Back to the Dawn

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 640: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ! I don’t know how to begin this review when everything in the game is perfect. Seriously, I can’t believe how many systems this game juggles without collapsing. How do I explain it? [i]Back to the Dawn[/i] is part immersive sim, part RPG, part point-and-click, and completely amazing. Seriously. The game does [i]everything[/i] well. It has a complex economy, job, and friendship system, 40+ unique NPCs, multiple questlines, charming pixel art, encouraged replayability, a humongous map, mechanics focused on realism and creativity, great QoL, and, to put the cherry on top, an unmovable 45 FPS on Deck. Honestly, I was just breathlessly captured by this game, and I played it straight over the course of a week. Buy it. Try it. [b]A MAJOR thank you to the team for giving me a free review copy (a year ago...)![/b] [b][h2]Pros:[/h2][/b] ✅[b] Did I mention the 40+ unique NPCs?[/b] That each have their own backstories, learnable special talents, likes, and dislikes? Because there’re 40+ unique NPCs. That each have their … well, you get it. You have a sleepy sloth, a drunk panda, a sly panther, three pig brothers, a boxer kangaroo, and much more. Every character in this game is well-written, and man, some damn heart-wrenching stories about how they ended up in prison. My favorite quirk was how the NPCs have their own relationships and dialogue you can eavesdrop on, and their own little side-plots that advance even without you. ✅[b] Storylines.[/b] The story is delivered gradually: through dialogues, secrets, situations, and thoughts. I thought the initial setting was a bit silly, but the themes are quite earnest! Though the characters are animals, the heart of the game is about humans, power, justice, and the lengths people go through to achieve their goals. ✅[b] 21-day time limit.[/b] Listen, I get it; I have choice paralysis with time limits. But for once, a time limit actually [i]works.[/i] First, the game is crafted around having that time limit, which improves pacing. As I found out in the end, having too much free time leads to boredom. Having such a tight window of opportunity actually makes your choices meaningful. Second, the game is clearly meant to be replayed (with NG+). I didn’t stress because I knew I would get a bad ending. I just focused on having [i]fun[/i] and seeing all I could. Third, the devs have released a free DLC, so you could cheat if you want (achievements will be disabled)! ➡️[b] It’s also very realistic.[/b] Virtually everything you do except waiting or walking takes actual in-game time. You can only work in the mornings. Prisoners will have their own routine. You don’t just eat ramen; you need hot water at those drinking stations. You need a match to smoke a cigarette. Sleeping without a blanket will make you cold, lowering your health. So much detail! ✅[b] Mechanics.[/b] All right, this will be a long one. But the RPG experience is so solid. There’s your decision-making, first off. Choosing one out of three initial backgrounds will affect your beginning greatly. You must then choose which prison gang to join (which is a whole quest on its own). You can choose between different jobs, deal with contraband, exercise, even bathe! And, of course, try to escape … There’s so much freedom allowed, with countless different ways to achieve your goal. ➡️[b] The game is a constant juggle of inventory management.[/b] Like, which quests are worth doing, and how long will it take? Never mind that, what’s the best time to do it? How much energy do I need? Characters and locations too! What do people want, and how do you get it for them? How can you go into those secret rooms? It’s wonderful seeing the barriers of the game fade away as you gain new information (quite a bit being subtle and needing paying attention to). ➡️[b] I loved the dice-rolling aspect, which never felt unfair.[/b] You're allowed to reroll, and there are tons of ways to boost your stats through equipment, items, and skills. Most of the difficulty that you'll experience will come from a lack of skills or a lack of game knowledge. It’s rewarding to overcome quests and checks with clever planning. ✅[b] Art.[/b] Usually, I don’t like pixel-art—I find it quite difficult to differentiate—but the artists have quite the eye for detail. Each character sprite is unique, represented by their own animal, and they all have interesting touches. A rhino towers over smaller animals; a llama sways from side to side; a closed-off lion will cross his arms. It's also impressive how much variety the developers squeeze out of a single location. Every area of the prison has its own purpose, personality, and mood. Like, yeah, the Cell Blocks are grey and drab, but that’s what makes visiting the Recreation Grounds all the better! There’s a nasty Sewer area, a cozy library, and a tiny cell for Segregation. I was also awed by how even a thirty-second epilogue gets a beautiful background, complete with tiny animations and sound effects. ✅[b] QoL.[/b] There’s an introduction to each character, along with notes on their likes, dislikes, and how to improve your bond with them. There’s fast travel, thank GOD, and a neat button to go up or down one floor in the jail cells (you’ll know what I mean), and a “return to cell” button. [b][h2]Cons:[/h2][/b] 🟥 [b] Some small nitpicks, but the two romances are lacking. [/b] Maggie and Beth are mostly mechanical, and you can only interact with them once a day. Why can’t I be a gay fox and romance Chris or Ray? 🟥[b] Can be overwhelming at first. [/b]As you might have noticed, there’s a lot of [i]stuff[/i] going on, and the difficulty curve could be steep at first. 🟥[b] My boy Thomas runs so SLOW.[/b] And the prison is huge, man! [hr] If you enjoyed this review, please check out my curator page to find more: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45814768-Verdict-Play-or-Pass/]Verdict: Play or Pass. [/url] Also, please leave a like and visit [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Indie_Gems]IndieGems[/url] and our [url=https://www.youtube.com/@IndieGems2]YouTube channel[/url] for more reviews like this one. [/hr]

One of my favorite RPGs I've played. A lot of interesting characters. The game encourages the player to explore and rewards curiosity. Many branching paths and possibilities. Definitely recommend this. Going in for another playthrough.

YES YES YES YES ITS SO DAMN GOOD such a unique experience