Local News with Cliff Rockslide

really want this game to be good but it just isn't. every npc has like 800 pages of dialog, the game is a press A simulator. i get what it's going for, and im glad i finished at least a little more of it, but it honestly feels like a chore to play. i really want to like it, it has a lot of potential

Local News with Cliff Rockslide is a comedic narrative adventure developed by Horsefly Games and published by Bonus Stage Publishing that transforms the mundane world of local television reporting into a playground for absurd mysteries and surreal humor. Rather than casting players as a heroic adventurer or detective, the game places them in the role of a cameraperson working alongside the eccentric news reporter Cliff Rockslide. This unusual premise immediately gives the game a unique identity, allowing it to explore bizarre events through the lens of local journalism while delivering a story filled with unexpected twists, strange characters, and delightfully ridiculous situations. The adventure takes place in Butterfly Valley, a small town that initially appears peaceful and uneventful. However, as players begin assisting Cliff with various news assignments, it quickly becomes clear that the town is hiding far more than ordinary local stories. Strange disappearances, mysterious cults, zombies, bizarre objects, and unexplained phenomena begin to emerge, turning what should be simple news coverage into an increasingly chaotic investigation. The contrast between the professional se…

Wasted potential. The controls in the menu are old-fashioned and took some time to get used to. Furthermore, the audio is mostly lacking, while the visuals are decent, the 2D sprites during dialogues are more than irritating, as they often obstruct the view towards the characters, making it often difficult to actually see where you need to zoom in/out of. To the gameplay itself: It feels very raw and basic - unpolished even. Due to the inability of jumping, I got softlocked during the mansion mission and had to give up on that save file. This game also tries to be both a visual novel and a walking simulator, whereas so much more would've been possible with this specific art style and storyline. Quite disappointing. The characters often feel like they are walking either too fast or the player is simply too slow, making the "run here and there" type of missions painful to endure. During a 85% discount, this game can be a good waste of time for a day, but I wouldn't recommend buying it for the full price. If this game seems worth 9€ to you, you may as well consider donating that money to charity instead. However, I must admit there were some fun moments too, namely the raw humor an…

Local News with Cliff Rockslide presents an intriguing concept, offering players the opportunity to step into the shoes of a small-town news reporter and investigate local mysteries. However, despite its potential, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend this game due to persistent technical issues, including frequent crashes. While playing Local News with Cliff Rockslide, I encountered numerous instances of crashes, which significantly disrupted my gaming experience and hampered my ability to fully immerse myself in the game. These crashes occurred at random intervals, often during crucial moments of gameplay, leading to frustration and disappointment. In addition to the technical issues, I found the overall gameplay experience to be lacking in depth and polish. The mechanics felt clunky and unrefined, with awkward controls and repetitive gameplay loops that quickly grew tiresome. Despite the game's intriguing premise, I couldn't shake the feeling that it failed to deliver on its potential, leaving me feeling underwhelmed and dissatisfied. Furthermore, while the concept of investigating local mysteries and reporting on them as a news reporter is intriguing, I found the execution to b…

The game is interesting to say the least. The dialog can be funny but i'm very neutral about the game 5/10

There’s no information when you start the game, and you don’t even know that you’re supposed to go to the local news office or Cliff’s garage. Once you find the place, you grab the camera and start following Cliff around town in search of interesting stories. The town is a decent size, but there’s no reason to explore because there are no secrets. While it is nice and colorful, with a design choice that makes everything look pixelated, which cannot be turned off, there are some small things that might bother you. Notably, there are objects you can pass through as if they were made of air, as well as invisible walls that prevent you from walking through open doors or even checking out people’s backyards. Cliff will run off somewhere, and you’re supposed to find him by following a compass that you need to turn on. When you stand on the marked spot, Cliff will start talking and interviewing people. The stories are amusing, and conversations are presented through text similar to a visual novel, so you don’t have to wait for people to finish speaking and can skip through dialogue by repeatedly pressing the button. However, doing so will earn you only one star because your job is to f…