There are many ways to tell a story. Although it might seem strange, GRIS tells a story without actually explaining it. It’s not about the written or spoken word, GRIS is all about the atmosphere and its metaphors. Wandering around this beautiful watercolored world, you’ll find the true meaning of GRIS, it’s not always a happy place. It will break you, it will take away your colors, it will almost kill you… But in the end, you’ll face your inner demons time after time.
Solitude
The story of GRIS is too complex to explain since there simply isn’t one. There isn’t one in the literal meaning of the word. Of course, there’s a story; but you have to find out for yourselves. There’s not a single written or spoken word, just images filled with metaphors and deeper layers. After completing the game, I have my own theories about what happened, but in this review, I won’t give those away. Guiding you towards a certain story wouldn’t benefit the experience, instead, it’s up to you to decide what happened to Gris, our main character.
Right from the start, you’ll connect with Gris, she’s a fragile little being who got her grace stripped away. She can’t gracefully jump into the air no more. Her steps are heavy and her progress slow. Gris lost her joy in life and is desperately searching to get it back. During her quest, she’ll bring back color to the world and step by step, she’ll learn how to move gracefully again. It’s a journey about personal loss and only by bringing back the colors to the world, Gris can become herself once again.
Hope
Although it might sound like a ‘guided’ expierence, GRIS actually offers a lot of gameplay elements. It’s amazing to see how Nomada Studio, a Barcelona based development house, managed to combine gameplay with such a unique expierence. GRIS isn’t a Metroidvania game, instead, it offers a more streamlined world where everything is connected with each other. There are no arrows indicating which direction you should take; but instinctively, you’ll always know where you need to go. This is thanks to the amazing level design. As you can see on the screenshots, everything is created in a gorgeous style. The hand-drawn graphics really impress from the first seconds you start the game and will continue to do so until the very end. The game plays with shadow and colors, creating staircases and new platforms out of shadows or different colors. The way Gris can scale the platforms and reach the higher ground is truly unique and impressive.
Besides the platforms, Gris also has to face several environmental puzzles, mostly solved by collecting small dots of light. These small lights are spread all over the world and follow Gris as a beacon of hope. Once you reach the right location, the lights will form a constellation and a new way to reach the unreachable. They form bridges of light, guiding Gris towards her new goal. I really loved the way the story progresses. With the gorgeous watercolors and fragile lights, the team really did create a unique world, the way the colors are added to the world are something I haven’t seen in any other game before and I’m sure I’ll remember GRIS for many years to come. Visually speaking, it’s a masterpiece.
Heartbreak
Although the visuals are stunning, it’s the score made by composer Berlinist that really lifts the game to new heights. The music offers layered melodies which easily reflects the action on your screen. Berlinist’s music is uplifting, haunting and at some moments heartbreaking. Thanks to it, you feel what Gris is going through. From the harsh winds blowing her back time after time to the adorable (rare) wildlife you’ll encounter. The music forces you to feel, to understand, what’s really going on. In all honesty, the music moved me more than once and it often happened that I paused while playing. Just standing there, letting it all sink in. GRIS has some heartbreaking moments but there’s always hope lingering around the corner, constantly lifting you up, convincing you to move forward.
Conclusion:
GRIS is something different, something unique, and a true work of art. The heartbreaking story is told only by its striking visuals and amazing soundtrack. There’s nothing like GRIS currently on the market and if you let your emotions go, it’s one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever play. Don’t be afraid to try something new, prepare for a short but unforgettable odyssey in a gorgeously created world.
9.5/10
Tested on Nintendo Switch
