I love the idea of a spooky game horror anthology, which encourages players to enjoy multiple smaller horror games on a regular basis. That’s exactly what BrokenLore provided for me starting back in February of last year, and now through some kind of development sorcery I’ve already played the fifth game in the series. Whereas the first couple of games really blew me away, the much longer (and drawn out) third title and the weird retelling of its story in the fourth were a step down from that. I was starting to worry that BrokenLore wasn’t really for me anymore, and that the good times of soiling my underwear were over. BrokenLore: DON’T LIE completely put those worries to rest though, and reminded me why I get excited every time I see the Serafini Productions logo.
In DON’T LIE you play as Junko, who if you’ve been playing the series for the duration you might recognise. Junko is the girl who messaged the protagonist Shinji to warn him of the eye balls and monsters in DON’T WATCH, and this is her version of the events that happened that night. Like Shinji, Junko is a Hikikomori who struggles with leaving the house and would rather isolate herself and play video games. The two met at a treatment facility recently, where they were both aiming to improve their insulated lives. This hasn’t happened yet though, so expect a lot of phone calls and texting.
There’s an issue with Junko that wasn’t touched upon when we first met her though: she’s a liar. From a young age she was taught that when she tells the truth nobody will listen, so more often than not she just doesn’t. The act of lying is the key theme of this game, with Junko spending a lot of time interacting with an AI companion who pretty much tells her that lying for attention is fine. Events you saw from the perspective of one character are shown in a whole new light when you know about Junko, and it’s fascinating to see play out.
Like the other BrokenLore titles before it, playing DON’T LIE mainly involves walking around environments that are equal parts gorgeous and unnerving. Some sections have light puzzles to solve, others have short chases, but this is essentially a horror themed walking simulator. It’s a combination that works for me though, and it’s done incredibly well.
A lot of the joy of BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is found in the environments, which often feel more like art gallery exhibits than spooky game locations. One area features giant pills dropping from the sky, another feels like walking through a particularly cool coloured lava lamp. The liminal spaces in the game especially are such a beautiful thing to behold, and I could easily ignore the horror and spend a day marvelling at them.
Another wonderful visual element of DON’T LIE is how it blends cartoony visuals with realistic ones. This is because Junko is a bit obsessed with the game Fantasy Boy, a colourful platformer from long ago. You’ll get to play small chunks of this surprisingly fun fictional game, and eventually will see enemies from it in the real world. This is all framed as part of Junko’s mental health struggles, and to help her through it you get a cel shaded sword and fight the silly mushrooms and bears that have come to life. It’s a cool twist that adds visual flair and even a bit of gameplay fun, which I really appreciated.
Like most of the BrokenLore games, DON’T LIE is a relatively bite sized game. It took me under an hour to finish the game, and it felt rather ideal to play in a single session at 1AM. Those who want more can replay it to try and find all the collectibles though, which add to the story of the game and likely unlock a secret ending.
BrokenLore: DON’T LIE feels like a wonderful return to form for the series, but it still has a couple of small issues. One liminal space in particular features frustrating puzzles which punish imprecise footing, and it sticks out as the worst section of the game by a country mile. I also feel like the actual horror was a little lacking this time around, with little in the way of new scary monsters or tense moments.
BrokenLore: DON’T LIE is a delightful new entry in the series, with outstanding visuals and a story that kept me gripped throughout. It managed to singlehandedly bring back all my missing love for the BrokenLore anthology, and made me giddy for the next instalment. Especially if you’ve played DON’T WATCH this is such an easy recommendation, and a wonderful way to spend a quiet evening.
