Lydia Review – A Nightmare for a Child

Juan over at SwitchWatchTV has released his review of the game Lydia. Don’t know that game? Well, I didn’t either, so that’s why I checked out his review myself! You can check out the Lydia review video below, or continue to scroll down to read the review’s manuscript.

Juan’s Testimony

Lydia is a game I felt compelled to write about and to make a video about. It’s piece of work that struck me hard when all was said and done. As a father myself, this hit me very hard as the subject matter explored here is honestly saddening, but what I took from it was hope. Hope that through such pain can come good. Hope that a child can live with monsters but not become one herself. And hope that such people who have lived through such pain can help spread awareness and encourage change through medium such as this game.

You see for me when my daughter was born it was instant love. There was nothing in the world that would get in the way of the love and devotion I bestow unto my child. I would do anything for her including giving my life. My love for her is unconditional and, as most parents out there will attest, it’s the same for them. It is why I could never understand the maltreatment of a child from their parents. For me, it’s one of the biggest sins a parent you can commit.

Story

When you have a child, you sacrifice yourself to put them first. You shield them from pain and put them on a path for them to live their best life. You do your best no matter the circumstances. It hit my like a dagger to the heart seeing this little girl having to use her teddy to comfort her from the monsters as this game portrays them. Using her teddy to make up a best friend that would protect her. I wanted to get in there and give her a big hug. The fact that the developers based it on real events that took place makes this even more traumatizing, yet there are examples like this in life every day.

This is a Lydia review, but I will say it’s not much of a game. It’s a hard-hitting narrative piece about what it was like as a child to live with parents who suffered with their own demons through substance abuse. And how, in turn, these people treated their own flesh and blood.

This child had to live through life knowing and being told in no certain terms that she is not wanted. She was a mistake, and it’s because of her that the parents’ lives have been ruined. You explore this journey through the childs eyes, through to teenage years, and finally onto adulthood all in under an hour. Let me say it now, that this is not an experience I enjoyed, but it was one I was compelled to see through to the end. If you like narrative pieces that will make you reflect and ask yourself how we can make the world better, then this may be for you.

Gameplay

There really isn’t much to do other than move Lydia from one place to another. You make a few narrative choices which don’t change the outcome much. And you click on a few items, but that is pretty much it. This game serves as a vehicle to tell its story through the use of its art and music.

Audio

The audio is haunting and the sound here is very well done. One example that sticks in my mind is when Lydia is in her room and her parents are downstairs getting smashed out of their minds and having the music really loudly on. You can hear it through the walls. It’s muffled but still loud while the girl is trying to sleep. When Lydia goes into her little dreamworlds, the sounds are haunting but at times there are some nice little respites which is much needed. There is no speech other than murmuring sounds. And Lydia’s little voice shows us that she is a scared little girl devoid of anything good in her home life.

Visuals

The visuals are an acquired taste, but I thought the artists did a great job of depicting a gloomy place in this little girls life. Portraying the monsters as creatures and making it easier for the little girl to deal with rather than making us see her parents for what they truly are.

Value

Lydia is the price of a cup of coffee here in the UK. It’s just £3.50 or $4US, and you will be able to purchase DLC donations for the price of £1. This will be donated to the charity Fragile Childhood. We are passionate about charities like these, and so will be contributing our own donations here. We will put links below to some of the videos that have been made by the charity to spread awareness on this issue.

Donation

If you can donate £1 or a dollar to help children that have had to suffer like this, please do so. Buy this game not because it’s great to play, but because it matters.

Thank you for stopping by SwitchWatch.co.uk and reading Juan’s Lydia review. I hope it was helpful and informative. Happy gaming, everyone!