SPOILERS may be included in this post. Exercise caution, and FLEE if you don't want the game ruined before you've finished it!
I begin this address with the following statement:
People at Ice-Lodge! You are awesome!
I actually only came across this during a visit to may parents' home. My 14 year old sister had bought this game called 'The Void' but couldn't make it work. I got it sorted and to make sure it would run (and out of curiosity) I started playing. I was hooked on its atmosphere, style, music and acting and when I got home I too bought it through Steam.
My game took me 55 hrs, one restart at cycle 5, and just a handful of REALLY close calls. I wasn't sure if I was even doing the right thing most of the time, wasn't sure who to listen to, thought I could trust colour, then didn't, then did again.
Here's a spoiler re:Nameless Sister, highlight to read
<spoiler>The worst part emotionally was concerning the Nameless Sister. I began to believe what so many other sisters were saying about her nature and death and had decided to look to Echo as the one I'd ascend. Then the event that starts the 'Confusion' chapter happened and I felt pretty terrible! I'd turned my back on her and it turned out in this world of deceit and mistrust that she was the only one who cared enough to give the most a person can ever give. I wasn't sure if this was my fault or not but I felt responsible. And I'd kept hearing that the right Sister for me would be the one true love, and figured you can't get much truer than this! I'd already received instruction from colour to slay the brothers, but hadn't started to at this point. In my bitterness, guilt and anger I went postal on the brothers, executing them quickly, pausing once only to restock a garden to continue slaying them all! By the time they announced they were going to start interogating the Sisters there were only three of them left.
When I was done, none of the Sisters had been killed by the brothers.</spoiler>Moments that move a person like that in fiction are rare and I suspect it was different for each person who played it. Some probably never doubted.
The characterisations were brilliant, the sets were marvellous and creepy in their appearance, the music was very atmospheric and fitting, the sound effects were especially well done and the story, and how it unwove itself, was captivating. I loved certain truths that emerged towards the end of the game.
One of the other things I like is how much it feels like a big strategy game, like chess, where any decision, any use of any resource can affect so much, and the opponents try to hide their true motives (and even I the player acted like this as regards the Brothers.) Or, more like several games of chess you have to play and interweave all at once. You can set yourself up to fail so much later on and I did once on my first go, starting again to plant that garden properly. After that, there were so many times I very nearly didn't have enough to continue fast enough (and some times when I had too much colour) but this was all part of the thrill.
<spoiler>For example, I didn't think I'd have enough amber to achieve Tugor but collecting absolutely every single drop left in the void I just had enough to do it.
It was actually at this time when I really needed to find as much colour as I could that I found my original garden in the Nameless Sister's chambers had been overrun by the Scorpio. These nightmarish monsters were hacking my trees! So that was a lost cause. Have to say though, they were a frightening vision in the foggy garden and both loved and hated the idea that too much cultivating is as bad as none at all.</spoiler>I've read of many people cheating to get through it; While this game is as merciless as a Brother, I think finally outsmarting it and making it to one of the conclusions is one of the most satisfying game experiences a guy can have. Not sure we needed so much nudity, maybe I missed the point there somewhere.
There were some things I wasn't sure of.
<spoiler>I was told that the strongest colours would be influential in the breakthrough. I was told colour could be at war and I would have to judge it. I never saw an indication of this outside conversation. Maybe I missed something here? I chose to ascend the Nameless Sister and fortunately the right most colours on the Void colour screen were already the strongest (violet, gold and green where quite high), so during the Breakthrough chapter I ensured that Gold was the most powerful colours in the Void. If it wasn't, would it have affected my ability to choose her? Also, it would have been nice to at least have a clue as to how my decision on who to ascend affected 'The One Who Lost Me'.</spoiler>
Bravo guys, this was quite an inspirational experience.
p.s. the last 18 hours of this game were played straight, from 12:30 AM (yes, just after midnight) straight through till 6pm that day. That was Sunday just gone. This is crazy. I've never done that for any game nor intend to ever again, but it does at least show you I really was quite hooked.