Journal week 8

For this week’s journal I am playing Gris. I had heard about this game when it came out and have heard whispers of occasionally until playing it for myself now for this assignment. Overall, I found its message of losing a love one and dealing with the emotional reproductions and how it affects those around you. Every level you play in the game reflects one of the seven stages of grief. The way these levels convey the different emotional states is expertly done. Whether its be the how the swimming mechanic or jumping mechanic the game always articulates the specific emotion the level is trying to capture.

The games use of color is breathtaking as well. From how each level represents not only an emotional state the paired color drives home the points the game is trying to make. I found it especially true for the color black. As at the beginning the birds and butterfly’s portrayed by the color black help you and bring you through a new level and allow you to progress. Then immediately after the birds represent another emotion and serve as an antagonist and chase you in multiple levels. The way the game handles its colors and especially how it deals with black reminds me of the quote from the reading when Kishonna Grey said that “fantastical tropes of blackness, rooted in the rigid separation of the plantation era and aestheticized in new ways with each revolving loop of mediated representation” (Grey 63). The way the game also handles symbolism is exceptional as well. The way the game shows you that the player has suffered the loss of her mother without telling you directly is inspiring. The story overall is emotional and moving. I highly recommend this game to anyone and below I will be posting a video with game play for reference.

GRIS Gameplay Walkthrough Part 1 FULL GAME [1080p HD PC] — No Commentary

The quote is from Kishonna Gray reading this week.