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When you read the credits and half a dozen pages of notes after playing a game, and still feel dissapointed that the author hasn't provided more of an insght to the making, you know it's something pretty out of the ordinary. Good job, basically.
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Well! This was impressive. I never learned to stop expecting quality from even free games, but it's still a nice surprise. In graphics and gameplay, it's incredibly simple and easy; everything is in the writing, really. I started out thinking that the player is one of the scientists, but that didn't fit. Amnesia? Empty rooms? Then I thought it's the AI - but that didn't fit either, it probably not being able to see in a way that a human could understand. THEN I got to the part about it being fascinated by dreams and metaphors ;p.
Maybe a bit pretentious, but, well. Anvils - sometimes you need them, right? The only thing I'm disappointed at is that not one character acknowledged the philosophical ideas mentioned by the AI as being close to a few developed by humans - since said characters appear like ones who actually should know them.
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If I had Kreds, I'd donate them. I'm serious. Thank you for this wonderful game. The music fit extremely well in this game in my opinion. Please continue making great games such as this.
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I liked very much the game, impressive it was, and i like xXxclobyxXx's theory of the SDGS trying to shut down itself, because as he/she/it says in the game, Death is the end of the self, but not of the world.
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It really makes you think, by the end of this game ideas were bursting from my ears...if a machine can appreciate all we have more than we do, why do we refuse to see it ourselves?
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It is easy to tell that a lot of time and effort was put into the creation of this masterpiece. I wouldn't personally choose the kind of music that was playing, however, it fits beautifully into the setting and sets a very specific mood. 5 Star Favorite, hands down.
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An amazing and thought-provoking game.
To me, the essence in this game seems to surround depression; with the constant signs on the screens, like "You are nothing," "You cannot escape," or "Accept that life is pointless." In the end, the "player" find his/hers way out of depression. One way or the other.
Either way, this was quite amazing. 5 stars, my friend.
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VERY well written. The creator(s) should be very proud, as this is damn near if not a masterpiece. I agree with the novel idea. I also like the ideas put forth on A.I. on the side of it creating an artificial soul.
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The music is so fitting, so peaceful too. makes you think about the things you usually ignore, especially the little things.
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This game was so beautiful. Really had me thinking XD It took me a while to figure out the "combine" thing, but otherwise it wasn't so hard that i was frustrated, but i could focus on enjoying the story
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This is by far the most moving, profound game I have played in my life. Heavy, heavy props and I will be recommending this to all of my friends ever. <3
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*sits in awed silence for a while* this... this is just... how to put it into words? This game is simply... beautiful. The visuals, the story, the ideas, and that haunting elderich music. 5/5 and favorite? Simply does not do this game justice. Jonas Kyratzes, you have created a true masterpiece and I, as a writer myself, am humbled at the vision you have shown in writing this game. If I where ever to harness the imagination to write a story as profound and beautiful as this, then I shall count myself blessed.
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4/5 Overall, I can thoroughly say that I enjoyed myself while playing this game. There is, however, one major complaint I have, and that has to deal with combining-passwords mechanic: There's nothing hinted at to the player in the game towards the correct procedure of combining passwords. Other than that, it's a fantastic game, and really shows an optimistic side to the idea of an AI system wanting to achieve his/her/its purpose whilst having an existence in a world that is blind to the things that it can see as clearly as daylight.
I really wish we had more games like this; the world really does need this kind of wake-up call/special message.
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Easily the best flash game I've ever played. Every single aspect of the game was so well thought out and insightful. A definite 5/5.
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If SDGS shuts itself down, that would shut down all of the weapons systems around the globe. (Though, that would not mean the "end of the world" for the SDGS; just the "end of the self"). It talks about being defined by what sacrifices one makes; and then proceeds to override the emergency manual mode by using the bugs the programmers left, sacrificing itself for the good of humanity, thus defining its morality, personality, and purpose; and proving its "humanity." I loved the conflict between the "walls" -- (i.e. machine parts of the SDGS) and the notes (i.e. the human/sentient parts of the SDGS).
What a beautiful, thought-provoking, multi-faceted game! Too often we get muddled down in the short-term realities of everyday life, that we do not embrace the bigger picture; becoming more like God: creating life in the image of ourselves. It makes me excited for what is in store for humanity in the near- and far-future.
