The Gap is an eerie and uncomfortable title that’ll make you scowl whilst getting under your skin. Because of its chilling and touching subject matter, it will resonate with many gamers. However, the uncomfortable theme may be too much for some, and this makes it a divisive experience.
Developed by Label This and published by Crunching Koalas, this is a narrative adventure title. Moreover, it heavily relies on logical thinking and there are plenty of puzzles to complete. Accordingly, it is a bit of a Jack of all trades and you can lose yourself in it for hours as a consequence.
The Gap tells a twisted tale of love.
If you have ever truly loved someone, you’d do anything for them. Yet, would you put your own life at risk to cure an ailment? This is exactly what happens in The Gap. The protagonist, Joshua Hayes, jumps down a metaphorical rabbit hole as he tries in vain to save his family.
A neuroscientist by trade, Joshua has helped to research many cures. However, when a rare genetic disease cripples his family, he stops at nothing to find a cure. What unfolds is a cruel demise of a once brilliant man. Furthermore, every poignant moment and heartbreaking downfall is played out for you to witness.
Piecing together the mystery.
The Gap does a wonderful job of representing the compartmentalised state of the human brain. Consequently, every key moment is intertwined and represented on a cruel flowchart. This excellent idea helps users to explore the increasingly surreal world without ever feeling lost. Additionally, a basic colour system defines a memory and a dream. Subsequently, you soon realise that the hero’s mental state is failing.
The brilliance of the storytelling and the loose narrative approach were incredible. The developer allows you to explore each area for as long as you wish. Moreover, you must find clues in each chapter to progress the story. As such, you need to carefully investigate each moment to fully understand what is going on.
This poignant and heavy plot is hard to stomach. Yet, the developers break up the oppressive nature with some lighthearted interludes. Accordingly, there are some fun activities to experience and plenty of loving family moments to witness. As such, it makes the theme more touching as you see what Joshua has lost.
The Gap does great things.
Blending reality into a dreamlike state isn’t easy. However, The Gap does a fantastic job. The simplicity of the mind map and the use of colours to define mental states was a stroke of genius. Furthermore, using a first-person perspective creates intimacy. Alongside this, the normal parlour tricks are used to highlight the hero’s mental state. I’d normally bemoan such a clichéd approach, but in this case, it works well.
The audio was great but familiar. The blend of narrative moments and heartfelt memories were fantastic. On top of this, the music occasionally stepped up to demonstrate oppressive or distressing events. Subsequently, though it wasn’t original, it does a great job of setting the scene.
Simple controls.
The control system performs as expected. Thanks to the simple layout and lack of gameplay pressure, you have nothing to worry about. Label This has incorporated an easy-to-identify marker system to keep things moving. Consequently, it is straightforward to see what you’ve investigated and what is outstanding. This was great, as it accelerated progression without too much handholding.
Though there are plenty of clues to find, The Gap is still a short game. 2-3 hours is all that is required to get from beginning to end. Now, you may think this is disappointing, however, it isn’t. This oppressive title doesn’t let up from the beginning to the end. As such, it packs in plenty of cruel and heart-wrenching moments.
The Gap is one to look out for.
The Gap is due to be released towards the end of the year. Therefore, this is one game you should have on your radar. Its horrific blend of reality and surrealism is often uncomfortable but hard to put down. Accordingly, it is an impressive narrative experience that will sit comfortably amongst its peers. If this preview has piqued your interest, why not wishlist it here? Furthermore, it will be presented in the Future Games Show at Gamescom.
(Available Q4. 2023)
