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About the StoryYou stepped off the streetcar moments ago, halting before the grand facade of the Marquis Theatre. You have come to see your idol, the Broadway star Miranda Lily, performing in all her dizzying glory. [blurb from IF Comp 2008] Game Details
Language: English (en)
First Publication Date: October 1, 2008 Current Version: 3 License: Freeware Development System: Inform 7 Forgiveness Rating: Merciful IFID: 1FFB09B8-2DAA-46D5-9517-2FCEBF23E308 TUID: 7rcl3tz5xrrhxgds |
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| Average Rating:  Number of Reviews: 4 Write a review |
Most Helpful Member Reviews
Excellent, August 24, 2009Opening Night starts out seeming like your average puzzle game (albeit with excellent prose). Your goal is to give a rose to Miranda Lily, star of the stage - your problem is getting past that obnoxious doorman. A couple simple puzzles take you past this problem, and then the game really begins to shine.
There are more puzzles, but the focus of the game really is on the story, as the author says in the "about" section.
I found the interweaving of memory and present startling and surreal, and the pacing is excellent. I gradually began to put the pieces together, painting a haunting picture, and the final revalation brings everything together in a sad and satisfying way.
There are no in-game hints, but they aren't really necessary. While I often look at hints at least once during a game, I never needed to during Opening Night.
The game is rather linear, but this never presented a problem, and perhaps actually enhanced the story to a degree (think Photopia). Overall an excellent, very satisfying, very polished work.
Short, dreamlike parser game set entirely in one location, September 21, 2016
[Time to completion: 45 minutes-1 hour]
This is a short, surreal parser game which opens in front of a theatre on its opening night. You are here to see the actress Miranda Lily, but you're not well-dressed enough.
I underestimated this game at first, taking it for your usual puzzle game. The puzzles, though, used a bit of adventure game logic: (Spoiler - click to show)searching through a dumpster after attending a concert seems a bit off to me.
Opening Night is much more than the puzzles: it's almost dreamlike, and the single setting - the theatre - changes as you progress, reflecting the player's knowledge. The PC's identity also changes as you go through the game, ultimately revealing them to be (Spoiler - click to show)an unreliable narrator. The final reveal of their identity was not exactly unexpected, but was still satisfying.
Worth a whirl, it's not too long.
A delightful early 1900s game with some surprises up its sleeves, February 4, 2016This game surprised me with its emotional effect, because it has a slow burn opening. You are a huge fan of theatre actress Mirada Lily, and have come on the opening night of her big show to give her a rose.
This game is relatively short and easy. I wasn't sure what to do with one item, but you just use everything.
Your main goal is to get into the theatre, as you are not dressed well enough to be allowed in.
Strongly recommended.
See All 4 Member Reviews
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Polls
The following polls include votes for Opening Night:Sublime Moments by Sam Kabo Ashwell
I've been thinking about games that provide really brilliant moments. This is not about the overall quality of the game: there are plenty of excellent games that never deliver a clear, standout moment of unalloyed excellence. And surely...
This is version 4 of this page, edited by David Welbourn on 30 July 2019 at 11:18am. - View Update History - Edit This Page - Add a News Item