The Path Review

BY Mike Priest | POSTED: 21 April 2009

Is this game art?



Long has the debate of videogames as art raged, and whilst the jury may still be out on this hot-button topic you would be hard pressed to make an argument against The Path being anything but. From its eerie setting in the dream-like woods of a familiar fairytale, to the open ended nature of its non-gameplay, it is obvious from the outset that developer Tale of Tales have made a conscious decision to attempt to shatter any conventions you may previously have held regarding gameplay and narrative.



The premise is simple enough; based around multiple interpretations of the Little Red Riding Hood fable, players control 6 sisters who they must safely guide, one by one, to grandmother’s house. This is quite clearly stated at the beginning of each sister’s journey with the rather ominous opening gambit of “Go to Grandmother’s House, and Stay on the Path”. Heed these instructions to a tee and The Path’s tagline of A Short Horror Game is indeed just that, but you will be greeted with the equivalent of a game over screen for having taken the easy option. Stray from the path however, as curious young girls and their gamer alter-egos are want to do, and you run the risk of opening up a big bad forest of wolves.

Each of the sisters, who’s ages range from 9 to 19, have distinctively unique personalities, and through their individual journeys players catch glimpses of a back-story that alludes to a vague underlying narrative, culminating in a confrontation with a wolf-like character specific to each sister, and a slow, rain-soaked walk up the path to grandmother’s house. Using abstract flashbacks and written cues, these confrontations are left open and to the interpretation of the player as to the fate that befalls each girl. This point is especially key because it places the onus on the player to give thought to the events that have transpired instead of simply hitting continue and moving on to the next obstacle.



Scattered throughout the gorgeously creepy forest that surrounds grandmother’s house are various objects and locations (from a decrepit old playground to an abandoned campsite) that the girls interact with to further flesh out their stories. In order to initiate these interactions players must go against what they know and simply let go of control in order to witness how events play out – this slows down the pace of the game somewhat but ultimately allows the atmosphere and weight of each interaction to fully set in.

Make no mistake, this is a mature title, but not in the traditional sense of gore, profanity and sex that permeates throughout the industry’s definition of the term. The Path tackles themes that will no doubt leave players uneasy but it is precisely these themes that make the moments in the game more horrific than any monster closet could ever hope to. Is this game art? Just like the fate of the 6 sisters, it is up to you to draw your own conclusions.