Full Void: A Haunting Adventure Game Reflecting on Childhood During the Pandemic
Full Void is a haunting and beautiful adventure game that reflects on the experiences of children who grew up during the Coronavirus pandemic. With no dialogue or tutorial, the narrative is open-ended, placing players in a world of isolation and silence, with only background characters and hostile robots for company. Full Void’s metaphors may be heavy-handed, but its sense of loneliness is pervasive, and the gameplay offers enough substance to convey the grave message this game seeks to convey.
An Enigmatic Story
Full Void’s story is enigmatic, but this ambiguity is fitting, as the game aims to convey the feeling of having one’s childhood disrupted by external forces. This message will resonate with anyone who has felt the effects of sudden and drastic change, whether that be due to a natural disaster, war, or pandemic. Though Full Void’s metaphors may be self-indulgent, the gameplay is relatively shallow, and the telling of this story may be a little on the nose, the overall experience is beautiful and haunting, and a short but sweet adventure.
A Sense of Loneliness
Solely through the use of atmosphere, Full Void conveys the pervasive sense of loneliness. With no other characters to interact with, Full Void is a solitary experience, with only background characters and hostile robots for company. This silence is broken by visions of the past, which contrast with the gloomy present. These visions highlight the drastic changes brought about by a tyrannical AI, which serves as a metaphor for the difficulties faced by children during lockdown.
Empathizing with the Lost Generation
With its beautiful, cel-shaded art style, Full Void empathises with the generation that lost two years of their childhood due to the Coronavirus. The game’s metaphors and imagery are, at times, heavy-handed, but Full Void raises important questions about the impact of lockdown, and the role of education in shaping our lives.
Engaging Gameplay
Gameplay in Full Void is relatively simple, with platforming challenges, logic puzzles, and chase sequences. The platforming initially feels clunky, as Full Void is split into individual screens, creating a sense of uncertainty and tension with each new area. Once players understand the tile-based movement system, however, it becomes more intuitive.
The game’s puzzles are a highlight, requiring players to work in tandem with a spherical robot companion.
