5/5 ★ – AaronElWhite's review of 1000xRESIST.

To get straight to the point, this is one of the most compelling, emotionally provocative, and profound narratives that I have ever experienced in a video game and is likewise one of the greatest science fiction tales ever told - across any medium. It is not just a GOTY contender for 2024, but a game that could easily end up on my all-time indie game Mount Rushmore. There is a thin line for me when it comes to non-linear storytelling, where some explanations can be so convoluted and confusing that it becomes difficult to really stay connected to what is happening at any given moment. 1000xResist does not have that problem, and while there were moments that I was briefly unsure of what was happening, the fragments quickly come together and the narrative builds to several surprising and affecting reveals, always keeping me grounded enough to engage with its deep themes and emotional beats. I hate to reduce the gameplay style to being simply visual novel + walking sim but that is really the best comp for the simplistic gameplay of which 90% is just having conversations. You don't have to get to know everyone at all times, but the deeper you let yourself become immersed in this world, the more gut-wrenching, intriguing, and understandable the experience will be. The story leans heavily on exploring an Asian diaspora experience through a central figure whose family is from Hong Kong. It does this in a sci-fi dystopia where an alien race has come to earth and unleashed a deadly disease, setting forth a survival plan that involves cloning. The result of that attempt unfolds for us in the present, future, and past, with a brilliantly implemented time skip memory exploration mechanic. The plot touches on high school racism, forgiveness, generational trauma, religion, identity, governmental control, and oh so much more - with no easy answers about anything, but rather an invitation to ponder and discuss. There's no doubt that being fully voiced and having an incredible musical score help a lot in thoroughly keeping the player engrossed, as well. This is a masterful piece of art that I will not stop thinking about for days, weeks, months... and I desperately hope that I will never forget how it has made me feel. Hekki grace.