Gary Green said: Everyone needs a change of scenery once in a while. Even a homebody such as myself can’t help but wonder what life is like elsewhere, even if for a brief stay. From my suburban upbringing with a close proximity to a once-bustling town centre, I often find myself wondering if I would integrate into community better elsewhere. My hometown isn’t exactly thriving in terms of financial stability or community spirit, and when mental exhaustion kicks in, packing up and leaving occasionally crosses my mind, in search of something feeling more like ‘home’.
Perhaps from day-trips as a child and family holidays, I’ve always found a fondness for seaside communities, though the sea itself fills me with ambivalence in both a fear and fascination of what lies beneath, not unlike the established mindset of H.P Lovecraft himself, only without the casual racism. Through games, if I’m lucky enough, I get to experience these settings and their communities from the comfort of my own home, providing of course I can find a game that fits the description.
Enter Concrete Genie, an outstanding little adventure. It’s not Lovecraft though, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing since we’ll need to go to a darker place for that. Concrete Genie has the potential to fill that need for exploration where Call of Cthulhu ultimately missed the mark.