By RPG-Maker standards this is pretty good, using many evocative art-panels, recorded footage videos, and the ambience of the rain to create a moody experience. That said, the whole psychological/melancholy narrative is very overused in the medium, specifically the RPG-Maker games, but I think Land of Ghosts still manages to create some compelling moments, mostly through the use of its few psychotic characters and the short moments of bonding they have together. Takes roughly 2.5 hours if you playing slow, not exactly sure if there is any hidden content, I am only aware of the 2 choices at the end (and some locked door I could not open).

What does the person feel right before they take their life? Seemingly it's not despair or dread, but a sense of clarity, and yet a desire to share their last moment with a stranger, as the deepest wounds are those left by the loneliness that they endured. What does it mean to be lonely, and do you still feel alone when there is someone that cares about you. Do they really know you? Are you really free to leave them, or do you just stay with them because you are afraid?

Land of Ghosts explores the insignificance of death, just another life, same as any other taken every day, another misfit that the world does not care for. Do you go out quietly or do you want to go out with a bang, or perhaps you want to take someone with you as a final act of defiance.

I wasn't sure exactly if the "Land of Ghosts" was meant to be taken as a post-death pocket world, some of the scenery can make it feel a bit surreal, but I suspect that it might be the warped perspective of the character, not ghosts, but either the people that don't matter (represented by shadows), and the few individuals who are in the same boat as you (represented with normal visuals). Today the character decided to take her life, but you not alone, there are many like you, and you will experience their final moments together.


(+) For the engine the game uses a lot of original art panels and recorded footage, almost coming across as some arthouse project, got some nice immersion and escapism going for it. The individual art panels were also very nice, I think they were very evocative with the visual storytelling and beautiful landscapes.

(+) It's not a very original narrative, but I think the characters had interesting perspectives, all ending their life, but for different reasons, and finding some joy in those final moments in the company of someone with the same goal.

(+) Very moody experience, the world that always rains (giving me some Naruto vibes lol), or maybe just the mind that always cries.


Random Things:

- I wish there was some indication to show who is talking
- the interaction on the second car did not work right away for some reason
- if you backtrack, the game recycles some story elements
- I would have liked a little more exploration, sometimes I would backtrack to see if anything changed, and never really found anything worthwhile

Overall Thoughts: 8/10

Most RPG-Maker games are very mid, this one has a little more thought to it, and certainly more visual content. Even though the psychological narrative is beaten to death in the medium, I still thought the chemistry between the characters was good, and I thought those bonding panels felt very emotional, if not pleasantly edgy at times. I could see this game being a cult classic if it came out a decade earlier, but sadly it's a very old trend for the story, and not as rare anymore. Overall, I enjoyed it, worth a playthrough if you like exploring the inner conflict.

全流程大概3个小时。其实已经在itch上买过了，还因为太喜欢了给朋友也送了两份作为安利，没想到居然会上steam，索性再买一份吧（
我非常看重游戏美术和风格，作者极其有辨识度的画风和很cult风味的审美偏好完全踩在我的审美点上。
游戏内模拟闪回的现实播片，还有像是日记一样演出的cg，都太有创意了；游戏场景不算多但都相当精致；游戏内容虽然是以碎片化的形式地被给出 但仍够有力，不难理解。游戏名是什么故事就讲了什么。
夜、雨、迷失、失控的记忆、无法愈合的创口。
我很钟爱一些“不那么理所当然符合大众预期的心情”，而故事里的角色恰巧都是带着这样的心情出现的。
被每天睁眼就需要面对的一切磋磨得越来越迟钝的神经回路 在意识到从今往后也许仍然要携带着所有不安 面向不可知也不期待的未来的时候
我想 也只会不作消化地送回大脑
然后驱使人 像坐在河水边、鹿新鲜的遗骸旁的主角一样 呓语般地从口中漏出那句
"Is this solitude?"
如果说以表现氛围为首要要求的话那这一作堪称完美，这部游戏带来的体验就是我对"solitude"一词的全部理解。如果喜欢氛围作，同时不介意残酷表现的话，请不要错过它。
还有游戏里我最喜欢的那句台词， I want you to show me all the ugliest parts of you/渴盼你将所有的不堪向我展露无遗 。如此包容、如此残忍。
以及非常期待作者的另一部《残暴情节》，也祝看到这里的你体验愉快。

this is one of my favourite games ever :) have already played the itch.io release like 6 times over.... so glad this is on steam now too!! this is such an interesting world and the whole game is so well crafted!! buy it buy it buy it!!