This is a dramatic deep social point&click adventure about tough childhood and self-sacrifice.
The game centers players around an emotionally-charged story, where their dialogue choices and actions directly influence the direction of the plot. This creates a strong sense of player agency and emotional investment as they navigate the dramatic moral dilemmas faced by the protagonist, Alexander.
Players must explore the beautifully hand-drawn environments, interact with objects, and solve a variety of point-and-click adventure puzzles to progress through the narrative. The puzzles range in complexity, providing a good challenge while remaining logically consistent with the story.
The game offers a hint system to assist players if they get stuck on a puzzle, enhancing the accessibility without disrupting the flow of the story. Additionally, the autosave function and the ability to minimize the game on laptops make it easier for players to pick up where they left off.
The visual and auditory elements work together to create a highly immersive atmosphere. The hand-drawn art style and voice-acted dialogues in English transport players to the post-Soviet setting of the early 1990s, while the atmospheric soundtrack and sound design further enhance the emotional impact of the narrative.
A key aspect of the gameplay is the impact of player choice. The dialogue options presented can significantly influence the outcome of the story, leading to different endings and consequences for the characters. This encourages players to carefully consider their decisions and grapple with the moral complexities presented in the narrative.