You can be forgiven for not thinking much of Why It Happened to Me? at first glance. For all intents and purposes, it’s just another pitch for a point-and-click adventure game. But giving it some time to really sink in, the charm of it all starts to seep through. What can be a detriment for many projects, a vague sales pitch and broken English, allows Why It Happened to Me? to stand out from the crowd.
The brainchild of Russian artist Pasha Bumazhniy, the game centers around… a protagonist. While that might seem obvious, there really isn’t much more to it. He’s just a person, having a bad day, who can take off his head and wear other things instead. The premise alone is nonsensical, but made beautiful because of it. The project’s goal doesn’t seem to be one of linear narrative progression, but of simple interactions with the world’s inhabitants, gaining pleasure from the simple wave of a hand and nod of a head.
Complementing the silliness of the plot is the even sillier art style, whose goofiness draws more from the Neverhood variety than more conventional point-and-clicks. While not claymation in any sense, the vivid vibrancy of the art gives the world a unique touch which is bound to excite when played.
The developer is leaning towards releasing the finished product free of charge, but don’t let that stop you from investing in this one. The goal of Kickstarter, supposedly, isn’t so much about what the donor gets out of it but to help new and exciting ventures get their feet off the ground. This one looks pretty good, so don’t be afraid to check out Why It Happened to Me?’s Kickstarter to learn more.
