So, we are left with whether the main plot of Misfortune is a success. The choices we do have don’t appear to have a huge effect on the direction of the story either, as Misfortune’s path is entirely pre-determined, which is a key theme throughout. Although we do have minimal control over Misfortune through pointing and clicking (or just navigating with a keyboard or with a controller), this is really much more of an interactive fiction game than a traditional point and click game, with limited puzzles to solve and very little interaction with the environment outside of a few moments. Voice, who is quite clearly the villain of the piece from the beginning. We, as the player, occasionally get decisions on what choices Misfortune makes, but it is not until near the end that we get any option in going along with or defying Mr. Successfully completing the game, she is told, will give her the gift of Eternal Happiness Misfortune just wants to win this prize to give to her mother, who she thinks really needs it. The game follows Misfortune as she travels around town, listening to the instructions of Mr. She remains never deterred, not even by the hanged man she finds rather randomly, something that merely reminds her of a pinata. Voice, as she plays his game and spreads happiness with her glitter around her town. Misfortune remains seemingly oblivious to the troubles that surround her though, instead speaking in a playful way with her new friend, Mr. It doesn’t stop there neither, as we soon are given unsubtle suggestions of an abusive family that she comes from. Knowing little about this game and not having played the developer’s previous game, Fran Bow, this rather out of the blue assertion did come as quite a shock, whilst watching Misfortune, play with glitter, a unicorn and a pet rock, all the while some fake cheesy generic pop song plays out in the background encouraging us to dance forever. It doesn’t take long for the game to show us that there is more than just bad luck following Misfortune though, as the narrator tells us that this is the day she will die. Breaking of vases and the strikes of lightening seems to occur always around her.
The titular character is an 8-year-old girl, who appears followed by bad luck. Little Misfortune shows us the view of the world through the eyes of one of these children. On TV, they see their own childish behaviour replicated by grown-ups, as they lie repeatedly without repercussions, and throw their toys and constitutions out of the pram when they don’t get what they want. They are capable of asking questions about their surroundings, but not yet capable of identifying when they are being lied to or led astray. Unlike a toddler, they have enough of an understanding of their surroundings and the people they meet to view beyond their own self, yet are exposed to just enough culture and society to be warped slightly by its clutches. Through the eyes of a child, our world must seem a strange and sometimes scary place, particularly those that are approaching adolescence.
Warning – this game contains themes of suicide, prostitution and child death.
This is the point and click game from the creators of Fran Bow, Little Misfortune. Continuing my look through this month’s Humble Choice selection.
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