Everybody's Gone To The Rapture

This is another brilliant PC game from the people who brought us Dear Esther.  Less a game than an interactive story, Rapture relies largely on mood and atmosphere to beguile the player.  The village of Yaughton is home to an observatory with several telescopes, and it is invaded by a mysterious other-worldly light source, a type of energy that seems to absorb the people of the village.  The player arrives after the town is empty of people, and we get glimpses into their lives and personal troubles as we visit sites that still have particles of energy in them, and pieces of a story to tell.  The player wanders for an entire day, from morning till nightfall, and can go just about anywhere, except when blocked by fences, hedge rows, blockades, etc.  There is even a thunderstorm at one point, humourously added as one arrives at the lake and holiday camp. We are led through the game by a powerful ball of pure energy.  If one gets stumped on where to go next, merely stand still for a few minutes and the energy will reappear and lead the way again.  For PC gamers it's best to turn off the tuning system, otherwise too much time is wasted trying to retrieve messages at certain points.  Once this feature is turned off, simply approach the light source and left click until things begin to happen.  Then step back and watch the show.  Rapture, like Esther, is a sad game with a sad story to tell, and there are some very moving moments.  The game saves itself at certain points, and one has to watch carefully for them, as the game will not allow players to save.  The scenery is quite vivid and spectacular, and the light changes as the day progresses.  The music is good enough to just listen to on its own.  This is a highly recommended game, and worth playing more than once.  I have already played Esther 3x, so I will likely replay this one, too.  A classic!

 

There are "You Are Here" maps scattered throughout the village, so the player can usually find where they are easily.  The entire village gets explored.

 

  

As one wanders in and out of houses and businesses in Rapture, framed art is encountered on the walls.  All of the art is taken from screenshots within the game. 

In Homestead news, another health problem has cropped up for Deb.  She had a bladder and kidney ultrasound lab test last week, and it showed a blockage of some type in one of her kidneys.  She is now awaiting a CTI to further pinpoint the cause and size of this blockage.  This could be the cause of much of her illness over the winter.  She was able to finally go for her routine teeth cleaning last week as well, and we both had some blood work done.  More health news as it happens.

 

I had two excellent starry nights this past session, and managed to stay out four hours each night in sub-freezing temperatures.  I was able to finally observe winter constellations, which are by now nearly gone from view.  Those were my first doable observations since November 7th.  It's been a terrible year for observing, and now that we have daylight savings time I don't get to be till after 2 am.  And that will get later and later as summer approaches.

 

Great Lakes shipping has fully resumed, with the opening of the upper locks sat the Soo.  It's been busy already, with ships gliding by regularly now.  This time of year we have nearly unobstructed views of the river, and the colourful parade of ships, both lakers and salties, are a welcome addition to the neighbourhood activity.  We also have four kinds of flowers booming in our front garden at the moment, too. and today is very warm.  Meanwhile in Sudbury they just had another snowstorm, and Toronto and area is currently amidst an ice storm, with lots of power out in that area.

 

The CSL Laurentien, one of five ships I watch over the shipping season, makes its first voyage of the new season.  It will travel between Quebec City/Montreal and Thunder Bay from late March to late December.

 

The first salty of the year that I managed to see pass by.  This is the Patagonman, flagged out of Singapore.

Our front garden with snowdrops, a dwarf iris, a few well hidden crocuses, and just blooming today, our daffs! 

 

In piano news, it is time!  I begin my performances next Saturday for a few piano friends, then again on April 11th for non-piano friends, and once again sometime after the 20th.  The program is made out, and I will post it here soon.

 

In film news there is one to report.  The Saragossa Manuscript is a three hour Polish film from 1965, in b & w.  Deb found out about it on one of her film blogs, and found it playing on Youtube in a very decent print.  Modeled somewhat on Canterbury Tales and Arabian Knights adventures, the story within a story format can grow a bit confusing at times.  The first part of the film, and the ending, are quite good, but it really sags in the middle a lot.  A strange illustrated book is found and two soldiers, in the midst of a battle for a city, discover it and begin to read it, ignoring what is going on around them.  Then the story telling begins, with supernatural elements mixed in with mundane period soap opera elements.  Recommended as a rare oddity, the film could use some trimming, and perhaps male leads who are a bit more attractive and lively to watch.

 

The film is playing on Youtube.  It is as good print, and the yellow subtitles help a lot. 

 

Mapman Mike