.
In the ways you communicate, Paradise Lost can at times remind you of Firewatch, albeit with a much different setting and aesthetic. Likewise, the underground setting and the eerie, mysterious story is at times reminiscent of Bioshock. It is hard to tell if these two games truly were inspirations, but when you get vibes like that while playing you know you are on to a winner.
Movement speed aside the only other real negative is the trophy list. While I am not much of a trophy hunter, it is disappointing to see that in 2021 we are still getting games with no platinum trophy. This issue however is limited to PlayStation, with the Xbox version boasting the full 1000G. The trophy/achievements themselves are fairly straight forward, with the runtime clocking in around four hours.
Overall this is a game I would recommend if you like narrative-heavy experiences. There is very little in the way of gameplay and the movement speed is certainly frustrating at times. However, the mystery of the bunker is ever unfolding and the story is told to you at a steady pace that keeps you engaged throughout. In terms of walking simulators, this is one of my favourites to date.
-Terry 🦊