Recent reviews by Poothy_Daniels

I'd been anticipating this game all year, checking damn-near daily on twitter for updates or more screenshots after having the chance to play the demo, I knew this game was going to be something special. My beloved dog, Lily, who'd been with me for 16 years and going strong, had a surgery scheduled the day before Unpacking was set to release, a surgery meant to extend and ease her life. This seemed like a ideal situation, I could pull my laptop up next to her and hang out as she recovered.

Unfortunately, the surgery proved too much, and Lily drew her last breath in my arms while I lay helpless. It's uncertain the exact cause of death, but the surgery was set to prolong her life. It instilled hopes and dreams and in an instant I watched them do limp, then stiff. Never to be.

I didn't get the chance to play Unpacking the second it released as I had intended to do for so long. I didn't have much drive to do anything but mourn and weep. I finally got the chance to play the game, while unpacking the contents of these cute cardboard boxes I also began unpacking my own memories. Each objects in-game reminding me of a real-life parallel, with many reminding me of my precious Lily. It was cathartic, it was an experience filled with joy and sorrow. I remembered things I'd entirely forgotten, and was able to forget about the one thing I desperately wanted to.

Unpacking is a fantastic game, a beautiful story, a humble package laced with nostalgia and discovery. I wish I could play through it again for the first time, it's a shame I beat the thing (aside from all the stickers) in about 6 hours, and while I don't think I'm ready to go through everything that'll come with playing through this game for me again yet, I look forward to the day I revisit these cute cardboard boxes and stuffed chickies (and that one knife)