Off the beaten path of gaming, indie games offer creatives a chance to give form to their inner emotions and most profound, most personal experiences. You see a lot of projects that focus heavily on storytelling and presenting the player with something they can relate to or empathize with. This notion is something that I love about indie games; there’s little to no restriction on what you can create, so long as you are willing to put the time and effort in to see your vision come to life. The end project may not hit the mark for everyone, but everything will be worthwhile if it resonates with a single person.
A Personal Journey Through Stress and Studies
Despite my feelings about the game, I can still tentatively say you should try it.
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling by developer Silver978 feels like one of these projects. It has a story it wants to tell that comes from a very personal, emotional place. In the shoes of a stress-ridden student, you must go about your daily routine, all while peculiar phenomena start to make things all the more challenging to move forward and complete your studies. From the basic concept alone, it’s easy to see how it could be a relatable experience that could really touch its audience emotionally. But is there something missing from this melancholic tale?
Truthfully and honestly, from a critic’s perspective, this game is challenging to review. Because the content in Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling will mean something different to everyone. Of course, opinions are always subjective, and reviews are not gospel. My thoughts and feelings on any game I review will not match someone else’s. It’s always a matter of taste, preference, and what makes a game enjoyable. With any game I review, I always try to present it as myself, sharing what I think personally, and then it’s up to the reader to judge whether the game I’m reviewing is for them.
The Challenge of Reviewing Personal Narratives
But Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling has been created to express an emotion, to give form to an experience that its creator is perhaps familiar with. That’s not to say it is immune to critique because it isn’t; art can be critiqued just like any other piece of media. To be blunt, I did not care how this game told its story, as everything feels too bare-bones. I learned very little about the characters, the world, or the story throughout the short runtime, and any answers were usually lackluster or did not strike any feeling inside me. I understood what Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling was trying to say with its narrative, but it did not connect with me. I don’t think this is entirely the game’s fault, though, as it could be down to my life experiences. Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling tells a story of stress and how we cope when everything gets too overwhelming. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t understand stress, but with how it’s presented here, it just did not land.
It has a story it wants to tell that comes from a very personal, emotional place.
It presents the player with some interesting ideas, and its visual style does at least work hard to give the game a rather gloomy, eerie atmosphere. The hard work is evident in aesthetics and helps make the whole experience more memorable. The visuals enhance the idea that this is an interactive piece of expressive art. But in that same respect, they do not hold it above its shortcomings for me. As this game focuses significantly on its narrative elements, the creative visuals alone aren’t enough to shift my opinion. Similarly, the audio provides some fittingly haunting ambiance but doesn’t do anything to improve the narrative.
A Tentative Recommendation: Experience It Yourself
Despite my feelings about the game, I can still tentatively say you should try it. Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling isn’t a game that will hit home with everyone. At the same time, I respect it and admire the courage it takes to produce something like this; for me, the narrative connection is not there, but I would understand entirely if someone else played this and immediately took to it. It’s a commendable effort from a creator who clearly has a passion for this kind of storytelling, and even if I just didn’t get sucked into Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling, I hope that Silver978 continues to forge new and emotional experiences in the future.
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling (Switch)
Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling delves into the emotional and personal experience of a stress-ridden student navigating daily challenges amidst unusual phenomena. This title epitomizes the indie game ethos of storytelling from a deeply personal perspective, aiming to resonate with players on an emotional level. While the game's narrative and character development might not connect with every player due to its minimalist approach, its visual and audio elements work together to create a gloomy, atmospheric experience.
The Good
- Creative Visuals: The unique visual style of the game works hard to establish a gloomy and eerie atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling and making the experience more memorable.
- Expressive Art: "Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling" stands as an interactive piece of expressive art, showcasing the developer's dedication to conveying personal emotions and experiences.
The Bad
- Unfulfilled Potential: While the audiovisual elements contribute to the atmosphere, they alone cannot compensate for the narrative shortcomings, resulting in a game that might feel incomplete to some players.
- Limited Connection: The way the story is told and presented may not resonate with all players, leading to a disconnect between the game's emotional intent and the player's experience.
- Lack of Narrative Depth: Despite its attempt at emotional storytelling, the game struggles to fully develop its characters, world, and story, leaving much to be desired in terms of depth and engagement.
