Review: Unusual Findings (Steam)

Back To The 1980’s

Growing up, I had a friend who was a PC game fanatic. Where most of us were about the consoles, he would strictly only play PC games, similar to the ones on 온라인카지노. There was one game in particular he loved, and that was Monkey Island. Every time I went to his house, I had to sit and help him with that series of games, also known as point-and-click adventures. I didn’t mind them, but I was all about action games then. So when I received the code to review Unusual Findings, I honestly didn’t know much about it, only that it is a point-and-click adventure game developed by a small Argentine developer called Epic Llama.

Loading up the game, you are met with an upbeat 1980s, mysterious soundtrack. Very reminiscent of a show on Netflix you may have heard of called Stranger Things. It sets the tone for the entire game. Upon starting the game, you are playing the infamous Space Invaders game. Then your dad turns the game off, introducing you to one of the three main characters (Vinny); this is who you control throughout the game. The game’s graphics are retro-style, much like the aforementioned Monkey Island.

You learn you are grounded for conducting a so-called science experiment in a neighbour’s garden. You have decisions to make while conversing with characters throughout the game; some will impact the story. Rocks are thrown at your window, so now you are open to the game point-and-click adventure style. My first negative is the controls. I am playing on Steam Deck, and I know point-and-click adventures are mainly played with a mouse and keyboard. However, this game is also available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PlayStation 5. It can be tough to navigate the interface from just playing on a handheld or, I assume, a controller.

Investigating the window, you meet the second main character (Nick). Nick informs you that you must leave your house and come over to the third main character’s house (Tony). Tony has a TV decoder that apparently can pick up any channel. You go back into your room and try and find items to help you escape. You manage to zipline to the tree-house where Vinny is in your back garden. You both get on your bikes, and boom, a 1980s classic song ( You Spin Me Round by Dead Or Alive ) bangs out your speakers. There’s a cut-scene in the style of a comic book. At this point, I am in awe and shocked, with a massive grin on my face.

You and Nick arrive at Tony’s house. The three boys are about to install their TV signal decoder. The only thing they manage to pick up is a robotic alien appearing on every channel. The boys see the alien ship crashing into the distance into a nearby forest. Eager for an adventure, they all want to investigate. The three boys arrive at the woods and encounter the robotic alien who murders a Police officer. After escaping by the hair, our intrepid protagonists will devise a brainy plan to stop the hostile being, just like in The Goonies or similar 1980s films about a group of young kids creating plans and tackling obstacles together.

Throughout my play-through, the soundtrack is just incredible. To the point, I could listen to it all day. The story develops, and you come to relate with the main characters. I was born in 1989, so I grew up in the 80s/90s era. The nostalgia hit me to the core. For example, movie posters are scattered throughout the game, and characters resemble iconic people(The Terminator). The level of challenge here from the puzzles is perfectly balanced, and if you are ever stuck, there is an icon in the right-hand top corner that offers hints. I had a mixed opinion when I spoke about the similarities with the Netflix show Stranger Things. It is very similar in regards to playing on nostalgia. At a point, if you told me the game is set in the same universe as Stranger Things, I wouldn’t be surprised. As for negatives, there is very little to say. The controls are clunky playing on a handheld device, and I assume the controller would be the same. Playtime is pretty short, 6-9 hours. Unless you want to listen to the soundtrack or trophy hunting, there is very little replayability.