Empathy: Path of Whispers
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Critic Reviews for Empathy: Path of Whispers
While it may not indulge as much on its aesthetic to better hide the distinct lack of gameplay, Empathy: Path of Whispers can't excuse itself for letting its eye go too far a stray from keeping its player both focused and interested in the tale being spun.
Pixel Night makes a brave foray into the exploration genre that doesn't quite pan out in the end due to detached storytelling and repetitive mechanics. If you're a dedicated adventure game player, Empathy: Path of Whispers will offer little challenge, except maybe in the way of overcoming boredom. It is, at the end of the day, a walking simulator that knows exactly what it wants to be, but falls a few steps short of actually being it.
If you consider yourself a narrative gaming connoisseur, you'll find some real value here. If that genre doesn't resonate with you, though, you may want to think twice before picking up Path of Whispers.
Empathy: Path of Whispers has a barely good story, but the lack of gameplay is something really unforgettable.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Empathy wants to be a narrative-first game, that much is clear. But the constant distractions, menial busywork, and tedious puzzles constantly distract from the pacing that's so critical to a story like this, and the end result is something that doesn't really work well as either a puzzle game or a narrative experience.
If Empathy is patched to allow manual saves and I didn't have to start over thanks to an awful glitch, I still wouldn't recommend it. It's too forgettable. Not even the most ardent walking sim supporters would be able to enjoy it.
Empathy: Path of Whispers is a walking simulator with a fascinating world that doesn't quite unravel the way you'll want it to.
Empathy: Path of Whispers attempts to tell a series of intriguing personal stories in a mysterious, abandoned world. The end result however is a visually dated, largely boring, and technically broken game that doesn't deserve your time and money.
