Indie video games already have an uphill battle when it comes to marketing, but it becomes even more difficult when it comes to a game like 1000XResist. Trying to convey the emotions felt during a video game is hard, even more so when attempting to do so without spoiling the story. The team at Sunset Visitor, an independent video game developer based in British Columbia, has said that the goal was to channel the same feelings and emotions that they experienced playing through Final Fantasy VII. That definitely checks out, and you could also compare that emotional rollercoaster ride of playing 1000XResist to titles like 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Disco Elysium, or even the television show, Lost. A quick peek at the Steam page reveals a long list of awards the game has received and after having played through, every accolade and word of praise that the game has received is fully warranted.

The Story

To set proper expectations, 1000XResist plays like a live-action visual novel over the span of about 10 hours. Set in a third person perspective, the game follows the story of Iris, a high-school student that appears to be the only person in the world that is immune to a disease ravaging the planet. The main gameplay mechanic is exploring Iris’s past through communions, basically flashbacks where the protagonist explores the memories of the young girl as her fateful past is unveiled. Some light puzzle mechanics exist within the communions, but none are overly difficult as the solutions tend to be fairly obvious. The full story is revealed over 10 chapters of an ongoing story with twists and turns revealed through flashbacks and reveals.

The GamePlay

The general vibe of the story feels a lot like watching the TV show Lost, but with a much better payoff. Some of the overarching concepts that are explored include end of the world scenarios, cloning, isolation, and how governments are formed and keep law and order. The story is based on real world history, in particular, the turmoil of Hong Kong during the transition of power from Great Britain to China. Even the “Keep Politics Out of Video Games” crowd should have difficulty holding in the tears as moments between Iris and her parents are very emotional. 

The writing is very moving and the pacing of the character development and plot reveals are perfectly balanced. Every detail of 1000XResist feels very calculated, right down to a subtle soundtrack that ebbs and flows with every emotion. Big moments are given time to breath so that emotional impact has time to sink in, and gives some space for the next. Unlike Lost, the ending of the game feels right, leaving some of the details up for discussion but providing a very heartfelt and satisfying conclusion.

The Bottom Line

What the future brings for the developers at Sunset Visitor is anyone’s guess, but no matter what happens, they should be incredibly proud of 1000XResist. This game is clearly made without reservations and wears its heart on its sleeve. Folks that play a lot of video games tend to forget the details of many titles that come across their PC or console, but what they won’t forget after playing 1000XResist is the way they’ll feel after the final credits roll.

A review copy of the game was sent to us from the publisher

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