Info about ...Knew the Beginning:

Official game description:
Frequently asked questions
==========================
**Why does this guy only walk backwards? Is that a glitch?**  
It's not a glitch. It's a feature.
About the Game
==============
In this Point&Click - Adventure you find yourself in the post-apocalypse and help the bartender in whose bar you wake up. To help him you're going to have to solve puzzles and talk to several NPCs in order to get them to help you in your quest.  
You'll be meeting many new friends and other not so friendly interesting characters on your way in this strange world, littered with remnants of the world that it once was. Now it's your turn to fit in in this new strange hierarchy, that has been built by a gang calling themselves Survivors.  
Depending on your humor, this game may also tickle your funny bone.

Release date: Apr 15, 2022

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Puzzle Solving, Post-apocalyptic, Surreal Exploration, Hand-drawn Art Style, Multiple Endings, Single-player Story


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 1.0h
  - Story completion: 1.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews consistently report the game's total playtime as approximately one hour, with some noting slightly over an hour. This directly supports gameCompletion and storyCompletion, as the short narrative is the primary content. No evidence addresses session length or endgame content, so those metrics remain null.
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun and quirky experience (weight 0.84): Players consistently describe the game as fun, quirky, and entertaining, with a certain charm and humorous moments. It is seen as an interesting and enjoyable experience overall.
- Great and interesting art style (weight 0.67): The art style is frequently praised as great, interesting, and lovely, with a unique surreal and slightly askew aesthetic. It is noted to match the game's tone and evoke older internet flash weirdness.
- Interesting and surprising story (weight 0.63): The story is described as interesting, surprising, and better than some other games, with a fever-dream quality. It carries the game well through its short duration and includes disturbing sequences.
- Unique and funny characters (weight 0.6): The characters are praised for being unique, funny, and quirky, with humorous voices and dialogues. Their distinct personalities contribute significantly to the game's charm.
- Good voice acting overall (weight 0.58): Voice acting is generally well-received, with some noting it is fully voiced in German and English with good actors. However, opinions vary on the quality, with some finding it amateurish but charming.
- Enjoyable point-and-click humor (weight 0.58): The game's point-and-click humor is highlighted as enjoyable and classic, with surrealist and absurdist elements. This humor is a key positive aspect for many players.
- Passion project shines through (weight 0.56): Players recognize the game as a passion project, with obvious effort and dedication from the developer. This genuine and honest approach is endearing and makes the game stand out.
- Evident love for genre (weight 0.49): Players feel the game shows clear love for the point-and-click genre, evident in its design and execution. This passion is appreciated and adds to the overall experience.
- Charming amateur voice acting (weight 0.47): Some players find the amateur voice acting funny and charming rather than annoying, adding to the game's quirky appeal. The German voice acting is noted as particularly silly and sometimes better than English.
- Nice music and atmosphere (weight 0.41): The music is described as pretty great and nice, contributing to a good vibe and a creepy, surreal atmosphere. The soundtrack enhances the overall mood of the game.
- Personality and charm (weight 0.39): The game oozes personality and has an endearing charm, partly due to the developers' passion. This makes the experience feel genuine and honest, even with rough edges.
- Fun details and world design (weight 0.39): Players enjoy discovering fun details in every screen, and the world is interesting but not overloaded, making it easy to navigate without boredom. The design is clever and innovative.
- Surreal and bizarre vibe (weight 0.32): The game has a fun, bizarre, and surreal vibe that is appreciated by players. The odd, slightly askew art style and atmosphere contribute to this unique experience.
- Fully voiced with many actors (weight 0.32): The game is fully voiced in German and English with many different voice actors, which is seen as a positive. The voice acting generally fits the atmosphere, though quality varies.
- Simple graphics with good vibe (weight 0.22): The game has simple graphics that still provide a good vibe, and everything is drawn. This simplicity is appreciated and fits the game's quirky style.
- Moral choices hit hard (weight 0.13): The simple moral choices in the game are surprisingly impactful, adding depth to the experience. This is a notable positive aspect for players.
- Klaus Kinski appears (weight 0.12): Klaus Kinski appears to voice himself in the game, which is a notable and interesting feature for players. This adds to the game's unique charm.
- Multiple-choice options (weight 0.12): The game includes multiple-choice options, which is a feature appreciated by players. This adds interactivity and replay value to the experience.

