and Roger – Unexpectedly Powerful Interactive Fiction

“Then so be it. I’ll go where you go no matter how dark the path.” – Cora Reilly

Overview

and Roger is an emotive piece of interactive fiction that lets the player see through the eyes of a confused protagonist in often unsettling situations. The game will take around an hour to complete and is comprised of three chapters, within which, not everything makes sense.

Narrative

and Roger begins with a young girl waking up, she is unsure of the time, her head feels foggy, and she is hungry. Instead of her dad working in the lounge, she finds an unknown man and is both scared and confused. His frustration and demands distress her further, and she attempts to run away.

The narrative is well-constructed and guides the player through twists and turmoil in a dramatic and structured way. The story is told largely through dialogue between the few characters and the thoughts of the protagonist. It allows the player to connect quite deeply with the character and the series of events she goes through. This makes for a highly emotive and often disconcerting experience.

Gameplay

The gameplay is generally quite straightforward, but unlike a lot of titles in this genre that function much like a visual novel and require a single click to progress, and Roger amps up the interactivity using some immersive mechanics. The player is required to solve light puzzles, stealth sections, as well as simple interactions such as dragging the cursor or timed clicks that tie into the experiences of the protagonist, creating a tangible connection. There are also some quite unusual and abstract interactions that feel unique and somewhat meta, especially at the start of the game. This demonstrates some standout gameplay design, and the relevance reveals itself gradually as and Roger progresses.

Styling

and Roger uses colour in a very clever and tactful way to convey meaning and emotion to the player. The colour palettes vary throughout the chapters, ranging from stark black and white to a vibrant variety of pastel shades. This works well with the minimal hand-drawn, 2D anime/cartoon art style that features loose linework and feels very deliberately stylised.

The game uses an eclectic soundscape that ranges from cute, playful melodies at a relaxing tempo to oppressive, loud, crescendoing audio assaults, and ominous static or ticking sounds. This motley selection of noises and music powerfully reflects the protagonist’s state of mind and what is happening within each scene, further connecting the player and the main character in an uninhibited and moving way.

Summary

It is difficult to review and Roger without revealing too much about the game and potentially hindering the enjoyment of future players, but it is a remarkable example of interactive fiction and an intensely emotive experience. The combination of tactful colour use, hand-drawn artwork, demonstrative sound design, winding, well-written narrative, and original, relationship-building gameplay fosters a tangible affinity between the player and the protagonist. All the elements of the experience work together in tandem, resulting in an experience that is emotional, triggering, and upsetting, but ultimately endearing. and Roger looks innocuous on the surface, but has the ability to pack a punch and hit the player in the feels. It took me by surprise in that respect. I thoroughly enjoyed the game, and I’d definitely recommend this game to fans of interactive fiction.

Looking for more interactive fiction? You may enjoy these reviews:
A Sketchbook About Her Sun – Firebird – Florence