Game Review: Tell Me Why

I'm no stranger to French video game developer Dontnod's collection of titles. I have a deep appreciation for their work on the Life is Strange series; Life is Strange 2 in particular! So with Deck Nine now taking the reigns on that series, it seems that it's given Dontnod the freedom to venture into new territory with future titles. One title of note was a game called Tell Me Why.

Tell Me Why is a three episode narrative-driven experience in which you play the role of Tyler and Alyson Ronan. Tyler and Alyson are twins who have a supernatural ability to speak to one another through telepathy. After suffering a traumatic experience in their early years which saw them split up from one another, the game follows them 10 years later as they reunite to return to their hometown of Delos Crossing in Alaska to try and sell their old family home. Reuniting and returning back to their hometown may seem like a nice idea, but in actuality, this ends up forcing the twins to confront a lot of repressed memories and trauma from their past and the game puts the mystery of their past at the forefront of the narrative all the while asking the player to help define the type of relationship these siblings will come to have by the game's end.  

The narrative for the most part is incredibly mature and relevant in a lot of ways. One of the biggest points behind this game is it features the first fully playable transgender character in a leading role and the game utilises Tyler's trans-journey in a way that feels incredibly respectful and insightful. What impressed me to no end is how well balanced the narrative is in spotlighting Tyler's trans identity but never in a way that feels disingenuous to him or the overarching narrative. The mystery that ties Tyler and Alyson together and the trauma they both experienced all those years ago is smartly set up and I think the strongest element of the story is easily in the relationships it establishes with the main and supporting cast. I always feel like people are Dontnods core strength, they have so much tact and delicacy in showcasing characters that feel genuine and interesting and they only further reinforce that reputation in Tell Me Why. The reason however, why I said "for the most part" earlier is because the narrative does falter in some ways as it progresses. I think the core mystery behind the game is good and really well set up, but the process of how you arrive to it's conclusion is less so. Inconsistent storytelling is sadly a flaw Dontnod also struggle to escape from and even with a limited 3-act structure I just can't help but feel the story loses it's sense of positioning by the very end. The characters and their relationships may be the strongest element, but the narrative beats that tie them together aren't always consistent or natural to the ongoing plot. It's such a shame too because I genuinely feel there is a captivating narrative in this game, but the execution and overall conclusion can't help but feel ultimately disappointing.

Gameplay wise, the game feels notably limited in that capacity as well. This won't be unlike any other Life is Strange game you've played. Choice-based decisions and 3rd-person exploration set pieces are your common bread and butter in these games. Where Tell Me Why deviates from the formula is through the telepathic ability the twins both share. Together they can both reflect and visualise moments in their past by interreacting with the environment around them, which is incorporated into the gameplay in a way that just doesn't feel all that engaging. The moments you form when using your memory ability can be insightful to the ongoing narrative, but they don't ask much from you other than to stand still and hold down the A button. I'm trying not to compare this game's features to Dontnod's prior titles but it feels necessary as the developers are obviously sticking to a concept very close to them. The interactive feature of Life is Strange 1 was the time-rewind mechanic, which while not always consistent did at least feel engaging to utilise. In Life is Strange 2, the interactive feature was Daniel and his telekinetic powers and the game allowed you to use him to influence decisions or get around obstacles. Sadly when you compare the telepathic offerings of Tell Me Why to those features, you can easily see why this game doesn't feel nearly as engaging. I feel even from a narrative perspective with the choice based mechanics, that the game doesn't follow through nearly as much with weighty and substantial consequences. The gameplay feels serviceable at best, which is sadly not what I was hoping for when you consider Dontnod had several prior titles to learn from.

I know it sounds like I didn't enjoy my time all that much with this game, but I think the reason I was ultimately disappointed with Tell Me Why is because it's layered with some great moments of potential. When the games isn't bogged down in it's inconsistent storytelling, it's showcasing characters that are brimming with personality and emotion and I genuinely wanted to see more of these characters lives by the time the game ended. I also really appreciated how this game took the extra mile in educating it's audience on LGBTQ+ stuff through the perspective of a transgender character in a way that felt natural and really endearing. This game is filled to the brim with potential, which is why it just feels all the more annoying to see it falter at moments Dontnod really should have nailed down by now.