Fran Bow Review (Kevin_and_Other_Drugs)
Little girls in pop-culture are often stereotyped as creepy or having some dark undertones. That's all sunshine and rainbows compared to Fran Bow. She's creepier than the candy van parking near your local kindergarten.
The Story:
Fran Bow is an otherwise normal young girl until her parents are mysteriously murdered by an unknown assailant. She is then admitted to an asylum made for children and put on an experimental drug to help her process the trauma. This drug has an unexpected side affect that allows Fran to see creatures from other realities hidden to the otherwise naked eye. Using these pills she must escape the asylum and go on a journey to find her cat, Mr Midnight, and find out the truth behind what really happened that night as things become increasingly supernatural.
The Gameplay:
The gameplay is very simple. It's a 2.5D point and click adventure game that has you solve puzzles in order to progress by either using or combining items you find hidden in the levels.
The puzzles can sometimes be challenging or quite easy depending on your level of creative thinking and actually vary from chapter to chapter which keeps the core mechanics fresh and engaging. For example, in chapter 1 you'll use your pills to see the same room in two different realities but in a later chapter you have no pills and instead switch between the four seasons to solve your problems. The surrounding people will do different things in different seasons which really forces you to use your brain in interesting ways that feel very rewarding once you figure it out.
Some Pros:
- Good brainteaser puzzles.
- A lengthy game.
- An interesting universe that's simultaneously fascinating and unnerving.
- Fran has a lot personality that helps make her a character players can become invested in.
- It is fairly priced and does go on sale from time to time.
Some Cons:
- Some dialogue can not be ended early, leaving you in a long conversation you've possibly already had while looking for clues.
Conclusion:
Fran Bow is a "wonderful" game that does a lot with so little gameplay. It relies heavily on symbolism that offer a glimpse into the psyche of damaged mind and leaves a lot up to personal interpretation. But maybe that's why it's such an interesting journey to go on. I think the asking price is fair for what you get out, and if you're a lover of that creepy Alice in Wonderland-type imagery, then you're sure to love Fran Bow.