Papers, Please for Linux Review

excellent
key review info
  • Game: Papers, Please for Linux
  • Platform: Linux
  • Show system requirements
  • Gamepad support: No
  • Reviewed on:
Papers, Please

Papers, Please is a game that defies any attempt of classification, and any game that manages to do that must be something interesting. Who knew that being a customs employee could be fun?

Papers, Please is a game developed by only one person, Lucas Pope. It’s hard to believe that such a good title can be the work of only one man, but its success can be traced back to the real world. Lucas immigrated to Japan and the process of moving there turned out to be a difficult one, which gave him inspiration for this title.

You can say that this is a puzzle game, although it would be hard to find many similarities with any other genre. Everyone will find something else interesting with Papers, Please, which is the hallmark of great pieces of art.

Story and Gameplay

You take the role of an immigration officer at a border crossing for the country of Arstotzka. From the messages and the fact that there are armed guards outside you will deduce that it’s actually a dictatorship, not unlike North Korea. The only difference is that this country just opened its borders and it’s your job to filter the people who are entering Arstotzka.

Checking an endless stream of passports might seem like a tedious job, but you will fail and that is a guarantee. You don’t have to look too hard at first, just to check the picture and some simple dates, but the learning curve is brutal.

Most users, including myself, find out the hard way that the mistakes you make have a simple cost: your family’s wellbeing. If you do well, your family doesn't starve; if you don’t, the end is tragic. It’s as simple as that.

I killed my family numerous times, but each time I returned to that immigration office I got a little bit further. I started spotting simple fakes right away and most of the time I didn't even use the little technology that was offered.

People will try to bribe you, others will try to enter with guns, or they will have really good excuses, but in the end the bureaucracy wins. Every time something scripted happens, something that you can’t prevent, the bureaucracy takes over and you get yet another form that you need to check. It never fails.

After you get a little bit more comfortable with the gameplay, you also make contact with an anti-government organization that wants your help to overthrow the government. Like with everything else in the game, you will have to choose what path to follow.

The game doesn't shine in the graphics department, but it really doesn't matter. Five minutes into Papers, Please you won’t even notice this aspect. You will be in a deep trance that allows you to spot fake passports.

The other aspect of the gameplay that really makes a difference is the soundtrack, although it’s just one song, which plays at the beginning and at the end of each day. It sets the mood of the players perfectly and it lets you instantly recognize the game just by hearing it.

You can’t really find anything wrong with the game and everything is pretty much spot on. The only complaint I might have is the fact that, during the later stages of the game, checking a passport, work permit, fingerprints, and other conditions becomes tiresome, although the rest of the game will keep you going.


The Good

  • Unique gameplay and concept
  • Heavy atmosphere
  • Funny dialogues

The Bad

  • Can get a little tedious after a while

Conclusion

It’s hard to understand why this game makes players return to it. Maybe it’s that feeling that you will be better the next time you try or maybe it’s just the curiosity to see what happens next. Whatever the case, there aren't many 40MB games that do that, and Papers, Please is definitely one of them.

You will often wonder why you are playing it. Reaching the end is difficult and spotting all the fakes can be hard, but the game has a way of nagging you to go back. I understand now why being an immigration officer is probably the best job in the world. Glory to Arstotzka!

story 8
gameplay 9
concept 10
graphics 7
audio 10
multiplayer 0
final rating 9
Editor's review
excellent
 
NEXT REVIEW: Civilization V

Photo Gallery (10 Images)

Papers, Please
Papers, PleasePapers, PleasePapers, PleasePapers, Please
+5more