Three-Card Reading

Note: This review was written during Spring Thing 2025, and originally posted in the intfiction forum on 7 April 2025.

Rather curious going into this one. It’s described as “kinetic” interactive fiction, which I think means no choice? I always want some kind of interaction and preferably agency, so will see how I feel trying this. I am keen to try it though, not least because I’ve recently been learning Tarot card reading! So here goes …

First up: the text on the opening splash credits screen is hard to read. White with a black outline against an autumnal/misty scene does not deliver readable words. I’m even struggling, for example, to read the word “Twitter” in there. As well as other words I know. Fortunately the text in game is much clearer visually.

Neat to have a save option. Oh and there are voice credits, so I’d better turn on my sound.

The main screen has the main text being read out in the middle, with character icons around the edge. Nothing seems interactable with. Different characters light up as the speaker changes. The character images also change at times. But the only options you have are to save (which does what???) and pause or play the story. Listening works, with multiple voice actors, but then makes reading (which I do at a different speed) superfluous. This would be blind reader friendly.

Because it’s spoken it appears that you can’t speed through the story. Basically you’re listening to an audio story. And I ended up doing other things while the audio played. But I found out later on that you can tap the rectangle item at the right in the bottom panel to move on between text sections. But that’s really all you can do apart from pause and play.

I expected and wanted some Tarot deck visuals going into the game. I know there will be copyright issues with some deck designs, but going in I had an image in my mind of cards appearing on screen. I was also hoping for random draws, maybe a Tarot simulator. But it’s totally fixed. Not seeing cards feels unsatisfying. The meanings given seem on point.

The story takes about 15 minutes to run through if you let it play through the audio. I think it maybe recaps some of the plot of “Yancy At The End Of The World” which I haven’t played? Or at least has a partial call back to that. But it wasn’t a problem. I liked the ending of the story. It felt satisfying.

I’m still not sure how I feel about kinetic interactive fiction. I was happy watching/listening/reading this. But I would have preferred more (any!) interaction and agency. And give me card visuals! Also the user interface needed to be clearer for the viewer. It took me ages to realise I could click that rectangle to step quickly through paragraphs appearing on screen.

So an interesting idea, but some issues that could be smoothed. And I really wanted some interaction.

Adapted from a SpringThing25 Review

Played: 4/7/25
Playtime: 15m

Over the last few Comp cycles, Bez has treated us to a few works marrying art, voice and narrative IF. Each of them has had its own personality, its own quirks and fascinations. In terms of raw presentation, it feels like things are creatively cresting into a very next-level appealing package. The artwork here, combinations of hand drawn characters and scene setting background is immediately compelling, and laid out terrifically against the text space to make for an inviting interface.

Even more noteworthy than the graphical package was the voice acting. Bez has employed this in the past, to mixed success to my ears. There are a couple things here that really work though. First and foremost, the script really aids this iteration. When voice acting is less successful, it represents a drag on things. We read the text, then wait for the voice actor to catch up, repeat. Here, with really only one or two notable exceptions, the dialog is natural, but bounded. Relatively short observations, answers, then next prompt. This flows very naturally, and not for nothing doesn’t give us opportunity to get ahead and have to wait for the game. In particular, the Mack character chose a delivery that was rapid but natural and really kept things bubbling along. The other characters were not quite so economical, and Yancy had an extended monologue at one point that DID drag, but I find it noteworthy that that was the exception in this work. Otherwise it was quite tight, and made for an enjoyable time.

Now the function all this form was in service of. The work is a lazy afternoon with friends doing Tarot readings, as catalyst to have some friendly conversations about their friendship, including some mild tension around one of them harboring a secret. These characters have a history here, in a work I consider a unique combination of compelling thematic genius and biting family tragedy, swimming in a crowded sea of less successful dramatic elements. The friendship at the center of this work is one of the latter. If, however, I divorce the characters’ history from their presents, it is kind of sweet and amiable.

Up to the point of the plot twist. It’s…BIG, this twist. So big, it challenges the natural, friendly vibe.. no that’s not what I mean. What I mean is, it’s so big it SHOULD challenge that vibe and doesn’t. The LACK of incredulity, followon questions, other explanations in the face of unquestioning acceptance, PARTICULARLY when the foundation was already some suspicion of deception, did not ring true, not for this quiet afternoon.

So now I’m off balance, trying to figure out how we got here and where its going to tumble, and then it ended. Hm. Ok. Maybe I was a bit hasty. The revelation was huge, kind of bonkers huge, but we are talking about a world of animal-people. Oh, did I not say that? Yeah, these friends are all ani-people. In THIS world, which the narrative tells us nothing about, maybe this wild revelation is not as strange as it reads to boring people-people? Certainly the overriding takeaway of this work was as an interlude, some connective narrative bridging the previous work and leaning into a followon. I assume. It certainly plays like that. If so, on the strength of the artistic growth and next level voice work, count me in! I mean, how do I NOT hear how this bonkers development gets resolved???

Horror Icon: Carrie
Vibe: Afternoon Hang
Polish: Smooth
Gimme the Wheel! : If this were my work, I might take a look at the revelation’s reception, make sure it is playing out precisely the way the next work needs it to. Ensuring the jarring effect on the reader is deliberate. (There is a good chance it already is!)

Polish scale: Gleaming, Smooth, Textured, Rough, Distressed
Gimme the Wheel: What I would do next, if it were my project.

Three-card reading is an entirely linear experience, with a conversation between three friends as they make some small talk and do some tarot readings. There is a big reveal down the line, but it could have used a bit more exploration. Maybe even the ability to ask questions would be nice.

There is some nice art here along with voice acting. Between that and the absence of choices, this reminded me a lot of a kinetic visual novel. It's good for a short bit of entertainment, but once you're done, there's little reason to return.

Giving this a star rating was tricky. I ultimately settled on three stars, but I would have placed this in the upper bound of the three star range, maybe just a little short of four.

I like all of Bez's games, many of which recently have taken the form of voice-acted adventures with character illustrations set in a world where where people are a mix of animal and human.

This one is part of that larger continuity and follows on from past stories. It has three friends (including a cute snail human) that are doing Tarot readings and talk about the future.

I like the writing and the authenticity. Like some other Bez games, the story here models being open with friends and overcoming social challenges through honesty.

So why three stars? Well, with Bez being a prolific author, I've started sorting through the games in my mind. I prefer the stories by this author that have choices and also those which have a bit more content.