Tons of new games are released every week with fanfare ranging from no one knowing the title to hype that no game could ever possibly live up to, but I can promise none of them are like Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes. I popped the game in with no real idea of what to expect, but I was pleasantly shocked in what I found. This game exudes an inherent creepiness and beauty that makes for a great combination that embraces its own oddity and makes for an experience unlike its peers.
Daedalic paid extraordinary attention to detail when building the world and the story that this game is set in. This strange alternate world feels as though it could’ve really happened even though I know it didn’t and couldn’t have. This is the mark of a game that has spent real time developing characters and story that straddle the real and the surreal perfectly. The characters themselves are the kind of quirky and interesting that make them easy to love no matter what they do. This is especially true of Lily, the protagonist you play as in the game, who seems innocent enough but can take some very dark turns. The rest of the characters in the story complement Lily well and serve as great building blocks for an entertaining story. Perhaps the best part was the narrator that genuinely cracked me up more than a few times through the course of the game.
In addition to the story itself, the animation in Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes is absolutely stunning. I found myself watching the background as much as I was watching the game. 2D animation is becoming unusual for games, but this one makes strong case for more games to move to that animation style because it really works here. The same quirkiness from the characters and story shows up in the visuals of the game also with strange details really adding to the overall experience of playing this game.
However, there were times where the game really dragged. The game is based on completing a series of tasks that get increasingly complex throughout the story, and that really dragged out the game the further I got into the story. This gave the game a feel of being a long puzzle which worked in some parts, but ultimately left me wishing there was more variety in how the game was played. As much as I loved how the animation looked, the 2D style seemed to hold the game back when I was actually playing. The limited gameplay limited the characters on what they could do in the confines of the game with much of the game comprising of walking around and trying to find objects to solve puzzles. The concept was fun for a while, but it got old as I played it more.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world of Edna & Harvey. It feels like the crazy emo game that I wish I could’ve had in middle school, but I’m lucky enough to experience now. Despite its limitations, it’s definitely a game that can make for a fun play through even if it’s just to see the characters interact and to lay eyes on the animation. Daedalic made a unique game, and it’s absolutely worth the time and the money.
7.5/10
Check Out the Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes Trailer:
Edna & Harvey: Harvey’s New Eyes is available for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
For more information, please visit here: https://www.daedalic.com/games
Xbox One Review
My first console was the original Playstation and I would play Twisted Metal every now and then but games didn't hook me until I played the original Halo at my friend's house. As soon as I picked up that controller, I knew I needed an Xbox and I had to have that game. Since those early Halo days, I've branched out and played any game I could find with a great story and memorable characters but Master Chief is still my favorite. @thenotoriousTGT on Twitter
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