This War of Mine: The Little Ones
Overview -
Last year we reviewed the PC version of 'This War of Mine', which was splendid in a depressing, too-real kind of way. Instead of glamorizing war as most video games tend to, it offers the rare portrayal of civilians caught in a city under siege. No goods or people are going in or out, and so the unfortunate souls who have been left behind must beg, borrow, and steal for their survival, and sometimes worse. It is based on the Siege of Sarajevo, a horrible event in human history that happened barely twenty years ago. 'This War of Mine: The Little Ones' is the first console release for the title, available for PS4 and Xbox One. It adds several features from the 2.0 update, and most importantly, child characters.
Video Review
The video looks native on the Xbox One in that there is no stretching or distortion. Otherwise it is unchanged from the PC version. The visuals are not outstanding, but they are bleak and effective. A penciled charcoal effect covers most surfaces. Characters have adequate models and animations, particularly the kids, who do many things the adults do not (play on swings, kick around a ball, etc.). This version does have some control issues that the mouse-and-keyboard edition does not. Only one character can be controlled at a time, reducing the house’s crafting capabilities for the day. The 2D nature of the maps is problematic for the Xbox controller, and so my survivors often ran up and down the same flight of stairs several times until the analog stick was pulled in the opposite direction, which isn’t intuitive. It takes some getting used to, but it’s not smooth from the get-go.
Audio Review
Not much news on the audio side. The kids occasionally cry out for their caretaker, but voice acting is minimal. The music is good, but similarly limited.
Final Thoughts
11 bit has made an even more compelling war drama with 'This War of Mine: The Little Ones'. The controller is a bit rusty, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing one of the most compelling stories in this generation. Coming to the Xbox One 'This War of Mine' is more accessible than ever, and the addition of kids makes it even more bittersweet.