Condensing a Lifetime into 80.5 Seconds Script
In the world of video games, 'Time Flies' stands out as a unique and thought-provoking title. This game, available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC, and Mac, presents a fresh and intriguing concept: controlling a common housefly as it attempts to complete a bucket list before its short life comes to an end.
The game uses the life expectancy of the chosen country's population as a metaphor for the fly's lifespan. For instance, players in Japan will have approximately 84.5 seconds to complete the tasks, while those in Lesotho will have just 51.5 seconds due to the country's lower life expectancy.
The bucket list in 'Time Flies' is filled with enigmatic tasks such as 'Make Someone Laugh', 'Leave Your Mark', 'Travel the World', and 'Get Drunk', among others. These tasks are hidden within the game's various environments, which include houses, sewers, and museums. Completing these tasks requires exploration, experimentation, and a touch of playful ingenuity.
One example of a task is making someone laugh in the bedroom by crawling over their feet. Other tasks, like 'Make Friends' or 'Find Beauty', are abstract and left for the player to interpret and complete.
Time in 'Time Flies' is a precious commodity. Puzzles and actions can cause time to stop, allowing for precise movement, and players can find clocks that rewind their timer to extend their life. The game is designed to be challenging, with the primary challenge being figuring out what each ambiguous task means and completing all tasks before time runs out.
'Time Flies' boasts a minimalistic 2D and black-and-white style, reminiscent of drawings made in Microsoft Paint. Despite its basic visuals, the game maintains a certain charm that keeps players engaged. The gameplay is lighthearted, with humour, puns, and a simple control scheme focused on flying and interacting with objects.
Despite its quirky premise, 'Time Flies' offers a poignant commentary on life, time management, and the things one should strive to achieve to be happy. The game starts simply, with a black dot representing a fly on a parquet floor of an apartment, and gradually becomes more complex as players delve deeper into the game.
The Steam platform recommends 'Time Flies' for ages 16 and up, and solving the small tasks in the game is enjoyable. Overall, 'Time Flies' is a short puzzle adventure that mixes existential themes with playful tasks, embodying a fly’s whimsical bucket list within a limited lifespan measured in seconds.
- The game, 'Time Flies', leverages technology to stop time when puzzles or actions are executed, offering players a chance for precise movement.
- In 'Time Flies', various entertainment aspects such as humour, puns, and tasks like 'Make Someone Laugh' contribute to the service it provides, creating an engaging gaming experience that subtly discusses life and time management.
