I picked up The Occupation today, 4 hours after release. This is best termed a cerebral mystery adventure game. You are a reporter, investigating a bombing and someone’s supposed innocence.
Honestly, I haven’t got a clue what’s going on beyond that, LOL. I have vague clues in my notebook, I can examine documents and objects, uncrumple paper and read it, open doors, drawers and cabinets in an intuitive motion like in Edith Finch. A lot of that addds to my notebook, but my objectives are very vague. It’s almost as if I am actually that reporter, sneaking around and getting into stuff I shouldn’t without a clue what or if I will find it. I’ve had to avoid guards in the first area.
Right now I am combing somebody’s apartment to learn something. It might be my apartment. It might be the dead guy’s apartment (from the bombing), I just don’t know. All I know is I am missing something crucial because I can’t leave.
Graphics are different. They used the UE4 engine, but instead of the realism it is able to produce, theyve gone off and seemingly hand painted everything ala Ether One graphics, similar to cel shading you might see in Prince of Persia 2008 or Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. Also, it’s in some kind of weird resolution. I selected 1920x1080 because of alternate system monitor, and there are black bars too and bottom, so it becomes like 1920x980.
So, in summary, two hours in, I’ve grown several new brain cells figuring stuff out one step at a time, but still don’t have a clue what is going on! Regardless, I like it, and want to keep going. It’s a case of I KNOW I must be smarter than the game.
Edit: I dare say it needs a patch. I lost the cursor, and upon restart I saw a screen hint saying Ctrl will I equip the cursor. Apparently I must have hit it. Without that little pointer, it is impossible. Luckily the restart gave me that tip and I now know. It is not listed in the control customization screen.
Also, upon restart, half your video setting like full sized, vsync and max frames goes bye bye. Yep, patch it, although it is only a minor annoyance.
Fun news: I made it out of the apartment. There is seriously no hand holding. I picked up a piece of mail, and only by accident turned it over, realizing I had the ability to open it and retrieve the 3.5” floppy disk inside. Trial and error...fun!
EDIT on 3/6/19 - I’ve completed 3 chapters in The Occupation so far. It’s decidedly hard in the stealth aspects. Constant roaming by employees and patrolling by guards usually translates to not having much of the hour or so before an interview available to gather information for relevant questions.
The game doesn’t fail you at any time. You keep advancing through the chapters, even if you don’t manage to get all the facts or clues gathered. I appreciate that as an element of realism. It’s been awhile since I’ve had thinking challenges without any idea if the end will be successful or not.
I just need to pull myself together.
I completely screwed the last chapter, getting thrown out of the facility before my final interview and without the final disk. Yeah, I had no idea that it was THAT important. LOL. Another playthrough will come, maybe wait till Sunday. At least I have more of an idea what the game is looking for with true success.