Random Video Game Series Review - Sunless

 

Exploring the unknown has always been an interest of mine. Knowing what life is out there and just waiting to see if we truly are alone in the universe. Created by Failbetter Games comes these two award-winning games, with one about exploring the skies on a steam train and the other about exploring the sea on a steam train. Hence, why these two are related to one another and just use the concept of exploration to make two great games. So let's explore and take a look:

Sea

Both games are set in Failbetter's browser based game Fallen London in which London during the Victorian era, has been moved beneath the Earth's surface to the edge of something called the Unterzee which is a vast underground ocean. You take the role of a captain of an Unterzee steamship, who can be customized to your liking. You can quite literally win the game by achieving the chosen ambition you give your captain, such as amassing a certain amount of money to retire on. You can achieve these things by exploring the world, battling monsters, finding collectibles, doing some trading and doing various quests. Unlike many games, this is the sort of game where if your character dies, he or she cannot continue, and thus a successor must be created in their place who can inherit their goals and ambitions. Two modes exist where you can either explore to your heart's content with some battles taking place or a story mode. With the ship movement being slow and the tense music, these add some tension to the mix. There be islands to explore and do quests on too. This is a pretty good game. The writing is great as is the setting, plus the tense atmosphere make this an interesting experience that everyone should have a go at. 9/10

Skies

Set ten or so years after the previous game, London has found a gateway into outer space and the British Empire in turn has spread to multiple stars in the galaxy. Even building an artificial star of their own, with the big question of why are the stars dying, being a driving force of this game. Players this time take the role of a crewman of a steam train which travels on a top-down perspective looking map with pretty much the same stuff as the previous game, but different for obvious reasons. The only new thing about this one, aside from a different mode of transportation and setting, is that every time the character dies, the map gets rearranged when the successor comes into play. While a good sequel to a pretty good game, it doesn't really add a whole lot to the experience. But the thought of travelling the cosmos can be just as terrifying as exploring uncharted waters. So not the overall best sequel nor all that original, but if you like trains, then you'll enjoy this just fine. 8/10

Exploration can be scary at times, and these games prove it. Two pretty good games that are worth your time if you like these sorts of games. 8/10