A Painter's Tale: Curon, 1950

There’s an awkward place in the industry for video games framed as educational tools, and A Painter’s Tale falls squarely into that category. Even though its tale is a fictional one, it’s interwoven into the history and memory of a small town named Curon, which was flooded in the 1950 to make space for a dam. As history is a weird thing, changing faces depending on who you ask, contested, opinionated, divisive, clichéd “written by the victors”, and prone to all kinds of outbursts, undertaking a project such as this is always a dicey proposition. All of that still didn’t stop Monkeys Tale Studio from injecting a fantasy tale into a real world tragedy, and even shuffling the order of events a bit, to perhaps better highlight personal misfortunes, and the clash between tradition and progress. Let’s call this a historical walking simulator which puts you in the shoes of Tomasso, an Italian painter visiting the new village that was built after the flooding. Experiencing a bumpy first date with the Lady of the Lake, he wakes up in the old town of Curon, built from a scale model which is kept in the Alta Val Venosta museum in South Tyrol. What comes out of this is Tomasso thrust into a…

I had A Painter's Tale on my "to play list" for a while and I finally lauched and finished the game. it was such a nice story that I actually didn't know about. I really enjoyed the theatre-like narration and all the bonus content (paintings, stories etc) were super welcomed. It is a very elegantly made story overall, with nice characters and great scenery. Steam says I played it 30mns but I actually finished it in about 3 hours. I recommend it to anyone who likes story games that has documentary elements.

Very nice short story centered around real events. There is no much gameplay aside from exploring, interacting and talking, but characters and places feel alive, so it's not boring at all. [spoiler]Objectively:[/spoiler] 8.5/10

Amazing. They made a video game out of the sad yet hopeful story of a small town. I've never played a game that was so real before.

I kinda expected something entirely different from this game. Advertised as a game where you can explore the city, there is not nearly enough to see and learn. The story of curon is told with the help of individual fictional characters. Some of them have interesting background stories that are disregarded or resolved in a very unsatisfying matter. There are some choices you as the player have to make that don't seem to change anything in the end. The camera is really limiting and frustrating, with the fixed position you are only granted a small peek at the map/ city and some sequences are downright annoying when you can only see a tiny part of where you are going. Interacting with thing is iffy as well as you have to look for the sweet spot in order to actually get the option to do so. In addition, towards the end, there are complete sentences that have not been translated. All in all, this game is very unsatisfying. It has a short (you can probably finish the game in less than 2 hours) story without a real ending. After the main story is over, the main character is teleported back into the present and doesn't even reflect on what has happened to him. I personally would have pref…

A Painter's Tale: Curon, 1950 is a captivating and heartwarming experience that swept me away on a journey of artistic discovery and emotional resonance. From its picturesque landscapes to its endearing characters, this game is a true gem that left me with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. First and foremost, let's talk about the charm of Curon, 1950. Set against the backdrop of a quaint Italian village in the 1950s, the game exudes a nostalgic charm that is impossible to resist. Every cobblestone street, every rustic storefront, is infused with a sense of history and character that draws you in and makes you feel right at home. But what truly sets A Painter's Tale apart is its heartwarming storyline. As you step into the shoes of a young artist navigating the challenges of life and love, you'll find yourself swept up in a tale of self-discovery, friendship, and the enduring power of creativity. The characters you meet along the way are wonderfully fleshed out, each with their own hopes, dreams, and struggles that resonate on a deeply human level. Of course, it wouldn't be a painter's tale without stunning artwork, and Curon, 1950 delivers in spades. From the vibrant co…