Irving is more clued up on events of the hotel in the last ten years, what with it being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons, yet is initially reluctant to go into it with Nicole…įor the most part, the interaction between these two acts as our exposition into the events that rocked the Timberline all those years ago. Luckily, our reluctant heroine isn’t alone, as a FEMA agent named Irving from the nearby town is on the other end of the “high tech mobile communication device” Nicole has to hand (this game is set in 1993, give them a break). Unfortunately, the weather isn’t at our protagonist’s mercy and will continue to snow regardless of her affiliation with the building. You see, Nicole has bad memories about this place (which we’ll get into) and doesn’t want to be here any longer than she has to. She’s picked the worst time for it, though, as the nastiest of blizzards has made its way to the mountains, effectively trapping her against her intentions in the hotel. Inheriting the property from her now-deceased parents, Nicole has to make the arduous journey back to the neglected hotel to get all the paperwork and affairs in order to sell it on. Not after a holiday or anything, but having not stepped foot in there in the last ten years. Our story begins with our protagonist, Nicole, making her way back to the Timberline hotel (named after the real life lodge that whose exterior was used as The Shining’s Overlook Hotel). So, prepare thyself, as we go back to the past… I won’t leak any major spoilers, but it’s the setting and theme that runs throughout the game. Now, I have to say this as a disclaimer (much as the game does on its intro screen) that there are strong themes of grooming and possible child abuse in the game, and as such, will be touched upon in the review. Well, it’s not, when I actually get into the story, but on the whole it’s great to experience something that makes you feel human, for better or worse, from time to time. The Suicide of Rachel Foster is no different, and that’s a good thing. Oh, you can pretend you are, but there’s always something in these games that hits the right sad spot and that’s it, you’re off. Take away our guns and make us sit through emotionally charged experiences, though, and we’re not ready for it. Before the likes of Gone Home, Firewatch and That Dragon, Cancer came along, we’d been so used to mowing down indiscriminate waves of aliens or questionably-motivated terrorist types without getting any of “the feels”. Walking simulators have got a lot to answer for. But that doesn't mean it should be ignored. A dark tale wrapped in some well-crafted visuals, The Suicide of Rachel Foster may be uncomfortable for some.

The suicide of rachel foster metacritic