NORCO

It's rare when a game leaves you so effortlessly speechless and words seem to be unable to properly represent how incredible the experience is. NORCO's formula is half classic point-and-click and half visual novel -- with a turn-based fighting mechanic to spice things up further. To single out its one strongest element would do it a great disservice, as it swings for the fences in terms of storytelling, writing, visuals, and soundtrack -- and proceeds to knock it out of the park in every category. Haunting, surreal, and beautiful all in one package, NORCO creates a futuristic nightmare for the residents of southern Louisiana that displays not only the nuances of the region itself, but also its many varied residents. By the end of the game, even if you've never visited Louisiana, enough love has been poured into the fictional re-creation of the area, you'll feel as if you've lived there your entire life.

The game can absolutely be played impatiently for those who just want to experience the main story without indulging in any extra dialogue with characters or clicking on random objects and reading the wonderfully written descriptions. But where some point-and-click games suffer from bloated dialogue that adds nothing of substance, NORCO wastes not a single eloquent word -- seamlessly making everything you click on relevant to the story, characters, or setting. You can practically hear what certain characters sound like when they speak, as every person you encounter -- no matter how minor -- has their own personality and quirks. Paired with the excellent writing are the game's pixel art visuals, which give Louisiana an unsettling, gritty darkness where nothing is as it seems and to trust would be to potentially meet an early end. If you're someone accustomed to figuring out plot developments, be prepared for many surprises because NORCO doesn't hold back. Sometimes it's morbid, sometimes it's heartfelt, and sometimes it just makes you laugh. Its turn-based fighting feature proves to be the icing on a well-made cake as a fun diversion, and the puzzles that are typical of the point-and-click adventure game genre are fun and interesting. Without spoiling the story or characters (as this is a game that deserves players going in as blind as possible), the plot contains a pitch-perfect sense of progression and character development as events come to a head, and the characters are all morally complex and engaging as most are victims of bad circumstances beyond their control. Wildly creative and impactful beyond its end credits, NORCO is a mind-blowing trip to the bayous, swamps, and refineries of a downtrodden Louisiana that anyone who enjoys an unforgettable story should embrace as soon as possible.