Explore a Land of Unlimited Chances: Evaluation of the Video Game 'Life's Journey'
Playing the game of life: A distinctive take on life simulation through 'Life is a Game'
Navigating life can often feel like a never-ending merry-go-round, with endless labor and the fleeting hope of contentment. But what if you could change your perspective and chart a new course? Enter 'Life is a Game', a unique mobile simulator developed by Studio Wheel in 2017. This ingenious game takes players on a life-long journey, allowing them to steer their characters through the ups and downs while showcasing the stages of psychosocial development.
From the moment you boot up the game, you're greeted with an inviting, cartoony pixel world brimming with life and color. Your journey begins as a toddler darting across a cozy nursery, with the objective of jumping and collecting coins to unlock your character's abilities and improve their happiness.
There are multiple types of coins in 'Life is a Game', each boasting its own distinct icon:1. The baby bottle: Energizes your character, boosts happiness2. The lightbulb: Enhances intelligence when collected nine times, boosts happiness3. The paintbrush: Enhances creativity, raises happiness4. Book (studying): Leans towards service careers (teachers, lawyers, doctors); decreases happiness5. Soccer ball (studying): Pushes a sports career; decreases happiness6. Stethoscope (studying): Guides a medical career; decreases happiness7. Musical note (studying): Encourages a musical career; decreases happiness8. Paint palette note (studying): Steers towards an artistic career; decreases happiness9. Hotdog: Fills your character with junk food; decreases happiness10. Muscle: Provides exercise; raises happiness and health11. Cigarette: Smoked by the character; decreases happiness and health12. Photo album: Reminds players of their past; decreases happiness and health13. Pocket watch: Indicates the end of the game; decreases happiness and health
Juggling the benefits and drawbacks of each coin is crucial, as decisions can impact a character's lifespan, careers, and happiness. Collecting early-game studying coins can help mold players towards specific careers, but may decrease happiness levels significantly. Pursuing interests that bring joy is crucial, as an overemphasis on studying can lead to an unhappy life and a shorter lifespan. With nine coins of a particular career-focused studying coin, specific jobs can be unlocked. For example, players needing to amass numerous book and stethoscope coins can become a surgeon.
As players complete their schooling and move into adulthood, they can choose a hobby (music, art, or sports) that influences their career field. This is represented by a hobby pictogram on the lower-left side of the screen, which illuminates every 8-10 seconds to provide opportunities for players to exercise their chosen activity.
Throughout the game, quick-fire choices in social interactions, ranging from casual conversation to major life decisions like marriage, shape each player's relationships and personal growth. A certain amount of nimbleness and intuition is required, as choices must be made rapidly due to the game's fast-paced nature.
Emotional bonds can also blossom when players reach adulthood and are given the opportunity to propose. Proposals can occur randomly, allowing romance to develop unexpectedly. If a player's proposal is accepted, a partner will be acquired, and children can be conceived. Alternatively, if a proposal is rejected, the player's happiness will temporarily suffer.
As players age and reach their golden years, their jumps will become increasingly slow and labored, with the introduction of special coins – the photo album and pocket watch – signaling the end of their life. The closer the player gets to their final moments, the more their health will deteriorate, making jumping increasingly challenging until they ultimately succumb, passing through their final door and into their coffin. A funeral will be held, attended by the characters that populated their life.
Each ending will present players with a reflection on their life, highlighting its highs and lows, and leaving players questioning if they made the right choices. By rewinding the game, players are given the opportunity to replay critical moments and ponder, 'What if I had done things differently?' This process can be repeated indefinitely, with the hope of finding the best life possible.
In essence, 'Life is a Game' serves as a mirror, reflecting the choices we make and how they shape our lives. It's a stark reminder that happiness, social connections, intimate relationships, and family are crucial components of our existence. Ultimately, we must take control of our lives, making tough decisions knowing that there is no turning back. Just like the game, life doesn't pause for us to contemplate our actions. We simply have to dive in and hope for the best.
- The unique mobile game 'Life is a Game' showcases the stages of psychosocial development, presenting players with coins representing various interests, such as sports, arts, and even mental health, encouraging players to consider their choices' impact on their characters' lifespans, careers, and happiness.
- As players progress through 'Life is a Game', navigating childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, they are faced with quick-fire choices in social interactions, which shape their relationships and personal growth, highlighting the importance of emotional bonds and social connections.
- The game 'Life is a Game' also delves into the realm of entertainment, offering an immersive, compelling experience that resembles a video of life, with players steering their characters through the ups and downs while showcasing the stages of psychosocial development.
- In the health-and-wellness and mental-health sections of 'Life is a Game', players must balance the benefits and drawbacks of each coin, such as junk food versus exercise, as decisions can impact a character's lifespan, careers, and happiness, reminding players that happiness, social connections, intimate relationships, and family are crucial components of our existence and that we must take control of our lives, making tough decisions knowing that there is no turning back.
