Playing Every Game in the Bundle for Racial Justice and Equality
PEGBRJE: ‘Antigas Constelações’ (sobre a Vila Itororó) and ‘Super Snake 3D’
What a weird way to end the page, no?
Antigas Constelações (sobre a Vila Itororó), roughly translating to ‘Ancient Constellations (about Vila Itororó)’, is a VR narrative experience by Menotti. Following events of the last removal of the families of ‘Vila Itororó’, a famous property in Sao Paolo, players will explore the stories of those who resided within through a strangely psychedelic process.
As a witness of sorts, players will listen to the dialogue of the individuals and their stories while the environment alters around them. It starts simple at first, giving a beautiful view of the location in an atmospheric night-time. However, as time rolls on the world begins to shift, and simple aesthetics become covered in neon lights and massive symbols streak across the sky.
It is hard not to feel swallowed by the visuals as they go, even if one is not in VR — which, by the way, is technically impossible. As I’ve stated before, I do not own a VR headset so I watched someone play the game instead.
Here is my second confession, however, which does make things a bit difficult; I technically had no idea what was going on. As expected of a game exploring the world of Brazilian people, the game is all in Brazilian Portuguese. It would have been nice to have subtitles, but I cannot really complain seeing as the history of media is predominantly English.
That does not mean I was watching completely blind, as the description of the game does allow for those unable to understand the language to gain some context. It’s a game about exploring the connection we have with our material heritage and what it means to institutionalize heritage locations. Those speaking were removed from where they lived just because it happened to be a location deemed ‘a heritage sight’, so what was lost? What was gained?
It’s a lot of questions I cannot answer, especially given my full lack of context without translation. If you speak PTBR or lived within Sao Paolo during that time frame, this might be a fantastic game to explore in VR.
Super Snake 3D is an adaptation of the classic Snake game by Christiano Mariano Arbigaus, also known as just ‘Arbigaus’. Players will take a very different approach to the standard ‘snake’, as they’re now in a near first person camera.
By selecting one of the three ‘starting’ levels, players will find themselves situated right behind the head of a body-less snake. In the 3D space, the snake can be navigated to avoid all manners of hazards in order to acquire fruit. These fruits will add one length to the snake, increase the snake’s speed, and then the player can continue eating. The fruits despawn after a short amount of time to give a semblance of randomness, so do be aware that some will just disappear right as they are eaten.
To gain the other levels, however, the player must gain ring-like coins that are scattered in the level. These can be found in much more precarious positions, such as nestled right beside wall shapes. The danger comes from the fact that hitting anything will cause the game to end, so making the decision to go for a coin may lead to an abrupt end if you’re not careful.
The translation to 3D does add some interesting aspects to the game, as now you are no longer bound by the laws of the 2D plane. You rarely run in to yourself, even when the score and snake body are massive thanks to the fact you can just go a third direction. The added hazards even out that safety though, so it never feels too easy.
There is no ‘end’ to the game otherwise, so if you get good enough you can theoretically play forever. Super Snake 3D is also available on mobile for all of you on the go, so if you liked Snake back in the day you might like this new adaptation.
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