123) Knee Deep (2015)

Released in three separate acts, Knee Deep was initially released in 2015, but it wasn't until 2017 that the story was finally brought to a close. With the fascinating premise of being an adventure game in the guise of an elaborate stage production, Knee Deep is a game that defies explanation, and the narrative is equal parts weird, funny, and cringe-worthy. Set in the Florida Everglades with obvious inspiration from the likes of Twin Peaks, Knee Deep revels in the bizarre, and is very much an experience you'll either love or love to hate.

Over the course of the narrative, we're introduced to and play as three distinctly different characters, all of whom are drawn to the backwater town of Cypress Knee to investigate the apparent suicide of a former Hollywood celebrity. We're first introduced to Romana Teague, a hip, young blogger torn between writing sensationalist clickbait and hard hitting journalism. Then we have Jack Bellet, a down on his luck newspaper reporter dealing with an ex-wife, a son he tries to make time for, and the slow death of physical media as he struggles to maintain relevance. Finally, we have K. C. Gaddis, a struggling private investigator who keeps getting drawn bag to the small town. Though initially all three are looking into the story independently, they ultimately come together to unravel a far deeper, dumber, more nefarious plot.

As the story is presented as a stage play, the dialogue often comes across as stilted, though that's part of the odd charm of the game. We'll often have characters take center stage in order to offer exposition or simply to move the story along. Scenes change via oddly elaborate stage mechanics, which call into question the budget of the play, though it's again presented as just another oddity that is simply fact. This is something that happens often, as the story takes a few wild turns without giving you much time to think about them, which is probably for the best.

Really, the only thing we get to do is choose between up to three dialogue options at any given point. Each of the three leads has a certain type of option unique to them, and the game sometimes suffers the classic dilemma of the option not truly reflecting the outcome. For example, Romana has the option to reply in a quirky manner in most instances, which the writing interprets to mean batshit insane. She may respond to a threat by simply saying "Pineapple!", which in all fairness, would likely throw off a would be assailant.

As I've mentioned in other articles, the key to writing a good mystery is to present the audience with enough clues that they could figure it out while withholding just enough information to keep them guessing until the reveal. It's a delicate balancing act that takes true skill and artistry to pull off effectively. Conversely, Knee Deep approaches the problem by feeding numerous red herrings and plot threads that fizzle out by the end, only to throw out twists and turns that no reasonable person would be expected to think of. While I'm sure there are people who could predict the climax and culmination of the story, I would be genuinely afraid to be alone in a room with them.

All of this isn't to say that I dislike the narrative. I actually found it to be oddly charming and engaging, though you have to be prepared to engage with it on its level. Knee Deep operates with a set of rules that are uniquely its own, and it'll be damned to allow you to contort it to fit whatever preconceptions you may have. While certainly not for everyone, the game has a distinct, surrealist charm that you won't find anywhere else. I personally enjoyed my time interacting with it, though I don't see a ton of incentive to experience it again, and I have to advise a certain degree of caution when recommending it. It's not for everyone, whether it be the minimalist gameplay, the awkward presentation, or the oftentimes crazy story, but it certainly provides a unique experience for those who find themselves curious enough to visit the backwater town of Cypress Knee.