A woman vanishes from an elevator with no explanation, sparking an adventure that will take you to lands of dream and nightmare, all while backed up by some internet oddballs, in YIIK: A Postmodern RPG.
Alex means to investigate that poor woman’s disappearance, even if he is only armed with a vinyl record (which is surprisingly effective). To do that, he’ll have to roam through his hometown and the surreal landscapes that seem to be connected to it, travelling through sumptuous dreamworlds and unsettling realities. It’s quite stunning to see YIIK‘s seamless transitions from ordinary life to places born of a wandering mind, making exploration a delight.
The trouble with visiting realms of dreams and nightmares is that everyone wants to give you a hard time. Even the stop signs have lousy attitudes. It’s frustrating business, but again, you’ve got some friends you met online, and your trusty record, to help. You can use your powers, and those of your allies, in turn-based combat, but you’ll have to play varied minigames to dole out the big damage. This makes for some fun game-within-a-game moments, as who doesn’t like playing a little side game that also happens to hurt your foes.
When the look and combat of the game aren’t dragging you in, the game’s eclectic soundtrack will dig its claws in deep. It features a variety of artists (from Toby Fox to the composer for Secret of Mana) that make its sound just as much of a surreal journey as its landscapes do. It’s a loving mixture of dreamy sound, visuals, and play, and promises an adventure beyond what you could possibly expect. YIIK is worth it alone just to see where it will carry you in song, story, and landscape.
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG is available now on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, and Steam.
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