Loretta takes you on a weird and wonderful journey. Furthermore, the strange writing is oddly captivating and empathising with a vindictive and mentally unhinged protagonist is an uncomfortable experience. Yet, it is this creepy and sinister plot that makes this a tough game to put down. From the opening moment, you are drawn to the lead character’s plight and somehow hope that things go her way.
This story-driven adventure was developed by Yakov Butuzoff and published by DANGEN Entertainment. Moreover, it has point-and-click elements and much of the gameplay just exists. Accordingly, it has a distinctly linear edge even though there are branching storylines and multiple endings. The multiple-choice answers and strange tasks may not make sense at first. Additionally, the idea of taking someone’s life may be disconcerting. Yet, the hero takes this in her stride and murder and destruction surround her throughout.
Loretta will make you squirm and frown.
The idea that a housewife can cause so much despair worries me. However, this is exactly what happens in Loretta. This once-glamorous woman has been dragged away from her New York City lifestyle. Her husband, Walter, is a writer. He wants inspiration for his next book, and he can only find that when they move to the country. Yet, this causes their relationship to fracture and both Loretta and Walter grow cold and apart. Furthermore, Walter can’t help but cheat on his wife. Therefore, a deep sense of depression and desperation takes hold as the protagonist tries to get her life back.
This cold story will resonate with many gamers. But I can’t imagine many people would go to the lengths that the hero is willing to experience. With dark thoughts swirling in her head, she lacks a logical mindset. Consequently, she is reactive to many situations and this causes a path of death and destruction to be left in her wake. However, you have the power to stop these things from happening.
Slow gameplay.
Though the plot gives off high-energy and dramatic vibes, the action plays out at an incredibly slow pace. Every interaction is supported by bucket-loads of dialogue. This element of the game had a visual novel feeling to it that may put some gamers off. I, however, enjoyed delving into the lore of each character and the varied subplots.
Completing each task at hand wasn’t challenging. Effectively, you had to explore an array of small spaces whilst interacting with every usable object. If successful, you will complete a puzzle or move the dialogue onto its next segment. If you fail, you simply explore some more and the solution will quickly jump out at you. Now, this may seem like a complaint, but it isn’t. I liked the deliberate slow nature of the plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting and era-specific writing.
You may be offended.
Loretta does a great job of highlighting the dialect and vocabulary of the era. Though this may offend some, I was impressed by the lack of censorship. Furthermore, I believe that the past should be celebrated even if it is wrong by modern standards. Thankfully, this is the mindset of the developer and I believe that the game benefits because of this honest approach.
Alongside this, the uncomfortable mental health issues were not swerved. As the hero’s mental health declines, the imagery, dialogue, and tasks take a strange turn. Subsequently, you feel like you are being led down a rabbit hole. This bizarre funnelled gameplay was slightly disconcerting. However, as new characters were introduced and the story evolved, you simply rolled with the punches and waited out the madness.
Loretta takes inspiration from film noir.
Film noir isn’t utilised enough. This dated genre creates some spectacular and dramatic encounters. Furthermore, it allows you to use your imagination to fill in moments of nothingness. Thankfully, Loretta takes inspiration from this genre. The sense of desperation and loss is enhanced by the sinister art style. Additionally, the small environments and unnaturally creepy characters complement the grisly nature of the plot.
The audio follows suit with its minor-toned soundtrack. Furthermore, the daunting ambient sounds join a host of traditional OTT horror noises. The slash of a knife and the bludgeoning noise of a blunt object will make you cringe. Moreover, the cold screams of fearful victims will stick in your mind. Accordingly, though this is uncomfortable to look at and to listen to, it is bloody brilliant to experience.
Simple controls.
With point-and-click mechanics at its core, Loretta was always going to be simple to control. Additionally, an easy-to-read UI and slow gameplay keep you on top of things. Though there isn’t a tutorial, much of the action is straightforward. However, the dialogue should have been highlighted better as it was tough to see which option was selected.
Though it wasn’t always clear to see how the story diverged, there are plenty of subplots and branching moments. This ensures that there are multiple endings to enjoy, and you can manipulate Loretta’s fate. This creates a sense of replay value and longevity. I’m not sure how many times I can stomach the madness, but returning to experience some unique moments is worth every uncomfortable encounter.
Loretta takes you down a dark path.
I’m not always a fan of dark and depressing media. The world is hard enough without relaxing to more of the same. Yet, Loretta tells an interesting and captivating story. Furthermore, I loved the sinister choices and the excellent story. Alongside this, it has a cruel and grim aesthetic that is fantastic to look at. Consequently, I love this and I recommend buying it here! Would you kill another human to reclaim your life? Make your choices, live with the consequences, and escape your bland existence.
