The historic Greeks are at it once more. Or somewhat, Dr Pippin Barr is, as he continues his game-making katabasis with Let’s Play: Ancient Greek Punishment: Chess Edition.
LP:AGP:CE is the eighth in a sequence of lo-fi nightmares launched by Barr, in what he calls “an investigation around what it means to make the ‘same game’ multiple times”. Each iteration of the sequence is themed across the similar set of horrible afterlife punishments from Hellenic delusion, and illustrates them by way of a sequence of brutal anti-jokes constructed round a selected mechanic.
oh ffs
Only final month, I wrote about game #7 within the sequence, Let’s Play: Ancient Greek Punishment: Teaches Typing, which I described as “unpleasant”, “cruel”, and “the most memorable low-key horror game I’ve played in a good while”.
In that game, the chosen mechanic was contact typing. This time, it’s chess, which I get pleasure from even lower than contact typing. Once once more, it’s a masterpiece. As I replied to the message informing me the game was out, “thanks, I hate it.”
As for the game’s contents, you’ll have to provide it a go for your self. In strict phrases it’s best to play for eternity, however round 5 minutes ought to offer you an concept of what you’ll be lacking if you happen to do elect to play for a finite time period.
Needless to say, so long as Barr retains making these games, I’ll preserve writing about them. And like Camus’ Sisyphus, I shall be comfortable. After all, the battle itself towards the heights is sufficient to fill a person’s coronary heart.
