In The Wreck, protagonist Juno experiences what can only be described as an incredibly difficult day. Her estranged mother is in the hospital and, what’s worse, she’s been unknowingly signed up as her mother’s lawyer to make decisions for her if anything bad happens. That would be a lot for anyone to process, but I can see firsthand how Juno is trying to digest this news, which is delivered by a resident nurse. With a window into Juno’s thoughts, I can see and hear her inner monologue as she reacts from moment to moment. Some interactive words appear, distinguished by their red color, and when I click on them, Juno elaborates on this train of thought. This allows me to dig deeper to find out more about her, but it can also open the way for more dialogue responses to bring up the conversation with the nurse.
Now faced with a difficult decision that she is far from ready to make, Juno decides there is nothing else to do. Everything is too much. It’s time to get back in your car and get away from this situation. But suddenly, he loses control of the steering wheel to avoid a deer on the road and swerves into a stone wall. The shock causes the car to spin. Personal items in the vehicle fly past me in slow motion. When a compact mirror is brought into focus, the scene dissolves and a memory is drawn to me through the object. This may be the first time I’ve experienced this crash, but it definitely won’t be the last… It’s not long before I realize there’s more to this interactive 3D visual novel than I thought. at the beginning. Much more.
Intact
(Image credit: The Pixel Hunt)
I’m a big fan of visual novels to begin with, so The Wreck’s unique style, word-driven mechanics, and concept were an immediate draw for me. But as it progressed, I found myself getting more and more invested in the story thanks to the way it explores trauma, motherhood, and a host of other themes in new ways. and nonlinear. It’s important to note, however, before we go any further, that Bury Me developer My Love Pixel Hunt takes you through some tough business.
Content Warning: Self-Harm, Toxic Relationships, Grief, Illness
Before we begin, a developer content warning appears detailing that Juno’s story features themes such as self-harm, toxic relationships, grief, and illness. Since it also shows a car crash which can cause discomfort for those who are prone to motion sickness, it also points out that there is an option in the settings which is there to try and reduce it. It’s great to see that warning early on, especially for a game that revolves around a traumatic experience.
The story of The Wreck stands out not only for what it explores, but also for the way it is told. Since Juno is a scriptwriter, the menu screen opens to a desktop, and when the game starts, he begins writing a script. Juno’s thoughts then serve to tell the story while giving you deeper insight into her as a character. As we navigate her thoughts, we also try to help her navigate the difficult conversations she faces in the hospital throughout the story.
At times, a keyword will materialize out of thin air that he can interact with and allow Juno to move the conversation or train of thought forward. Occasionally, the word evaporates to illustrate that Juno is having trouble solving a certain problem or feeling that she has. When this happens, Juno cuts off the conversation and runs to her car, where the same accident that happened at the start happens again. It becomes clear that this accident is the root of what kept him from moving forward, but only by revisiting this scene can you find out why.
Find the words
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(Image credit: The Pixel Hunt)(Image credit: The Pixel Hunt)(Image credit: The Pixel Hunt)(Image credit: The Pixel Hunt)
Each time you reach a point of conflict that causes Juno to run away from her troubles, you will relive the accident and can visit different memories through items in the car. These snapshots of her life take shape inside dioramas that I can fast forward or rewind. When I encounter a particular scene in memory, a phrase I can interact with begins to materialize, causing Juno to express her thoughts as she reflects on that exact moment. By exploring her memories, I help Juno gradually process her trauma and better understand herself, which helps her move forward in the present. After I explored a number of memories, the key word he couldn’t form before materialized, as if he could finally shape his feelings.
Just as we can all tend to think about past events in our lives, Juno constantly replays moments from her life. Sometimes this is reflected in the way I am led to revisit the same memory, only to find new meaning in it that once again helps it move forward. Through all of Juno’s conversations throughout the day and all of her memories at pivotal times in her life, I gain a better understanding of her as a character and begin to unravel the mystery surrounding this accident and why it happened. occurs repeatedly.
If you’re a fan of narrative experiences that put storytelling first, The Wreck is worth a try. While the themes it explores are worth keeping in mind, The Pixel Hunt interactive visual novel took me on an emotional journey that kept me engaged throughout and left a lasting impression on me. .
the shipwreck (opens in a new tab) is now available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. Keep track of all the exciting releases to come on the horizon with our roundup of next indie games.