Game Cover

I’m a man dressed as a bird standing at the foot of a monument to stupidity and death. You are a young woman without a face floating indifferently through a world stuck in time.

Platform played on: PC

# Review

Norco is a first-person text-based point and click adventure in a surreal and gritty Louisiana. The story follows the protagonist Kay, who moves back home to Norco, Louisiana in the wake of her mother Catherine’s death. Kay, along with a motley crew of sidekicks such as her family’s fugitive android Million, try to uncover the mystery surrounding Catherine’s investigation right before she passed.

First-person point and click

The game reminds me greatly of Kentucky Route Zero in that it features a sorrowful world with surreal elements. The difference is that Norco is much more grounded, both in gameplay and narrative. For one, Norco contains real gameplay such as puzzles and mini-games. The world-building within Norco of a dystopian community is much more concrete and less surreal than that of Kentucky Route Zero. Finally, the prose in Norco is much less verbose and much more robust and meaningful than that of Kentucky Route Zero; I actually laughed out loud during certain dialogues because the humour is very tasteful. While Kentucky Route Zero focuses on the holistic experience and philosophical themes, Norco focuses on the story, the world, and the characters.

Fight mini game

That is not to say that Norco offers a bad experience; the pixelated art style is very nostalgic and the atmosphere is solid as well. As previously mentioned, the prose is some of the best I’ve read in video games. The characters are unique and memorable, and Norco explores themes which are relatable to everyone, such as those surrounding family, community, and capitalism.

Funny dialogue

# Conclusion

An quirky sci fi adventure in a dark and dystopian world.

# Overall rating: 7.9

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