Freshman Year Live Blog

Freshman Year

Alone in a room, isolated from the world, the protagonist looks at her messages. We soon understand that we are placed in the shoes of an average freshman college student. This allows the gamers to relate to the character as we are put in a average situation. Furthermore, I could even relate more as I am a freshman myself.

Even if this game is really short, it has a powerful impact with its inconclusive ending. As the plot unfolds, the gamer is left with some choice of dialogue but we soon realize that everything is already pre-destined, no matter what choices we make we can’t avoid the inevitable.

As she get ready to go out to a party and looks to join her friends, she is sexually assaulted. After that scene, she finds her friends and explains what happened. However, her friend’s reaction can be quite surprising as it is the one of indifference. Furthermore, she even says that one of her other friends also experienced a similar situation just as if it was normal. Through this game, the creator may want to spread an awareness of sexual assault but also how may have been a topic that does not really stir up any actions to take in order to prevent it.

The esthetics of this game is rather singular where the use of color gives a sense of gloomy environment which further highlights the impact of the assault.

The ending can be quite shocking. As the main character stares at a mirror, the game ends. This left me feeling a void as it can be considered an inconclusive ending. This void may be what survivors of this assault may feel like.