Tell Me Why (video game)
Tell Me Why | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Dontnod Entertainment |
Publisher(s) | Xbox Game Studios |
Director(s) | Florent Guillaume |
Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows Xbox One |
Release | Episode 1: August 27, 2020 Episode 2: September 3, 2020 Episode 3: September 10, 2020 |
Genre(s) | Adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tell Me Why is a 2020 adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game was released in three episodes exclusively for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One in August and September.
Gameplay and story
The game is centered on twins Alyson (Erica Lindbeck) and Tyler Ronan (August Aiden Black) who travel to their childhood home in Alaska and must come to terms with events from their childhood, particularly for Tyler as he has transitioned to male since then. The story involves how their childhood situation influenced Tyler's development and effects on their mother.[1][2]
In the game, the player will revisit parts of the old home with both of the twins, and experience separate visions and memories of what had transpired, with each twin having different recollections of what happened. The player will make decisions for the pair based on which version of the past events to believe, which will impact the game's outcomes.[3] The game also features an exploration of Tlingit culture and includes several Tlingit characters.
Development
Dontnod announced that Tyler Ronan is the first transgender playable character from any major studio, and they had worked with GLAAD to make him an "authentic representation of the trans experience".[1] Tyler was voiced by August Aiden Black, who is also a trans man.[4][5]
Tell Me Why was announced during Microsoft's Xbox London event on November 14, 2019. Dontnod 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 episodes over mid-2020.[3]
After Remember Me, Tell Me Why is the first game from Dontnod in seven years to receive dubbed versions in other languages, including French, German, Spanish (Mexico), and Portuguese (Brazil). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, voice recordings were delayed, so only an English dubbing and subtitles in different languages were offered for the release of the first episode.[6]
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | PC: 78/100[7] XONE: 79/100[8] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Electronic Gaming Monthly | [9] |
Game Informer | 7.75/10[10] |
GameRevolution | [11] |
GamesRadar+ | [12] |
IGN | 7/10[13] |
Shacknews | 9/10[14] |
The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[7][8]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Best of Gamescom Awards | Best Microsoft Xbox Game | Won | [15] |
References
- ^ a b Farokhmanesh, Megan (November 14, 2019). "Life is Strange developer unveils new mystery game, Tell Me Why". The Verge. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Van Allen, Eric (November 14, 2019). "Life is Strange Developer's New Game Will Explore Memories and the Trans Experience Through Twins". USGamer. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Bankhurst, Adam (November 14, 2019). "Tell Me Why Is the New Episodic Game from Life Is Strange Studio". IGN. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
- ^ Wright, Steve (2020-02-21). "Tell Me Why's transgender lead is voiced by a transgender male". stevivor. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Henley, Stacey (2020-02-18). "Meet Tyler Ronan, the first transgender triple-A video game protagonist". VG247. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "FAQ Tell Me Why". Retrieved 2020-08-29.
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: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Tell Me Why for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Tell Me Why for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Tell Me Why review". 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. Retrieved Aug 31, 2020.
- ^ Henley, Stacey (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why review: "The new gold standard for trans characters in games"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Garcia, Janet (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why Review". IGN. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ Mejia, Ozzie (August 27, 2020). "Tell Me Why review: Fairy tale twin magic". Shacknews. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
- ^ "gamescom award 2020: "And the winners are...!"" (in German). Retrieved August 29, 2020.