Dance With Me

On the surface, this quiet, beautiful story may not seem to lend itself to interactive fiction, but the theme of lack of control complements the game format perfectly.

The +-40k word story follows a ceramic ballet dancer named Lyra, brought to life by the magic of elven people. Her life's mission is to please her owners, especially the young boy elf to whom she was gifted. This proves easy and rewarding for her at first, but slowly, the dancing she so loved becomes a source of pain and the child's reactions to her change wildly. Her sense of self-worth becomes as fragile as her ceramic body. The joy she got from dancing gradually slips from her reach, and she worries that she will one day be irreparably damaged (like some of the other figurines in the household).

Gameplay: I got the sense that the choices made did not take the plot in wildly different directions. I could be wrong, as I only played this once. This works well in the context of the story, as the figurines exist in a contained world with limited options. Sometimes, the reader may feel trapped by Lyra's reactions. You can choose which ballet forms she will practice, or you may be presented with three responses that are all quite similar. I cared for Lyra and often wanted to take her in a healthier direction, but if she is not ready to go there, she won't follow your lead. Sentences formatted with a strikethrough indicate thoughts she is not ready to consider. It is a very clever way to convey the complex emotions of a victim of abuse. You can also identify with those who feel helpless watching a loved one navigate an abusive situation. Lyra is stronger than she knows. Her stubbornness makes her a very real, endearing character.

It is lovely when Lyra starts to believe that she is worthy of love. Some of the pressure she feels does not come from the outside but from inside herself. As she grows in empathy towards the other figurines, she starts to treat herself more kindly. I highly recommend this unique story that gently navigates difficult subjects.