Common complaints:
- Puzzles lack challenge and depth (weight 0.52): Multiple reviewers found the puzzles too easy, with solutions requiring only one or two steps. This made the game feel unchallenging and lacking in depth.
- Game is extremely short (weight 0.52): Several reviewers noted the game is only about an hour long, making it feel more like a prologue than a full experience. This brevity also raised concerns about the price being fair.
- Story lacks conclusion and depth (weight 0.51): The story was described as bland, almost non-existent, and failing to resolve questions or wrap up the main plot. This left reviewers feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.
- Excessive walking and slow movement (weight 0.33): Reviewers complained about slow walking speed and the need to traverse the train repeatedly, especially due to two exits. This made the pacing feel tedious.
- Gameplay is mediocre (weight 0.32): The gameplay was described as mediocre and rough around the edges, with inconsistent object interaction mechanics. This made the overall experience feel unpolished.
- Character animation issues (weight 0.22): The main character only animates in one direction, so when walking backwards, only the head turns. This looks odd and detracts from immersion.
- Lore and protagonist background unclear (weight 0.22): Reviewers wanted more information about the protagonist's past and found the lore unclear. This left them feeling disconnected from the story.
- Dialogue skipping is too easy (weight 0.13): It is too easy to accidentally skip dialogue, and sometimes you cannot get the dialogue again. This can cause players to miss important story information.
- Stuck during conductor dialogue (weight 0.12): A reviewer got stuck when the conductor was talking about decontaminating the train, indicating a potential progression bug or unclear instructions.
- Ambush plot triggers incorrectly (weight 0.12): There was a small problem where the ambush plot was not triggered before it was triggered again, causing confusion in the narrative flow.
- Characters are not memorable (weight 0.12): The characters were described as not memorable or even funny, which reduced the overall engagement with the story.
- Main menu could be more organized (weight 0.11): One reviewer felt the main menu was not well organized, which could affect initial impressions and navigation.
- Music is not the best (weight 0.11): One reviewer noted that the music is not the best, which may have contributed to a less immersive atmosphere.

Gameplay feedback:
- Easy and straightforward puzzles (weight 0.51): Puzzles are generally easy, straightforward, and typical for the genre, posing no significant obstacle. This is mentioned in several clusters, indicating a common sentiment.
- Classic point-and-click adventure (weight 0.44): The game is described as a traditional point-and-click adventure with light puzzle elements and a short experience. This genre classification is consistent across multiple reviews.
- Short playtime around one hour (weight 0.25): The game lasts roughly an hour or slightly more at a calm pace, making it a brief experience. This is noted in two clusters.
- Character walks backwards (weight 0.12): A specific animation bug where the character walks backwards without turning around was reported. This is a minor but noticeable issue.
- Map teleportation feature (weight 0.11): Clicking on the map allows teleporting to different areas, which is a convenient navigation feature. This is a single mention.
- Amnesiac in zombie apocalypse (weight 0.11): The player character is an amnesiac trapped in a zombie post-apocalyptic setting, providing the game's narrative backdrop. This is a single mention.
- Goal to defend barkeep (weight 0.11): The main objective is to gather odd people to defend the local barkeep, which defines the game's mission. This is a single mention.

Performance notes:
- Steam Deck requires external mouse (weight 0.12): Players report that the game is playable on Steam Deck only when using an external mouse, indicating a lack of proper controller or touch support on the device.

Recommendations:
- Game recommended for interesting experience (weight 0.44): Multiple reviewers recommend the game for those seeking an interesting or unique experience. It is praised as a good discovery and a clear purchase recommendation.
- Suitable for slow-paced play (weight 0.15): The game is recommended for players with a few hours to spare who enjoy a slower pace. This suggests it is not action-heavy but offers a relaxed experience.
- Worth price for short entertainment (weight 0.14): One reviewer implies the game is worth its price for about an hour of entertainment. This indicates a short but satisfying experience relative to cost.
- Honest but not breathtaking (weight 0.13): The game is described as not breathtaking but breathtakingly honest, appealing to those who value authenticity over spectacle. This suggests a grounded, sincere narrative or design.

