The free visual novel South Scrimshaw: Part One - A Delightfully Weird Experience
South Scrimshaw: Part One is a free visual novel that takes players on a delightfully weird journey centered around alien whales. Created by developer Nathan O. Marsh, this game offers a lovingly crafted watercolor world filled with gradually escalating strangeness. The standout feature of this visual novel is its unique worldbuilding, which starts off familiar but becomes delightfully strange as the story unfolds.
One of the most striking elements in South Scrimshaw is the depiction of unique alien lifeforms. The game introduces players to the fascinating 'Brillo Whales' that form symbiotic relationships with other ocean species, creating unique micro-ecosystems on their skin. Each whale takes on a specialized role, resembling characters in a whale RPG. From a floating forest to a colony of octopi for camouflage, the variety of these alien creatures is truly captivating.
The story in South Scrimshaw is framed by the 'Kronos VII' documentary crew, who provide digressions on interplanetary politics and society. Their observations on humanity's potential place in the galaxy add depth to the narrative. While the crew's ideological differences create some conflict, it never feels like the universe is against our protagonists.
Marsh's illustrations bring the alien ocean to life with stunning watercolor vibrancy and subtle animation. The emotional story of the whale calf at the heart of the game transitions between charming and devastating. It's a story that offers an optimistic future for humanity, while also highlighting the dangers of the ocean and our tenuous foothold on the planet.
South Scrimshaw portrays a sense of hope that's particularly refreshing in today's world. The game's vivid depiction of vibrant ocean life is poignant, especially in the face of current threats to our own biosphere. If you've ever felt that J.M. Barrie's quote 'to die will be an awfully big adventure' applies to the Earth, South Scrimshaw will speak to your heart.
South Scrimshaw: Part One is a labor of love created by Marsh alongside paying commissions and jobs. What makes it even more remarkable is that it's completely free. Marsh is currently working on South Scrimshaw: Part Two, with chapters to be released gradually and bundled together on Steam.
You can experience South Scrimshaw: Part One on Steam or itch.io. Follow Marsh on Twitter, support him on Ko-fi, and check out some of his other art on Instagram and Patreon.
In the meantime, if you're looking for more stellar experiences, be sure to check out the best space games and the very best sci-fi games.
