The Town of Light

For hundreds of years, humanity's understanding of mental illness was limited - to put it lightly. Even now, with the development of medicine and progress in our knowledge of the inner workings of the psyche, plenty of things still remain a mystery. It's no wonder, then, that we have had trouble finding remedies for the afflictions, the nature of which was incomprehensible and perplexing to us. As a result, doctors were literally grasping at straws - and developing treatments we now deem barbaric. Not many works of art dare touch this topic - first, you may fail, since it's neither simple nor straightforward; second, you may face bans - like the novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey. But The Town of Light dares to tread those ambiguous waters.

Plot - 8/10

The story starts when Renée, the former patient of the psychiatric hospital Volterra, located in Italy, visits it after a very long time. As she walks the halls of the hospital, you follow her story, her memories of this place. You will feel that she's not completely sane - the feeling will persist with her every word and action. You'll be wondering and trying to understand what's going on - and failing to do so.

The whole plot revolves around one person - but through her, the authors aimed to portray the miserable lives of thousands of mentally ill patients in similar institutions around the world - especially women. The result isn't an undeniable masterpiece - for example, the whole idea of not getting all the answers rarely works - but it's a fair attempt.
Oh, and I have to warn you. The game is very graphic and sickening sometimes - it won't work for anyone with a weak stomach.

Gameplay - 8/10

Even though The Town of Light is a walking simulator - which by definition sets a low bar for gameplay - it doesn't pull it off very successfully. More often than not, it's unclear what the player is supposed to do next - even with a clue button, implemented specifically to help us out. The ideas of the ill mind of the protagonist, who makes the decisions - and the player who has to play with it somehow - don't combine well.

Now that we've got that out of the way - what about the core gameplay? It's a standard walking and listening to the story of Renée. Sometimes you'll be transported in the past, to her memories of old days - which have a stark contrast to today's reality.

Graphics & Visual Design - 7/10

The graphics in this game aren't anywhere near astonishing or breathtaking. They're old and unimpressive, to tell you the truth. Quite another thing is the visual design. Every little detail of the world is well-crafted - and the hospital looks stunning. Besides, different takes on presenting various parts of the story - the present, the past... the delusions of a disturbed mind. They truly work like a charm, helping to mask the game’s graphical flaws.

Soundtrack - 8/10

The Town of Light doesn't feature a lot of music - mostly creepy rustling sounds and wailings in the background. The compositions that are present in the game match that tone - they're melancholic, somber, and at times, deeply dejected. While the soundtrack isn't something impressive, it's good enough to support the story and even leave an impression.

Atmosphere - 10/10

You want an experience of being in an (almost) haunted asylum? Of playing a deranged character and seeing the world through her eyes? Of getting the feeling of the world clamping down on you with no possibility to push back? Then this game is definitely the right choice. Because what it nails without any flaws is the atmosphere. A grim, harsh, and deeply disturbing atmosphere.

Verdict - 8/10

If you crave something horror-like, with an uncomfortable feeling following your every step - The Town of Light was made just for you. If you're interested in the look of a real mental hospital (because the location is a direct reproduction of an asylum in Italy) or a dive into mental illness - you'll still find plenty of reasons to play it. Otherwise, I don't think you will find this game enjoyable, even though it has a fair amount to offer.