In games, I always seek interesting and unique things. I liked Crypt of the Necrodancer (2015) for mixing rhythm game mechanics and RPG gameplay in a roguelike package. I liked Chicory: A Colorful Tale (2021) for managing to become a unique Metroidvania Platformer by utilizing coloring mechanics and aesthetics to stand out. So now here I am, having experienced the uniqueness of Elsinore (2019), a fresh take on Hamlet, retold by way of time travel. Let’s review!
What’s it about? Elsinore has you controlling Ophelia, a minor character in the original Shakespearean play who is now elevated to the protagonist. You wake up, go through your day as you see Hamlet seemingly going mad, standing in your bedroom raving about seeing his father’s death. You soon discover that there is something deeper going on with the world, and as you talk with people trying to get a grasp on this strangeness, you find yourself yanked back in time, face to face with the mad Hamlet once more. You have to find out how to break out of this time loop before you yourself go mad…
STYLE (Gameplay, Graphics, Music)
The game’s art style reminds me of late 00’s/early 10’s point-and-click games like Machinarium (2011). You can navigate with WASD, arrow keys, or just with your mouse, clicking to where you intend to go. I played the game using only my mouse this way!
Clicking on NPC’s brings out options to either talk to them, follow them to places, or to exit the menu. Talking to the NPC’s gives you the option to talk to them about certain topics that you have also discovered. This allows you to gain more information about the world, that you can cross-reference with other NPC’s.
In the world, you sometimes get to see NPC’s talking to each other, denoted by a speech balloon with three dots. When you click it, the conversation between NPC’s will play. With some events, you get more knowledge of the world and its people, which you can then use to query other NPC’s about.
There are also some anti-frustration features. You can fast-forward time and restart the loop once you’ve progressed enough. If you need to go directly to a certain NPC, you can click on their portrait wherever they are on the map, and your character will run towards them. All your information is also stored in the in-game journal for your reference, and there is a primer on all the characters.
The gameplay itself is simple enough. I didn’t find it frustrating, and it served its purpose in delivering the story well enough.
The music is nice and easy to listen to. It’s not going to be that memorable, but it doesn’t have to be to deliver a cohesive experience.
The art is nice. The character portraits look good. I love the reinterpretations of characters like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The art style is very clean!
SUBSTANCE (Story, Characters, Impact)
It was my first time experiencing Hamlet properly. So it was very interesting playing this game and seeing the story beats. There seems to be some deviations with the source material, but the main story is still roughly the same. Nonetheless, I won’t talk about the original source material as much. I will say though that I liked this new retelling.
It talks themes of female solidarity, of race, of class, of fate, and of choice. I liked how it made these themes topical within the time of Hamlet. It added modern flavors to an old tale, which I find very cool!
With every loop, you find more information. And wielding this information, you can change your fate. It’s interesting to see the new loops unfold with the slight changes you make, showing the butterfly effect in action. It’s pretty amazing how the game keeps track of it too, from minor conversations to stumbling upon revelations. It’s a grand tale. Though, I do find it can be a bit of a slog at times. It’s a good thing you can speed up time!
I find that I can’t really talk much of this game without spoiling things. But I enjoyed the story very much. Though it does talk a fair bit about how you can’t really change your circumstance and you can only but work around it, it does still emphasize the importance of choice somewhat. You will find yourself asking: how will I make the perfect world for Ophelia? What are the optimal conditions needed to break out of the timeloop and get your golden ending? That journey is what makes Elsinore so interesting, the people you have to talk to, the crucial events you have to witness, and the consequences of your actions. It’s a fun ride.
VERDICT
I found Elsinore interesting. Very much gripping at times. Its twists and turns are exciting. The journey to getting to some exciting parts can be a bit of a slog, but it does make you feel that you really have to work to get your happy ending.
I liked it! I enjoyed the discussions it put forth. I recommend it!
Door Rates Elsinore: 4/5!
Sorry if I missed that conversation