The Ensign Reviews

Okay

MobileNickname

I loved a dark room and I like the style of your games, but this was really hard and not really fun at all. I was excited to learn more about within a dark room but all I got was abusive gameplay held back by mobile controls and a less than exciting overworld, please make games on the pc again.

Amazing! do not give up until the miracle happens

FintechJunkie

I love love this game. Similar to A Dark Room, The Ensign is an awesome and dark exploration of a new world. Totally unlike other games I’ve played. I felt the emotional journey of this game was even more intense than ADR and really made me feel sad at points with the moral decisions you are forced to make. Enjoy it!

A True Masterpiece

FluffyPenguin18

What an amazing game! Loved every bit of it. The challenges were worth every second! I hope the story continues to grow, even after the stores of “A Dark Room”, “The Ensign”, and “The Noble Circle”. Thinking about what’s be told, in terms of a story, has left my imagination running. The idea of giving very little in imagery, to allow the player to see the beautiful world created here, is something special. You simply do not see these kinds of aspects in very much games anymore. I love everything that that you have done Amir. Do. Not. Stop.

Don't give up

porcupine888

Yes, I was shocked the first time I died and had to start over. But then I realized that, of course, without the builder's locket to resurrect you (as in ADR), what else could happen? I was IMMENSELY relieved when, on my third try, I started being able to survive the defector fights, and it got better from there. It's actually a good thing that you die so quickly at first - imagine spending two hours on the game the first time, being over halfway done, and THEN dying for the first time and realizing you have to start over? I've spent 10 hours on this game over the past few days, completed it twice (the second time to get some of the content mentioned in the Secrets that I missed the first time), and am glad I spent the $2. I especially appreciated the hug I got in the red text the time I died during the final space flight due to too few hull hp. That hug was the main reason I didn't give up at that point. (I recommend at least 30 hp, for the record.)

Better than the first!

Cjdude214

A dark room had its moments, but the difficulty of this game really makes you feel connected to the ensign. I played through this game without taking the food at all (I didn’t know you got a boost when you restart and took the food) so it took me three days to complete, but I got 100% completion when I did. The references to ADR were especially powerful. I loved the genius design choices, especially with the defectors. Amazing game, I would definitely recommend if you’ve played A Dark Room.

You will either love or hate this

Little miss repo

If you have true grit and can persevere through death after death, learning every time, you will love this game. Once you reach the end (or one of) the secrets will be open to you, which is one of my favorite additions. Enjoy listening to the developer, and enjoy the adventure.

Too many deaths none to any good purpose

Jude-d

I had one instance in the game where I cleared out the tannery then died of dehydration. That in itself wasn’t so bad, what was bad though was upgrades gotten for clearing that tannery disappeared with my death. Next time I clear that tannery and get upgrades I plan on closing the game down then starting up later just to see if I die of something other than dehydration.

Challenge yourself

bandgek582

I was bitter with this game for a long time. I downloaded it years ago after finishing ADR and I couldn’t get past the first portion. Death awaited every time I attempted anything. I hated it. I gave up. I let this game sit for likely two years before I came back and tried again. I regret that it took me so long. This game has so much to teach you about the universe of ADR. You have so much to learn and this game will challenge you the entire way and you won’t regret a second of it. From biting wit to choices that challenge your inner values, this game is astounding, for me, more so than ADR. You MUST play ADR before this game, but your time will be well worthwhile. A beautifully knitted story and a game that envelops your mentally and emotionally.

No spoilers

Asdfghjllooingftjbg

So this is actually a huge step up from the dark room. It has a more in depth story line that actually ties in with the dark room. Throughout the game, you’ll find yourself being frustrated. A lot. But that’s sort of the point. I’m not going to give anything away, but I will say that your game plays off your history. You’re going to die. You’re going to want to quit. But don’t. I won’t say the game plays off of you dying, but I’ll say that you only grow as you play and die and play again. The more you put into it, the more reward you get out once you start again. Visit the top left corner with a few stuns and plenty of ammo and food. Try to hit as many spots as frequently to keep your food and water up. Never give up! ?

My story

JFullmer

Once the game is completed the author asks for us to share our vision of the world as it is described. As I played the ensign and began to improve in skill surviving and longer each time, I began to see that I changed my mentality each time I died. Each time it was and new survival ideal, I found my choices starting from moral to whatever benefited me. Until I came to the terrified family with their food on the table. At first I took the food not thinking much of it, as I left the message “ The child starved first” made me think about my choices. After a long time I found that I had never taken their food on any other occasion. At times I would find people, when I was desperate for food or resources and I convince myself that relieving them of their lives was merciful instead of selfish. However at one point I was starving dying of thirst but I was close to our house, I went inside and it was the starving family. Instead of acting desperately, the memory of what happened Burned in me. I left and starved in the wasteland rather than take their food. The tales the Admiral speaks of, I found at first nothing more than a narrative. But once I was seasoned and a veteran in the game, when I heard his tales I could feel the excitement of destroying and conquering the planet. I felt the zeal and valor from those times, diminished by the worlds wait. Another times in the game I would be dragging myself along only on the hope of victory once I reached the flag ship. At desperate times I would only think of the ship as an escape instead of a returning strike to finish the humans. I found with the defectors a shocking pleasure in defeating them. Finally once I drag myself to the ship with plenty of alien Ally, upgrading it to the teeth I set sail I got far enough to inject, and was welcomed by the beginning of a dark room. I continue to play the game making the ship stronger and stronger attending to get past the astroids. Only were my suspicions that there was no escape from the planet confirmed when I listened to the authors secrets. This game is incredible and gives a powerful narrative and really makes you think. It’s hard especially the stars but as you increase in skill becomes easier.

The Ensign Reviews – Page 2