Reprobate means “a person without principles, often used in a humorous and endearing manner.” Some archaic definitions describe a Reprobate as a person “destined for damnation.” Joe Richardson, the creator, must have spent time choosing the right words for this game because this practically says it all. Death of the Reprobate is another work by Richardson that uses sophisticated vocabulary to portray irreverent, disgusting, vulgar humor. All this while mocking Renaissance art. And maybe pointillism.
In this two- to four-hour adventure, you play as the heir to the estate of Immortal John (who isn’t actually immortal). Of course, your character is a loathsome character, so you must prove to Immortal John that you can right your wrongs and become a cheerful fellow worthy of his wealth and title.
What follows is a clumsy wandering from image to image, as you converse with characters carefully cut and pasted from other artwork. I’m not sure if Richardson is celebrating these works or mocking them, because while the less appealing sides of some of the paintings are on full display, the game is absolutely awash with famous and lesser known artworks of the era. Death of the Reprobate was made for someone like me, who enjoys eloquent expression combined with raspberries and obscene gestures. Finally, someone who understands me.
Much of the game is just that: refined writing and childish humor. Perfection. But that’s not all. As we clumsily move on two legs, our “hero” meets and talks to several people in need of help, all clearly marked with an arrow from God. Thank you for your help, God. Most interactions boil down to dialogue options such as “Who are you?”, “What do you do?” and “How can I help?” when you’re not watching or hitting people. Sometimes the dialogue veers into original realms, but that’s the gist of most. The game consists of visuals, writing and solving puzzles in the style of point-and-click adventures.
If I’m going to be brutally honest, the writing and visuals get repetitive, and I hate to say that, because the style here is unmatched; I just wish Richardson had changed the formula a bit. It was as if he had run out of tricks and had to squeeze out one last humorous sound. That didn’t stop me from leaning towards the screen and excitedly waiting for the transition to a new picture. Any landscape full of horrible characters stimulates the imagination. I just wish the conversations that followed exceeded expectations.
Most areas have musicians playing all kinds of ancient instruments with a proper soundtrack. There’s nothing original here, but the sounds fit well with the style, which is a positive. No voice acting, but this is a minor project, and I’m not sure anyone could top the voices I imagined while reading this absurdity. Everything works as expected.
While Death of the Reprobate isn’t a perfect experience, this short adventure doesn’t last too long. I’m a fan of Joe Richardson and can’t wait to see what he does next, even if it’s completely different from his previous work. He is clearly a talented individual who deserves success. If unique experiences are your thing and you don’t mind a little “potty humor” with your high-stakes language, support this developer.
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Source: www.itnetwork.rs