Other player notes:
- Mature content warnings (weight 0.52): The game contains drug references, foul language, sexual content, and graphic violence. Reviewers warn it is not suitable for sensitive or family audiences.
- Developer's first game (weight 0.33): Multiple reviewers noted this is the developer's first game, which may explain some rough edges. This context is important for setting expectations.
- Comparisons to other games (weight 0.3): Reviewers compared the game to Substitute Priest, a mix of Edna, Sally Face, and Fran Bow, and Daedalic Adventures with Gothic. These comparisons help define its genre and tone.
- Hand-drawn art style (weight 0.23): All visuals in the game are drawn, and the surreal art style reminded reviewers of Edna and Harvey games. This artistic choice is a notable feature.
- Fully voiced in German and English (weight 0.21): The game is fully voiced in both German and English, providing accessibility for different audiences. This is a positive feature for voice acting quality.
- German fever dream adventure (weight 0.13): The game is described as a German fever dream adventure, indicating a surreal and possibly bizarre narrative experience. This unique descriptor sets expectations for the game's style.
- Feels like a prologue (weight 0.12): One reviewer felt the game serves as a prologue to a larger story that may never be made. This suggests the narrative may feel incomplete.
- Very affordable price (weight 0.12): The game is very cheap, which may offset its short length and rough edges. This is a positive factor for potential buyers.
- Story similar to TLoU2 (weight 0.11): One reviewer compared the story to that of The Last of Us Part II, suggesting a narrative with moral complexity or controversial elements. This comparison may attract or repel players.
- Potential for sequel (weight 0.11): Reviewers see potential for a sequel, indicating the game's world and story could be expanded. This suggests the game may leave threads for future content.
- Comparable to student film (weight 0.11): The game is compared to a first feature-length movie by a film science student, implying amateurish but passionate execution. This sets expectations for production quality.
- Art from adversity (weight 0.11): The game is referred to as 'Art from Adversity', suggesting it was created under challenging circumstances. This adds a layer of appreciation for the developer's effort.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.25): Players found the game enjoyable due to its quirky characters, dark humor, and funny voice acting. The surreal art style, simple puzzles, and clever game design contributed to a fun and bizarre experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.11): The game's humor and quirky characters, including funny amateur voice acting, tickled reviewers' funny bones. The fever-dream-like atmosphere and weird dialogue made the experience amusing.
- Appreciation (weight 0.09): Reviewers appreciated the hand-drawn art style and the surreal point-and-click experience. The unique drawing style and quirky characters were particularly praised.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): The game provided a satisfying hour of entertainment with a creative story and good voice acting. Easy puzzles allowed an uninterrupted pace, enhancing the overall experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.07): Players felt frustrated by slow walking and the character's inability to turn around when moving backward. Getting stuck on a specific puzzle about decontaminating the train also caused frustration.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): The game felt slight and disappointing due to its extremely short length and almost non-existent story. It ended without wrapping up the main plot, leaving reviewers unsatisfied.
- Confusion (weight 0.05): The game's weirdness and lack of clear lore left reviewers confused about what was happening. The surreal nature of the experience contributed to this feeling.
- Love (weight 0.05): Reviewers loved the game because its point-and-click humor doesn't take itself seriously. Despite being goofy and rough, the game was endearing and enjoyable.
- Anticipation (weight 0.02): Players are looking forward to playing the developer's second game, indicating positive anticipation based on their experience with this title.
- Liking (weight 0.02): The overall game was liked by reviewers, though the specific reasons are not detailed. This general positive sentiment reflects an enjoyable experience.
- Fondness (weight 0.02): The amateurish but competent design quickly grew on the reviewer, leading to a sense of fondness. The game's rough edges added to its charm.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Reviewers hope to see more from this developer, indicating a desire for future projects. This hope stems from the positive aspects of the current game.
- Bemusement (weight 0.02): The reviewer expects to be left thinking 'What the heck was that?' which is considered a good thing here. This bemused reaction is a positive outcome of the game's weirdness.
- Endearment (weight 0.02): The love and passion the developers had for their project made the game endearing. This evident care contributed to a positive emotional response.
- Charmed (weight 0.02): The experience of playing the game charmed reviewers, likely due to its quirky and unique qualities. This charm made the game memorable.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): The moral choices in the game hit hard, surprising players. This unexpected depth added to the game's impact.
- Interest (weight 0.02): The creepy and surreal atmosphere, along with the interesting experience, sparked interest in players. This unique setting kept them engaged.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): The multiple-choice options that can be explored fully by replaying the game excited players. This replayability factor added to the game's appeal.}