Twenty-second: Stories of Underground Kharkiv

Alright. [i]Twenty-second: Stories of Underground Kharkiv[/i] is done and dusted. This is really less a game and more a propaganda piece with some Ukrainian history lessons mixed in. I sympathize with the people caught in the middle of this conflict. But I also do recognize propaganda as propaganda. I did very much appreciate the history lessons though. It took about 25 minutes to complete. I purchased it for 59 cents not too long ago, which I would say is exactly the correct price for this game. Anyway, let's begin this review with a bit of a discussion regarding a scene I took a screenshot of from the game. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3320992297 [i]She is also Russian, but she has no humanity in her. Like most Russians.[/i] This is a clear example of propaganda being placed within a game. Obviously, the actual people in both nations are actually just people. And as a rule, they're placed in untenable positions due to the very nature of nationalism. They are as human as the next person. What the real problem is....is borders themselves. What are borders really? Borders are arbitrary lines on a map that indicate which oligarchs' control which areas. We …

I like this game, it's good in terms of atmosphere. Although the game has very... weak graphics, the atmosphere of tension and personal stories are still gripping. I am really looking forward to a big game on the theme of the war between russia and Ukraine, with good drama, graphics and an interesting plot, I think the theme deserves it. I'm glad the game is telling these stories. My personal rating is 7 out of 10.

Like a real narrative. Getting into the perspective of civvies life. Respect. Slava Ukraini.

DISCLAIMER: This is a short game that is more like a virtual story than a game as such. That out of the way, I liked what the makers put forward and while I would like a follow-up of similar stories/experiences if at all possible, it told enough of a story in the time it used to be worth the money. I say again though, for anyone skimming reviews before buying, this is less a "game" than a virtual story told for the purpose of getting said story out there. I hope all involved with the game and those affected by the issues therein keep well.

This is a quiet, thoughtful game combining elements of storytelling, mini quests and social interaction. Spending a week underground in a Ukrainian metro station with other people hiding from the war outside, you chat with the other characters to learn about the war and its effects on the population. Conversations with other people help to develop the storyline and reveal sometimes surprising sides to their characters. There is no English dialogue but the subtitles are good enough for the game to make sense. Spending time with the other characters and helping them with minor quests builds connections and empathy. You only spend 6 days underground so you won't get to form deep, long lasting friendships like you can in longer games, e.g. Fallout. The graphics are fairly basic but perfectly fine for this relaxing, slow-paced game. It took less than 2.5 hours to complete the whole thing, so it's perfect if you just want a chill out session after a few hours of Fortnite or GTA. It was not designed for use with a controller, but I got along fine playing on a Windows PC with an Xbox controller. Everyone should play a game like this once in a while. It's more cerebral than mos…

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