Disclaimer
I was sent a free copy of Fine Work: Act I for free to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
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Table of Contents
What is Fine Work: Act I
Fine Work is a beautiful and unique game that combines an imaginative world and all the cozy vibes to create a story you will never forget. Players get to enjoy the breath taking visuals while they weave dreams in a relaxing rhythm game. Fine work is out now on Steam, with a free demo you can try at your discretion.
Hook
You are a shaper, a person who can weave sendshapes: artifacts made from someone’s memories. You have opened your new shop, and already the clients that walk through your door bring with them stories you will never forget. Sit down with your clients, listen to their tales, and weave the sendshapes of their dreams. This is a game where your choices matter, so make sure you choose wisely (or according to your personality). Each play through promises to be different. Can you collect all the endings?
Gameplay
There are two parts to Fine Work: the story and the rhythm game. The story is a creative piece of fantasy that creates its own dialect. I appreciate that there is a glossary to define the vernacular that is easily accessible. There is no voice acting, so expect to read a lot. Along the way, the game will offer dialogue choices that affect the course of the game. Players can chose a personality trait at the beginning of the game, like being insightful. Occasionally, the game will offer the player suggestions on what choice to make based on this trait. These choices do affect the outcome of each encounter, and the game’s ending. This gives the game a good amount of replay ability.
After an interview with a client, players get to play a rhythm game where they weave together the sendshape. The game works like most rhythm games, but I would argue that this is a more relaxed entry to the genre. The game is hard if you are like me and don’t have rhythm, but a lot more manageable at the same time. If you don’t want to sit through the story, you can chose to only play through the songs from the start menu.
Review
Fine Work: Act 1 isn’t a bad game. The game has an imaginative world that is unique and deep. The story is just as imaginative, and I appreciate how it plays with language. The gameplay is solid, with the cozy vibes that you might need after a stressful day of work. The only real problem I have with this game is that I don’t think I’m the target audience. While the story and gameplay are solid, the game never really clicked for me. I think if you like this quirky style of fantasy and appreciate the pretty explosion of art, the game is worth a playthrough. Otherwise, you might want to wait for a sale. Let me explain
Aesthetics
There is no denying that Fine Work has some fantastic art. I must commend the artist for creating such a surreal and alien world that is both vibrant and mysterious. I was first drawn to the game by how beautiful all of the imagery, and I was continually amazed by how inventive the world got with each page. When it came to the rhythm game, I enjoyed the minimistic start of each song that quickly turned into a vibrant explosion of the different dreams. The artists did fine work in creating a game that looks and feels like a dream, and catered the music to elevate the experience. Not that I was able to focus much on the visuals when I was trying desperately to keep time.
Gameplay
As far as rhythm games go, the game is fine. I do appreciate the more casual and relaxing approach to the genre, while still offering a challenge with its different mechanics. I don’t have any rhythm and found it challenging enough, but not frustrating like I do with other games in the genre. I also appreciate that I can just play the rhythm game without having to sit through the dialogue. Sometimes I just want to sit back and weave some artifacts. The real problem I have with this game is that I rather be playing Aaero2. The rhythm mechanics are more engaging, and the music is better. Fine Work isn’t a bad rhythm game, but it really depends on what mood your in when you’re booting up your rhythm game. Do you want to chill and watch something pretty? Or do you want mash buttons and get high scores?
Story
The story is where the game kind of loses me. I might just be getting old. Don’t get me wrong, the story is fine. The game has fun and memorable characters and a creative world, but it takes too long to get its traction. This might be my adhd talking, but by the time things started to get rolling I was already checked out. This isn’t a fault with the story. The pacing is fine. My issue is that the quirks that give this game all of its charm didn’t vibe with me. I think Fine Work is worth exploring if you like quirky fiction based on that mirrors the modern trends.
I also find it hard to like this game when Afterlove EP has a better slice of life story, and Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is more imaginative.
Conclusion
Honestly, as much as I don’t want to admit it, I think I am too old for this one. The reason I didn’t like the game is because it just isn’t for me. That doesn’t make it a bad game. Feelings aside, Fine Work: Act I does a few interesting things that I commend the devs for. I respect the successful attempt at creating a unique and deep world. I also appreciate how they weave their narrative. Blending both the visual novel and the rhythm game is masterfully done, and worth at least trying the demo. If you are the target audience and think the story is interesting, you will love this game. If not, you probably won’t finish it. I urge you to check out the demo and do a proper vibe check before spending any money.