Tell Me Why (video game)
Tell Me Why | |
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Single-player |
Tell Me Why is a 2020
Since it was announced in November 2019, Tell Me Why has been noted for being the first
Tell Me Why received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the complex characters, voice acting, narrative design and setting, as well as its competent handling of culturally sensitive subjects such as transgender topics. Criticisms included inconsistent storytelling and lack of engaging gameplay.
Gameplay
Players control a pair of 21-year-old
Setting
Tyler's identity as a
Plot
The game opens with a flashback sequence showing Tyler's confession to the murder of his mother, Mary-Ann, in
The next morning, the twins break into the police archive and uncover files about Mary-Ann. After discovering their break-in, Eddy admits he had visited Mary-Ann to warn her on Tessa's instigation. The twins confront Tessa, who justified her actions and claimed that Mary-Ann isolated herself from the wider community, and that her alleged mental instability and parental incompetence was endangering her children. The twins return to the house to find the adjacent barn ablaze and an arsonist fleeing from the scene. After putting out the fire, the twins realized that the arsonist had tried to access a compartment beneath the barn floor containing a locked box, inside which they find letters from someone instructing Mary-Ann to get an abortion. The twins later experience a recollection of Mary-Ann arguing with an unseen man on a boat, and that Alyson was the one who stabbed their mother. The twins briefly go their separate ways following a disagreement.
Consumed with guilt and
- If Alyson chose to admit to Eddy that she killed Mary-Ann and/or took Tom's memory of her mother's death, Tyler returns to the house one last time, with Alyson in Juneau and receiving therapy.
- If Alyson never told Eddy that she was responsible for Mary-Ann's death and she believes that she saved Tyler from their mother, Alyson opts not to sell the house and moves in by herself and writes a new chapter in The Book of Goblins.
Many details of the epilogue are also determined by the player's previous choices: for example, whether they make peace with Eddy and/or Tessa, or whether the twins kept their telepathic bond and a close relationship all alter the ending.
Development and release
Tell Me Why was announced during an
The developers worked with GLAAD aiming to make Tyler Ronan, a transgender character as a main character in a AAA video game, an "authentic representation of the trans experience".[6][10] Nick Adams, GLAAD's Director of Transgender Media & Representation, was a consultant for the project and made recommendations for the appropriate casting decision behind Tyler.[2] Voice actor August Aiden Black, who is a trans man, was cast as Tyler.[11][12] Adams said the game strikes a balance between "not shying away" from Tyler's gender identity and showing the manner in which it affects him on a personal level, which mostly involve how others react to him.[2] Clay Carmuche, Xbox Publishing's Narrative Director, suggests that the perspective of the storyteller as well as the subject of the story influences the topics that can be discussed and the nature of the stories that can be told. He noted that the story of the game can be told without any acknowledgement of Tyler’s gender, but insisted that it is more interesting to explore something that is unfamiliar.[2]
The developers stated that in response from criticism over the variable timing of episode releases for Life Is Strange, that they will commit to a release schedule for the three chapters over mid-2020.[3] Initially, only subtitles were offered for localization as the dubbed voice recordings in French, German, Spanish (Mexico), and Portuguese (Brazil) were delayed due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13][14] The dubbings were later released on October 31, 2020.[15]
On July 23, 2020 at Xbox Games Showcase, the chapter release dates were announced for weekly intervals from August to September 2020.
Chapter | Release |
---|---|
1: Homecoming | August 27, 2020 |
2: Family Secrets | September 3, 2020 |
3: Inheritance | September 10, 2020 |
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | PC: 75/100[22] XONE: 78/100[23] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Electronic Gaming Monthly | [24] |
Game Informer | 7.75/10[25] |
GameRevolution | [26] |
GameSpot | 7/10[30] |
GamesRadar+ | [27] |
IGN | 7/10[28] |
Shacknews | 9/10[29] |
Tell Me Why received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[22][23] The game's depiction of trans identity was subject to debate, with mixed opinions.[31]
Todd Martens from Los Angeles Times said the game attracted media attention when it was announced due to the developers' decision to feature Tyler as one of its lead characters, as well as their release of an extensive FAQ that sought to explain how it handled the portrayal of Tyler.[2] Martens suggested that while the FAQ may be interpreted as trying to stay in control of a social media narrative, it also represented relatively uncommon minority representation resulting in an "extremely close reading" otherwise.[2]
Accolades
At Gamescom 2020, it won Best Family Game.[32] Gayming Magazine nominated it for Game of the Year in 2021.[33]
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | The Game Awards | Game for Impact | Won | [34] |
2021 | NAVGTR Awards | Outstanding Original Light Mix Score, New IP | Nominated | [35] |
Outstanding Performance in a Drama, Lead | Nominated | |||
Pégases Awards | Best Game | Nominated | [36][37] | |
Beyond the Video Game[a] | Won | |||
Best Narrative Design | Won | |||
Best Game Setting | Nominated | |||
Best Character | Nominated | |||
SXSW Gaming Awards | Matthew Crump Cultural Innovation Award | Nominated | [38] | |
British Academy Games Awards | Game Beyond Entertainment | Nominated | [39] | |
GLAAD Media Awards
|
Outstanding Video Game | Won | [40] |
Notes
- ^ also known as Best Message-Bearer Game
References
- ^ a b c d Qian, Jinghua (September 14, 2020). "Tell Me Why game review: a poetic exploration of memory against a stunning Alaskan landscape". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Martens, Todd (September 8, 2020). "Tell Me Why' makes video game history with a transgender lead role". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Bankhurst, Adam (November 14, 2019). "Tell Me Why Is the New Episodic Game from Life Is Strange Studio". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Elsam, Sara (September 15, 2020). "Trans games professionals explore Tell Me Why's landmark depiction of trans identity". Gameindustry. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
- ^ Henley, Stacey (March 11, 2021). "The Rugged Queerness Of Tell Me Why's Lake Scene". TheGamer. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Farokhmanesh, Megan (November 14, 2019). "Life is Strange developer unveils new mystery game, Tell Me Why". The Verge. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- USGamer. Archivedfrom the original on November 14, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Francisco, Eric (August 28, 2020). "'Tell me why' reckons with the dark side of Filipino Catholicism". Inverse. Archived from the original on June 1, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Kelleher, Patrick (November 15, 2019). "Video game makes history with the first-ever playable transgender character from a major developer". PinkNews. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2021.
