It is quite difficult to give an unambiguous assessment of this project. Even in Steam, reviews vary from โgood prologueโ to โvery coolโ. And I understand both sides. You canโt advise everyone to go through Backbone, because there is no guarantee that a person will appreciate it and understand it. I would like to pay attention to especially interesting details, the pluses of the project, and I will also try to answer the question of what Backbone is about, since such content is extremely small.
First glance. The main character.
โOh my god, this is a pixel disco elysium?"
That was my first thought when passing. Indeed, Backbone has similar features similar to Disco Elysium. I believe that the disc is more competently worked out in some aspects, but Backbone also has its own charm.
The main character in Backbone is the name of Howard Lotor, and he is a private detective. This is a raccoon with great ambitions, the desire to leave a mark in history, but, at the same time, working with minor matters. It is easy to guess that the world of the game is inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. I, as a player, did not push away at all, because I found in this, oddly enough, a certain meaning that I will mention later.
Howard Lotor – a well -registered and realistic character. It harmoniously combines professionalism, seriousness and sarcasm. The latter is generally a separate reason why I advise you to play. Govchik’s comments on what is happening simply perfectly describe the characterโs emotions and give The most objective assessment of what is happening.
A similar style of the narrative is very addictive. The hero is felt alive. And this, definitely, plus. For me, the existence of such a character is very important.
Dialogs
Backbone has a lot of text. But the authors were able to properly present him. I did not see the explanation from the creators, but, recalling the diskach, I will say: a similar arrangement of the dialogs window (that is, on the right side of the screen resembling a mobile phone screen) simplifies the perception of the text by the player. Dialogs look like a conventional correspondence.
Regarding the elections in dialogs, they do not particularly affect the development of the plot. Rather, for the perception of the shit player.
Atmosphere
What really deserves special attention! Very beautiful noir pixel visual in combination with jazz music cannot be forgotten. You cannot remain indifferent to this. I advise you to go through Backbone even just for the atmosphere.
Briefly about the plot
Backbone harmoniously flows from a classic https://spinmywincasino.uk/login/ detective into an action -packed thriller with a conspiracy of urban elites. True, this happens very rapidly, and you do not have time to notice how the game turns into some kind of sai-fi. Nevertheless, the intrigue kept me to the very end, and such a transition did not confuse me at all. After watching the first trailer, I was already ready for this. A good pace is set in the prolon. I should admit that I liked the plot turns, and I was in solidarity with the shit when I was surprising. Backbone, in my opinion, is a rather competent detective that can keep in suspense and intrigue.
Problems
Perhaps the main section in this article. And I will divide it into several points. Attention, spoilers! I advise you to read after passing, because the details of the plot are not explained.
Social stratification and politics.
I admit, I’m not a fan of analysis of such problems, because I believe that they have been chewed very many times and are not of much interest to me. In Backbone, they are fully revealed. The "blindness" of the elite and the insignificance of the life of ordinary citizens, the desire to strengthen power … I want to pay attention to the fact that in the universe of the game the highest layer of the population is non -ilya. Does it seem funny? Let it be believed that the monsters are rather smart animals, for me in the concept of the game they are the personification of the stupidity of the ruling class. And also the fact that people are the culprits of many problems: both in society and in the world as a whole.
Freedom
Both physical and psychological. Oddly enough, the city in which the entire action takes place is surrounded. But she is alone! And there are no titans outside. According to the plot there is a scorched earth, "void". In the epilogue you can see there ruins of once residential buildings. It is forbidden to walk outside the wall: it is believed that it is extremely dangerous. Residents of the city are forced to "cook in the boiler" injustice, inequality and cruelty. No one believes that life behind the wall is possible, but there are lucky ones who managed to successfully cross the border and gain freedom. Of course, there is a kind of metaphor here, which it was possible to find thanks to one book. Yes, these are the walls not only physical, but also internal, personal, which do not allow a person to move. Perhaps this is also a limited thought: people are used to living in this cruel society, and are not trying to go beyond it. Backbone shows that it is extremely difficult to overcome these walls, because the โboilerโ is merciless, but beyond is an unknown that frightens even more.
Small man (raccoon)
Backbone – a tragedy of a small personality in the world of deception. Howard finds out what he should not, and becomes a witness to a big conspiracy. At the request of the new partner, he agrees to investigate the case, thanks to which he can leave a mark in history. But whether it was really his goal initially? The dialogs clearly shows how Rene convinces Govchik to take risks for the sake of a great cause (which she needs more, for she is still uncertain in herself and wants to give others to understand that she and her labors are worthy of respect). However, Howard himself agrees, stepping over fear. The whole investigation falls on his shoulders, and he is forced to endanger his life for this great work. During the investigation, he goes extremely far, which leads to irreversible and unexpected consequences. Working on business, he tries to confront the conspiracy of the higher strata of society, but does not notice how he becomes a victim directly drawn and injured from him. Is knowledge always good? And can one small person withstand deception and cruelty in the world?
Name
Backbone – "Range". The one that animals have, and which the maid cuts at dinner representatives of high society. This is the "essence" to which Howard is trying to get to the bottom of. This is the "basis" of the entire local society with its social strata and inequality, cruelty. This is the "firmness of character" of the protagonist.
The main meaning
We are changing, but do not change anything.
It is this phrase of dialogs, as it seems to me that can explain the whole concept. When examining the laboratory, the authors intentionally draw the attention of the player to the skull. Human. In the world of anthropomorphic animals. As well as phrases that the โartifactโ was found outside the wall for a long time. The creators do not tell the player directly, but it can be assumed that people lived here before animals. They had exactly the same problems: social, economic, inequality, ecology, etc.D. You might also think that the very โartifactโ was the cause of anthropomorphic animals after burning. And what happened in the end? The population has changed, but the problems remained the same.
โMaybe we all deserved this fire?"
It is impossible not to say about the changes of Howard himself. The meeting with the "artifact" greatly transformed it both physically and psychologically. In the process of โunificationโ, he begins to ask questions about his place in the world and the meaning of existence. What is he? What makes him? Due to the artifact Howard has changed. Due to knowledge, Howard has changed. But whether he managed to change the world? Change the system of society and destroy that very cruelty and injustice?
โYou are not special. Not a hero. But the circumstances have developed so that you will have to reveal the most serious business in your practice.
There is no choice. You can’t change anything, but you can change yourself. For work, detective "
Yes, in recent scenes we can observe plans for the revolution. Rene, rather, will change some things in his worldview and join Clarissa, becoming a face of movement. But is there a guarantee that in the new world everything will be different? Or cruelty and deception will reappear in society? How to change, not just change?
Ending
Basically, it is skeptical and believe that after it a continuation must come out. However, the authors assure that the story is over. She is exactly what it should have been. I, honestly, is not an open end fan. But adhering to the existing content, I would say that the ending is the meeting of the hero with the cruelty of the world that "seizes him". Howard literally "touched" to all the cruelty of this society. He became another pawn, a witness to a large conspiracy.
The attempt of one small person with ambitions to save the world in the beginning seemed quite real. This is … a game. Good should defeat evil, and all honors should go to the player who was able to solve all the riddles and save society from such horror.
Unfortunately Kazualov, copyright projects occurred. Computer games can now be called art without hesitation. And it should ask questions, not give answers. And the player is not at all the navel of the Earth in the world of Backbone. Like a raccoon detective in a conspiracy of the ruling layers.