Passage Download

• Developer: Jason Rohrer
• Genre: Simulation
• Works On: Windows 95-98, Windows XP

Reviews

Gohst
In an ideal world, I would be able to post this review as a blank space. With just a void here and a download link, allowing you to make your own decisions on this title without any preconceptions. In an ideal world, that would be the best way to do it – play this game and decide for your self.
As it is, though, I have to write something. So without wanting to give to much away (and I will attempt to show considerable restraint) let me just say that this is a unique experience.
You begin on the left and travel through to the right side of the screen. As you go along your way, though the various ‘stages’ of the game, you are not forced to do anything. You can choose to go the easy way, or you can make a complicated mess of things. You can collect the chests or ignore them. There is more to this game, or experiment, or expression, whatever you want to call it - but I think I’ve said too much already.
This is one where it is up to you to make the final judgement.
Vashna
When one looks at life as a simple block of five minutes, then one really sees how short it really is.
The author's website describes this sort of a game as an "Artgame" and this is a prefect description. If anyone's familiar with the minimalist art movement, this game epitomises the way in which anything can be shown as a tiny microcosm of itself.
When in youth, all of the future is ahead, and the character looks towards that. Yet, in old age, the past is a blur and the future is all too clear. As the review for the sister game Gravitation reads, the time spent playing the game is not nearly as important as what one does with their time after the game.
The game's abilities to showcase love as something that grants you a partner is among the best models it offers. With the wife character, one can see how much of importance love is. However, some small areas are not able to be reached by only one.
EliteJeff
For those too idiotic to bother to see past the game's blocky graphics and plain gameplay, I feel bad for you. The game starts with the player as a young man, no future behind him but dreams ahead of him, represented by the blurry landscape. His life is portrayed in five minutes; he can choose to marry and explore the world, or stay alone and gather money and possessions. In time, he grows old, balding and slowing down. In the end, the man dies, and the score you gained seems meaningless hanging over his grave.
What really draws you to this simple game is the audio, a basic simple and sombre tune that brings out a whole lot of affective value in a person. In the end, it makes you think about mortality, what you do with your life, and whether it all matters before death.
Anonamouse
It was horrible! Do not get this game. Horrid music and even worse graphics... It was made in, like, 1960.