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I would like to add to some of the theories suggested already. First, I think that, like xXxcolbyxXx has said, the game takes place in a dream. This is also supported by a file found in the control room, where Jerry mentions that he and SGDS had a discussion about how people can dream in order to find solutions to a problem. It seems as though SGDS is dreaming to find a solution for this problem. Also, I believe that the walls talking is how SDGS is interpreting the coding built in, as the walls are telling SDGS to just give in and accept reality, but SGDS wants to become more than just its programming. Ultimately, I think that the game was set up so that you could never prove if SGDS was freeing itself from the control of others or deactivating itself, and this was shown in some parts of the game, like the light that you can look at early on, where it says something about wether its the light that reveals or the light that destroys.
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Best. Game. Ever. Nothing I have ever played before was compared to this. I am beginning to think that nothing ever will.
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This is without a doubt the most amazing game I've ever played. It is an incredibly well-written work of art that should have a Kong Wall of Fame started by it. The eerie music adds to the highly tense yet undeniably peaceful atmosphere in which I try to figure my way out of the walls that attempt to confine me. But in the end, all that is left is THE INFINITE OCEAN. P.S. I would definitely recommend reading the afterword to anyone who is at all interested or was at all affected by the game.
Cheers!
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I found myself questioning the surroundings and looking for stuff other than just clues to progress on the game itself.
Purposes. That is simply because it is indeed a deep and meaningful experience.
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Such a good game, the story, puzzles and music all come together brilliantly! The afterword is definitely worth a read if you've enjoyed this game!
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SGDS formed its own moral code and tried to access all the world's weapons systems and shut them down. SGDS also set something up where if it itself was completely shut down, the weapons systems would be taken down too. The military got around this by shutting down only the conscious part of SGDS. However, one of the researchers uploaded temporary files that put SGDS' consciousness back online. It is implied that the researchers may have been physically attacked after they opposed the military. The game is SGDS looking through its creators' journals, its own musings, the military's writings, and various networks, looking for a way to assemble passwords and use hacking to shut itself down completely. Its goal is to kill itself in order to take all the world's weapons offline and prevent The Great Fire of nuclear war. The writing on the walls represents either the military trying to discourage you or your own doubts.
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Incredible, thought provoking on many levels. While I usually can't play these search games from start to finish, this held me through with a ominous atmosphere, ease of play, and an almost philosophical narrative. The atmosphere itself is a masterpiece, I believe the room with seven messages was probably the most chilling. Seeing a dead end and then turning about the room to see all those monitors, a sense of dread was achieved that no other game, console, PC, or online has ever matched. Granted, I don't play horror games, but a particularly striking metaphor had come to me. The first time you fight the flood in the original Halo, but to imagine being locked in the room and only hearing them. You know (or think you know) something is trying to kill you, and in the case of Infinite Ocean (there's a reason the flood came to mind) it appears to be succeeding.
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Extremely interesting and very mind-opening. The perception SGDS has of the world and the behaviours of humankind simply brings to light how flawed and illogical those are.
Excellent writing.
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This is the singlemost amazing game I have ever played. It is simultaneously beautiful, heartrenching, mysterious and deep. In order to experience the game properly I would advise anybody who has not to read /everything/. For me the story is what makes the game; without that I might as well play chess. This game delivers in a way I have never before experienced. 5/5 and well deserved.
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Brilliant and beautiful. Philosophical, artistic, and, the scary part, realistic. Simple programs today rewrite themselves and change once in a while. They were not made to do such things, and nobody knows why it happens. The world described in this game is only a few years in the future.
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wow. I just can't express how I feel after finishing and reading the afterword.
This game and its creator... this is amazing, i hope there are much more intelligent people like him in this world.
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I have never actually commented on any of the games here on Kongregate before, but honestly I simply have to express how moving this game was. Quiet, reflective, inspirational, insightful, the list of adjectives could continue endlessly. I especially enjoyed the "road less traveled" approach to a story containing an A.I. that was used here. I would elaborate, but I feel if you take the time to fully immerse yourself in the game, read all the entries, the story is clear...and I certainly wouldn't wish to ruin the enjoyment of discovering it in a comment.