- ^ "August Aiden Black". PopChange. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Nightingale, Ed (April 7, 2021). "Voice actor August Aiden Black opens up about the importance of trans representation in video games: "this is just the coolest job ever"". PinkNews. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Henley, Stacey (February 18, 2020). "Meet Tyler Ronan, the first transgender triple-A video game protagonist". VG247. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Tell Me Why : un doublage français est prévu" [Tell Me Why: a French dubbing is planned]. Jeuxvideo.com (in French). August 31, 2020. Archived from the original on March 7, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
- ^ "FAQ Tell Me Why". Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ Sirio, Paolo (October 31, 2020). "Tell Me Why mantiene la promessa: tutti i doppiatori di Tyler sono trans" [Tell Me Why keeps its promise: all of Tyler's voice actors are trans]. SpazioGames (in Italian). Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
- ^ Hornshaw, Phil (July 23, 2020). "Tell Me Why Trailer Hints At More Of Its Memory-Bending Story". GameSpot. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ^ Phillips, Tom (September 14, 2020). "Tell Me Why still to release in numerous countries". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ^ Shen, Xinmei (September 11, 2020). "Tell Me Why is the first major game with a transgender protagonist, but it's not available in China". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ Doubling, Alex (1 September 2020). "Tell Me Why пропала из Steam в ряде стран, включая Россию и Украину — Игры на DTF". DTF. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
- ^ Wales, Matt (10 March 2021). "First episode of Life is Strange dev's gorgeous mystery Tell Me Why now permanently free". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-03-11.
- ^ Wales, Matt (June 1, 2021). "Life is Strange dev's acclaimed supernatural mystery thriller Tell Me Why is currently free". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
- ^ a b "Tell Me Why for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ a b "Tell Me Why for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ "Tell Me Why review". August 27, 2020. Archived from the original on October 11, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Wallace, Kimberley. "Tell Me Why Review – Too Much Left Unanswered". Game Informer.
- ^ "Tell Me Why Review | 'A mystery that's best left unsolved'". GameRevolution. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved Aug 31, 2020.
- ^ Henley, Stacey (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why review: "The new gold standard for trans characters in games"". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
- ^ Garcia, Janet (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why Review". IGN. Archived from the original on August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Mejia, Ozzie (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why review: Fairy tale twin magic". Shacknews. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Clark, Justin. "Tell Me Why Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2021-02-06. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
- ^ Elsam, Sara (September 15, 2020). "Trans games professionals explore Tell Me Why's landmark depiction of trans identity". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 2021-04-10. Retrieved 2021-04-11.
- ^ "gamescom award 2020: "And the winners are...!"" (in German). Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
- ^ "Gayming Awards". Gayming Magazine Awards. Archived from the original on 21 April 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "The Game Awards 2020: Winners & Results". Den of Geek. 11 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "2020 Winners". NAVGTR. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "Pégases 2021". Academy of Video Game Arts and Techniques (in French). Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ @DONTNOD_Ent (March 18, 2021). "#TellMeWhy won two awards at the #Pegases2021: 🏆 Beyond the Video Game 🏆 Best Narrative Design It's a great honor, thank you so much 🙏" (Tweet). Retrieved 23 March 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Ankers, Adele (21 March 2021). "SXSW Gaming Awards 2021 Winners Announced: Hades Awarded Video Game of the Year". IGN. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ Ankers, Adele (March 2, 2021). "BAFTA Games Awards 2021 Nominations Announced". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on March 3, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ "Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. April 8, 2021. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Tell Me Why at IMDb