Welcome to the review of The Suicide of Rachel Foster for Nintendo Switch. Yes, the intriguing story-driven title developed by One O One and published by Daedalic Entertainment has landed on the hybrid console of the great N. This game is really special, not only for the topics covered, but also for the way in which the developers introduce us to these themes. Before going into the game review, however, we must necessarily warn you; some of the issues dealt with in-game are particular and could offend your sensitivity, given that there will be references to violence against minors and the very delicate context of suicide. Having made this necessary premise, decide for yourself if you wish to continue reading.
Intense, dark, sensitive
The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a single player title originally released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC on February 19, 2019 and that we had already reviewed previously, but on October 31 of this year its port on Nintendo Switch also arrived. The narrative of the game is based on some themes which are really heavy and dark. Indeed, some elements of the story they are sexual abuse of minors and, as the title suggests, suicide, all with a noteworthy work in terms of writing. But what is this game about? How do you introduce yourself to the player? You will be Nicole, a young girl who returns to the hotel his family ran: Timberland. The motivation behind this return is the sale of the place, after the death of his father.
The relationship between Nicole and her family was destroyed by her father, who had a carnal relationship with Rachel Foster – at the time sixteen – in the middle of her marriage. Worse still, the young girl finally committed the ultimate gesture by committing suicide, as she became pregnant with Nicole’s father. Hence, the story explores all the consequences of her father’s actions on the small Montana community and on Nicole herself. At the same time, however, the protagonist will also have to contend with a ghost who is right in the hotel.
The only other protagonist in the story is Irving, a member of Federal Emergency Management who will help you survive the “storm”. Obviously, precisely because the story tells of Nicole’s family past, there will be several memories that they will have to be found and addressed. All this has been done really well by the developers, who despite a decidedly “meager” technical component manages to be suggestive and tell its story well. Furthermore, he truly treats the very heavy themes he proposes with respect. Too bad only for the dialogues, often out of context and characterized by an underlying dislike for our protagonist who, despite Nicole’s young age and all the reasons that push her to not wanting to stay in that place that symbolizes a family fragmentation, has decidedly exaggerated attitudes towards what is in effect the only person who is trying to help her.
Small problems
If the story of The Suicide of Rachel Foster manages to hit the mark, sadly its progression does not present the same solidity. The various narrative discoveries are revealed only after you have progressed quite a lot in the adventure, which could lead to a slow loss of bite from the game, until it is labeled as “boring“; a problem that could become even more pronounced if you are not used to titles based solely on exploration. You must always look around and understand where you are through the map (which does not even indicate your position, since you will have to understand it), all this to make the title realistic and immersive. And if on the one hand the game succeeds perfectly in its intent, on the other it is too slow in progression. The adventure is placed in the first person, and when Nicole talks to Irving, there will often be little dialogue choices to be made so that she can better empathize with the character and make him somehow unique. Of course, this is not an RPG, where every single choice will have consequences, but it is an appreciable addition.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster takes its time; to run you will have to hold down the JoyCon analog, so most of the time you will walk through the narrow and claustrophobic corridors of the hotel, mixed with the beautiful larger rooms of the hotel. It is important to look around and try to interact with everything so that you can better understand the intricate storyline of the game. The gameplay therefore appears relatively simple, given that the real protagonist of the adventure is the script. Certainly pleasant and, as in real life, the details will make the difference to make it clear what it takes to move forward.
Switch misses a few hits
We know that Nintendo Switch is showing some difficulties from a technical point of view on several occasions, this is because of the internal components that characterize the hybrid console of the Grande N. In fact, even in this case we have seen a very slight downgrade regarding this aspect of The Suicide of Rachel Foster. The graphic style, in fact, is a mix of realism and cartoon. If you are used to the new generation consoles, this could make you turn up your nose, but in reality the general work still appears appreciable, managing to make the most of the Nintendo Switch hardware. Furthermore, we did not see any kind of bugs or glitches during our test. As for the musical side, the soundtrack consists of a few well-made tracks that are able to put the player in the right mood to face an adventure that is decidedly heavy. From the point of view of the sound effects, these too appear well made and well equalized. In addition, there are many small details that make it clear how much the developers are committed to making the atmosphere of the game as suggestive as possible.
We have reached the final part of the review of The Suicide of Rachel Foster where we answer the question: is it worth buying? The answer is yes, but only if you like the topics covered. The story is very suggestive and well written, but the slowness in the progression it could throw away players who are not interested in the storyline. However, it is a title that really manages to impress and also gives some food for thought. A truly unique experience, all in all.
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