"There has never been a better time in history of mankind to be completely, cripplingly, devastatingly alone, and yet here you are: thinking about giving up on the good times."

Here, I’ll put in a fair warning. I will not evaluate Actual Sunlight as a game, since it is more of a psychological display and a social commentary. It is not a game in the conventional sense since whatever you do within the game, won’t change anything. The choice is an illusion. I won’t talk about the plot, its graphics or engine, its sound quality, controls, replay value etc. In its most basic, it’s done in RPGMaker and presents a singular narrative of crippling depression. But even though I won’t go into the details of common game reviews, I will talk about the reality of its point.

There has been artistic narrative on depression and suicide in various mediums throughout history, considering the utter lack of motivation to carry on is not alien to the human condition, especially after the modern period. We have never been as free and as individualistic as we are today; yet never been so devoid and alone also, as humanity. Novels, poetry, cinema, music, even performance arts narrate the capitalist and existentialist conundrum we face every day: how can we have everything, and still not to be able to feel a grain of happiness? Many mediums presented incomparable examples of this point. But to encounter a game which conveys the utter loneliness, self-loathing and contempt that a single individual is capable of? Now that is some heavy, heavy feat.

As the first of WZOGI's games, Actual Sunlight centers a middle-aged overweight man, who is alone and depressed: Evan Winter. Here, you won't go for a thrilling quest. You won't brave the day and save the girl. You won't race against time and beat the odds to win your happily ever after. You will simply witness Evan's life, as the tedious, dark, desperate routine that it is. All items, people and events you encounter, will put Evan through a series of reminiscences and commentaries as dark as his sense of humor; and you will face to most frustrating realization of all times: Evan really does not have a choice.

Even though it is an RPGMaker game, Actual Sunlight is not a game per se. It is a simulation, a display of the self-loathing, depressed and broken mind, in its travel of decadence to the point of no return. Can I recommend this one as a game? Absolutely not. Can I recommend it as an experience, an opportunity to see into the mind of the suicidally depressed? That is an absolute "YES". If you are looking for a game, or something simply to enjoy; do not try this one. Pick something else, with flighty fantasy or exciting science fiction elements. Pick this one only as an artistic and psychological display. You are welcome.

Please also check out Lady Storyteller's Curator page here - follow for regular updates on reviews for other games!

[b]"There has never been a better time in history of mankind to be completely, cripplingly, devastatingly alone, and yet here you are: thinking about giving up on the good times."[/b] Here, I’ll put in a fair warning. I will not evaluate [i]Actual Sunlight[/i] as a game, since it is more of a psychological display and a social commentary. It is not a game in the conventional sense since whatever you do within the game, won’t change anything. The choice is an illusion. I won’t talk about the plot, its graphics or engine, its sound quality, controls, replay value etc. In its most basic, it’s done in RPGMaker and presents a singular narrative of crippling depression. But even though I won’t go into the details of common game reviews, I will talk about the reality of its point. There has been artistic narrative on depression and suicide in various mediums throughout history, considering the utter lack of motivation to carry on is not alien to the human condition, especially after the modern period. We have never been as free and as individualistic as we are today; yet never been so devoid and alone also, as humanity. Novels, poetry, cinema, music, even performance arts narrate the capitalist and existentialist conundrum we face every day: how can we have everything, and still not to be able to feel a grain of happiness? Many mediums presented incomparable examples of this point. But to encounter a game which conveys the utter loneliness, self-loathing and contempt that a single individual is capable of? Now that is some heavy, heavy feat. As the first of WZOGI's games, [i]Actual Sunlight[/i] centers a middle-aged overweight man, who is alone and depressed: Evan Winter. Here, you won't go for a thrilling quest. You won't brave the day and save the girl. You won't race against time and beat the odds to win your happily ever after. You will simply witness Evan's life, as the tedious, dark, desperate routine that it is. All items, people and events you encounter, will put Evan through a series of reminiscences and commentaries as dark as his sense of humor; and you will face to most frustrating realization of all times: Evan really does not have a choice. Even though it is an RPGMaker game, [i]Actual Sunlight[/i] is not a game per se. It is a simulation, a display of the self-loathing, depressed and broken mind, in its travel of decadence to the point of no return. Can I recommend this one as a game? Absolutely not. Can I recommend it as an experience, an opportunity to see into the mind of the suicidally depressed? That is an absolute "YES". If you are looking for a game, or something simply to enjoy; do not try this one. Pick something else, with flighty fantasy or exciting science fiction elements. Pick this one only as an artistic and psychological display. You are welcome. Please also check out Lady Storyteller's Curator page [url=http://steamoss.com/steamstore/curator/11672469/]here[/url] - follow for regular updates on reviews for other games!