Has anyone played Papers, Please yet?

[GangstaGeek]

I just finished it. Probably the most addicting, least fun, best game I've played in a while. It is definitely goes in my list as superisingly good.

Has anyone else played it yet and if so what did you think?

 

[Zhukov]

I have.

It's... odd. Kinda cool, if vaguely depressing. (Wife: Cold, sick, hungry. Son: Cold, sick, hungry... etc)

The awkward controls combined with a time limit pretty much kill it for me though.

The 'highlight discrepancy" function in particular is annoying as hell. For example, in order to point out that someone is missing a document, you have to grab the rule book, flip through to the right page, click where it says "Must have document X", then click on the empty desk. All on a timer without keyboard shortcuts. Couldn't you just click the desk and be done with it?

If nothing else, it made me sympathize with bureaucrats a lot more:
"Why oh why can you motherfuckers not make sure your own documents are up to date?! Also, I swear to God, the next one of you who fails to provide an entry ticket straight away is getting denied on general principles. Also-also, I loath those passports that don't have the name of the country on them and you have to compare the symbol on the front. Fuck those things, fuck 'em with a rusty gardening fork."

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

I like it.

It's very depressing and soviet. And it's quite challenging, especially later on when you have to take a lot of details into account. The need for both precision and speed really puts on the pressure. Some more steamlined controls and a bit more lenient time limit would probably make the game more enjoyable though.

If nothing else, it made me sympathize with bureaucrats a lot more.

I'm guessing that is the point of all those arbitrary and frustrating rules and mechanics.

 

[IllumInaTIma]

That game is something else. What I like about it is how it managed to make routine entertaining! And all the little stories and dilemmas that can face are just amazing! Will you let in a woman who seeks refugee in your country with her husband even if she doesn't have documents? Will you assist some mysterious "Order" that seeks to overthrow your corrupt government? Will you help your fellow guard by letting in his old girlfriend?

 

[Full]

It's a great game. Original and entertaining, two qualities that I don't see together much. Stamping papers and telling old depressed ladies to fuck off should not be this engaging.

 

[senordesol]

I wish the desk was a bit bigger, so I can have all my cross-checking documents arrayed a little more efficiently but it does a great job of engendering a sense of disdain for the desperate huddled masses.

I love how there seems to be a combination of attempts to snow you and just plain f'ups and that your attempts to be speedy are offset by your need to be thorough. It's good that even in a game where you're absolutely perfect; you can still be penalized.

I could complain about certain design decisions, but -ultimately- it's balanced in such a way that you always have to be on your game, no matter your skill. Perfect.

 

[Carnagath]

I did, but the necessity to remember all the provinces later if you want to achieve a remotely decent income is what broke it for me. I tried to ignore it, but every time I got a ticket because someone was from the wrong province, it got me a little closer to quitting, until I did. Being observant and quickly mentally processing lots of detail is fine, it's an acceptable form of challenge. That shit isn't, at least in my opinion.

Captcha: good riddance. Well, fuck you too.

 

[SqueakyNancy]

Papers, Please! is an indie game of incredible quality. Simple to grasp yet really hard to master, with a solid atmosphere from beginning to end, morality enforced by mechanics and narrative and builds upon itself so you have consequences for everything you do.

Add in a few puzzles, revolutionaries bombs, bribes and life of the Pseudo-Soviet Bloc, Papers is by far one of the best indie titles I've played this year.

GLORY TO ARSTOTZKA!

 

[EightGaugeHippo]

I played the free BETA version a few months ago, loved it.
It's great in the way it makes quite a straight forward job (checking for valid details), challenging and engaging, all while weaving some nice little plots into the mix.
Also, It's been a while since I played a game that made me feel like a piece of shit, while wanting to continue.

Anyway, without going into a full blown review, anyone who hasn't tried it should at least give it a go.

http://dukope.com/

 

[CymbaIine]

I did, but the necessity to remember all the provinces later if you want to achieve a remotely decent income is what broke it for me. I tried to ignore it, but every time I got a ticket because someone was from the wrong province, it got me a little closer to quitting, until I did. Being observant and quickly mentally processing lots of detail is fine, it's an acceptable form of challenge. That shit isn't, at least in my opinion.

Captcha: good riddance. Well, fuck you too.

Yeah that's what made me bored of it too. I mean if I was actually from Arastroka (or whatever) I would presumably know the provinces, as I am not though it seemed a bit crap and arbitrary. Also the UI was super clunky.

 

[porous_shield]

I have a few complaints but I love the game otherwise. I wish the desk was bigger and I wish I could choose what button to map investigate and the stamp button to but those are fairly petty. I've played it to the point where I know what issuing cities are in each country and the districts in Arstotzka without looking but the seals on the documents always get me.

I really dread the sound of that printer when I get something wrong!

 

[D-Class 198482]

I suck horribly at it. Like Yahtzee said, after you painstakingly read over everything and hand the papers back with a nice little 'go on ahead' you suddenly get a printer saying 'HE SPELLED IT WARBERNMANJENSON NOT WARBORNMANJENSON'

 

[Link_to_Future]

I it out a little bit when it was back in Beta. I played it for about an hour before I realized how depressed I was making myself.

If I wanted to run border control, I'd go get a job in border control. No need to do it in my spare time. >.>

In all seriousness though, I loved the aesthetic and was pretty captivated by the gameplay. I might have to pick up the release version sometime.

 

[Bostur]

Basically what Monxeroth said.

Papers Please makes very good use of the medium. It doesn't tell, it doesn't show, it puts the player into the situation. We don't learn from the experiences of others, we only learn by our own experiences. That is the one thing a game can do, that few other media can. Papers Please does that perfectly.

If someone wonders what it's like to be a government employed jerk, one can play the game and feel how it is.

Personally it frightened me at how damn good I am at following orders, and especially how good it feels. As a nobody with no influence, it feels great to push others around. And governments have known that trick as long as they have existed.

 

[Collin Stewart]

It was a pretty fun game if you don't mind speed reading bits of paper, gets a 75/100 from me.

 

[BakedSardine]

Just downloaded this after hearing about it for a while now and never getting around to it. Pretty fun game - maybe something about being a pharmacist, where you have to go through a regimented list of items to check on a prescription for validity appeals to me.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

While I've never played it, I'm going to end up getting it on the off chance I get a Steam-Card. It looks really interesting and I've definitely never played anything at all like that before which is why I really want to get into it.

 

[Zarkov]

I really enjoy the game. I haven't played it through all the way, or beaten it, but from what I've played, it really shows you how arbitrary border control gets, and how complicated it can be.

I will always think of this game going through customs.

 

[sextus the crazy]

I found it tedious, frustrating, and soul-crushing. So, I can't fault the game for being a good look into soviet life. Not something I'm going to play much of.