Melancholy and Magic
There is a school of thought suggesting that some of the best musicians in the world have suffered, to some degree, from mental health issues. Famously, artists like Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga have openly discussed their mental health experiences, citing them as a driving force behind their creativity and the inspiration for some of their greatest work. There is undoubtedly an immense pressure involved in having to consistently produce the goods year after year, especially when fans are always comparing your new work to old classics.
Project Songbird is a narrative adventure game all about that journey. It is brilliant in parts and frustrating in others. Let’s play some music.
Connor Rush, the main developer behind this one, includes a personal message when you first load up, explaining his driving force for creating it and his hope that we enjoy the experience. It is a lovely touch that immediately gives you a shared level of investment in the game.
Dakota’s Writer’s Block
In this first-person adventure, you play as Dakota, a musician who, at the start of the game, is stuck in a serious writing funk inside her apartment. She is having trouble composing a new album, and her producer actively dislikes the new material she has been sending over. He suggests she head to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, free from distractions, to see if she can get her groove back. So, she takes a rowing boat across a lake and arrives at a run-down cabin. At first, she still struggles with the music, but following a supernatural experience that pulls her into her past, the melodies soon start to flow. However, there is something malevolent lurking out there, and she soon discovers what that might be…
Cinematic Storytelling
The storytelling and overall narrative remain excellent throughout. Project Songbird doesn’t shy away from heavy themes and deep subject matter, and it is incredibly clever in how it approaches them, utilising sharp dialogue and superb editing. I often found myself more invested in the story than I did in the gameplay. Dakota is a genuinely interesting character, and without spoiling anything, I loved the way everything shifts completely by the second chapter.
In terms of gameplay, it initially plays out like a first-person walking simulator. You wander around your apartment, answering phones, drinking coffee, and picking up instruments. When you finally reach the cabin, it involves a slow walk through the countryside followed by a series of tasks and minor puzzles. Early on, you must change a water filter in a small pumping station, which requires solving a clever little puzzle involving water valves. You try to make music by piecing together different instrumental samples. There is also a brilliant mechanic where, while out on a walk, you can take pictures with a camera, but more interestingly, you can find specific spots to record audio and gather inspiration for your tracks.
Dreamlike Horrors
Later on, Project Songbird shifts into more dreamlike sections, and creatures come into play. Here, you find yourself being hunted. You can defend yourself with a gun or an axe, the latter of which can be upgraded via crafting, but stealth is where your real strength lies, forcing you to hide and pick the perfect moment to run. For me, these were the weakest parts of the game; I didn’t find the stealth systems to be the best, and the encounters often felt more annoying than frightening. There were also a few moments where I found myself entirely lost, unsure of what to do next. You do have a journal, but it is sometimes hard to read and decipher exactly what your next objective should be.
Visually, the game is presented in a letterbox format, successfully giving it the feel of a classic movie. The developers do a brilliant job with jump cuts that feel incredibly cinematic. The countryside environments look lovely, and the interior locations are rock solid as well. The stranger, more supernatural environments are good, though I felt they were occasionally a bit too familiar and reminiscent of other games in the genre.
A Fantastic Original Score
Unsurprisingly, the music is fantastic, featuring original tracks alongside some brilliant finds from other musicians. It is the beating heart of the game and is used to great effect. The voice work is brilliant as well, with a special mention owed to the actress who plays Dakota.
A Journey Worth Taking
The storytelling, music, and the majority of the mechanics in Project Songbird are brilliant, however I didn’t get on with the stealth, crafting, and combat elements. Frankly, I would have been perfectly happy without them.
Still, don’t let that put you off; there is a lot to love about Project Songbird, and it is well worth your time.
Important Links
Project Songbird Looks Like A Beautiful Descent Into March Madness – https://www.thexboxhub.com/project-songbird-looks-like-a-beautiful-descent-into-march-madness/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/Project-Songbird/9PJ686MNFMPW
