Iris And The Giant Is A Masterpiece

Why You Should Praise Iris And The Giant

Video games have almost always had a bad reputation. From violence to drugs and sex, it is understandable why most of the general public seems to look down upon them with harsh scrutiny. With AAA companies like EA and Activision making decisions that focus on making profits through loot boxes and other live services, the issue is only getting worse. However lately there has been a multitude of titles that prove video games can be much more than mindless profit machines. With easier access to the creative tools and education required to make a game, there has been a surge in indie developers and the critically important ideas they bring with them that break the normal expectations of this medium, creating a renaissance for groundbreaking video games.

As a species we all deal with the harder aspects of life at some point, whether it be grief, depression, anxiety and any other kind of illness or disorder. Despite it being such a common conflict within people, there is still a large stigma about how people should go about talking about it and dealing with it. But in the case of raising awareness and giving society a relatable ground to plant their feet, video games are perfectly suited. Perfect examples include Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. An action adventure game about a young pict warrior on her way to Helheim to rescue her dead lover. The unique twist being she has schizophrenia and is constantly being helped or hindered by the voices in her head.

Whilst on the more relaxed side we have What Remains of Edith Finch. With little in the way of combat or difficult mechanics Edith Finch focuses entirely on telling a quirky but mature tale about a young girl travelling through her childhood house, reliving wacky family dreams and memories. Once it all comes together you will understand why this title does a lot for mental health awareness.

But I digress.

The focus of this article is on a game that came out quite recently. A severely underrated title that well deserves to be thrust to the front of every gaming website and played by people of any age and occupation. Iris and the Giant is a Collectable Card Game with Role-playing mechanics. At first glance it seems simple; collect cards and throw them at enemies, avoid damage, and get to the end of the level. But as you progress different enemies are added alongside more complex mechanics. The game-play is really engaging and fits well with the setting, however what really pulled me in is the story and art design. Iris - our heroine - is a young girl on her way to swimming lessons with her dad. Right from the start we can see she is struggling with anxiety and depression. To cope she dives into her imagination and it is up to us to guide her out and back into reality. Everything within this world clearly represents her mental state (for example, the Confidence card heals Iris). Hidden about the levels are Memories; collectibles that recount times where Iris was bullied by friends, and her eventual disconnect from her father. Of course, a lot is left open to interpretation, but every single set piece reflects the themes of what she is going through in some way, leaving players genuinely invested by the end of the story. With Iris being a child stuck in her own imaginary world, the whole game is drawn in a style heavily reminiscent of all your favourite childhood picture books. It might seem simplistic but the tone is set well from the first scene due to this design choice. This is by no means a dark or depressing game, rather more of a tale of hope and never giving up, seen through the eyes of a child. Being that this is creator Louis Rigaud’s first game, it is rather impressive just how well it draws out it’s themes. If you’re into CCG’s or games with a more relatable, melancholic theme; Iris and the Giant is definitely the game for you.