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Writer's pictureGuilherme Ribeiro

Review: The Longing



Patience is a virtue. Take it easy.



THE GAME


The Longing is an idle game developed by Studio Seufz and distributed by Application Systems Heidelberg. Living as the king's loyal Shade, we are ordered to wait for him to wake up, as his powers are weakened. This is how the story of the loyal and lonely Shade begins, who will have to wait for his master's awakening to have some company in the dark and morbid caves of the underground kingdom. Explore the tunnels, draw pictures, play music, read books, in short, do whatever you can to make time pass faster.


Wait for the king to wake up from his deep sleep.
Wait for the king to wake up from his deep sleep.

MY IMPRESSIONS


First of all, keep in mind that it is a game that will take time and will be at a very slow pace. It will be a different experience than what you have with other games. Depending on the type of player you are, within the first few minutes of playing, you will want to stop. More than a simple game, The Longing offers you an experience and you must be open to it to enjoy it. The game is in Portuguese-Brazil, which makes it easier to understand some of the directions and tips given by Shade.


No, you don't have to wait exactly 400 days of your life to finish the game, although it is still a valid way to reach one of the endings. Every activity in the game speeds up time, as if you were wasting it and not even realizing it. There are still many mysteries to be explored, albeit slowly, as you will have to wait a certain amount of time to access places or obtain items, for example.


Even if you don't want to do anything, time passes, even without the game open. It is an experience that tells about loneliness, anxiety, disappointment, discovery, in short, there is a lot to reflect on with The Longing. Play at whatever pace you prefer, but know that every cause has a consequence.


This will be your home for the next 400 days.
This will be your home for the next 400 days.

ACHIEVEMENTS


Achievements are basically about exploration, which is the key point of the game. Acquiring items, finding new places and interacting with objects are some of the examples that unlocked achievements. Just like the whole game, be patient and explore little by little. Pay attention to what the Shade says, as they are valuable tips. It's a game in which you'll have to work hard to get 100% of the achievements.


There is a lot to explore in the caves.
There is a lot to explore in the caves.

CONCLUSION


At the time of this review, I still haven't finished the game. I still have a lot to explore and a lot to look forward to. It's not an easy game to digest, as it has its own rhythm. It was made to be the vision of its creators, with no shortcuts, no easy way. And they focus a lot on this point, on what their vision of the game is and what they want to convey.


The Longing won't appeal to all types of players, but those who embark on this adventure will have a unique experience. This type of game is an unusual and risky form, but welcome, as video games are also art and we need different visions, even if they don't appeal to all audiences.


SCORE: 7.5/10

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