The "Papers, Please" Short Film is Here!

I was a little stumped about what I should write this week.  I'm still happily stabbing things in Kingdoms of Amalur:  Reckoning and it has been my sole focus.  Then, this morning, I saw a post about the Papers, Please short film and the fact that it was now completed and available for viewing.  So I watched it and it's actually good!  Here it is for your viewing pleasure:

I absolutely adore Papers, Please.  It's one of those weird games that manages to be unique and quirky while still having depth.  On the surface it appears to be a game about attention to details--how good are you at catching all the small ways that something is wrong?  Beneath that layer of attention is another, deeper layer of moral ambiguity.  The role of the document inspector isn't as simple as just stamping "approved" or "denied" on a passport.  Your character has a family to support and every day you feel the pressure of trying to make as much money as possible so that you can pay for rent, food, and heat so that your family has the basics.  But what do you do when a mother comes to your station begging to be let in so she can see her children?  Her papers are expired and she should be denied...but her story tugs at your heartstrings and you let her in anyway--you get a warning that more mistakes will result a fine taken out of your pay.  But do you let the next sob story into the country at the cost of losing money that you desperately need?  It's a moral battle.

What I enjoyed about the short film is how it captures some of that internal conflict.  They focus on one of the moral choices that I always let slide--the story of Elisa and Sergiu.  Sergiu comes to you and asks that you make sure that his girlfriend Elisa is allowed to enter into the country.   He gives you a locket with her picture so you can be sure of who she is.  When Elisa does show up, there's always a problem with her papers.  I always let her in--even if it means I'm going to get a fine.  The sad part is that usually on that same day a terrorist attack happens.  If you're too slow, Sergiu will be killed by the attack.  I think I've managed to save him once.

The film also captures some of the negative consequences that can occur from your good will.  Sometimes those emotional pleas to be let into Arstotzka are nothing but a cover for those who are planning to do evil.  The film ends on a dark note with a terrorist attack and the demise of the inspector.

Papers, Please is a great game and this short film has managed to capture the essence of document inspecting.  It's only 10 minutes long, so give it a whirl.  What do you think?