This entry is a gaming incarnation of all kinds of Scandinavian design elements. It might not be the longest, or most complex game ever made, but this little indie offering captivated me from the start.
Burly Men at Sea has a very basic form of game-play. You can think of it like a point and click adventure. There are probably many that might cynically, and harshly, suggest it's not even actual game-play. That does a disservice to the fact that there is actually some branching and choices at play, and also kind of misses the point.
A game like this is an experience. It's a little piece of game art that has a storytellers heart.
The game is a folktale of sorts about a trio of large, bearded fishermen who step away from the ordinary to seek adventure. Set in turn of the previous century Scandinavia, the game's story branches through a series of encounters with creatures of myth and legend.
It has a wonderful minimalist style, and equally minimalist game-play. You're generally just nudging your cast of burly fishermen left and right. Yet it still managed to engage me and sweep me along with it's experience.
It has an artful character to it, and invokes a compelling sense of exploration and adventure. The game might not have a massive run-time, but is deceptively layered. It unravels it's story in a perfectly paced manner.
I have a soft spot for these lovingly crafted indie offerings. It's clearly a passion project created with genuine love for the subject matter.
This game probably won't be for everyone, but if you're still reading at this point then I imagine it just might be worth a try.
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