Game review - Papers, Please (beta)
[3909 LLC]
Developer: 3909 LLC
Publisher: 3909 LLC
Genre: Puzzle
Original release date: August 8, 2013
Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, PlayStation Vita
Reviewed on: Windows
To accept, or not to accept? That is the deep question that keeps on at the end of your seat when playing Papers, Please. It is a game where a simple yes-or-no scenario requires complex derision making of what the game is simulating, which is a passport border control. Designed by Lucas Pope, this beta release of the game (no longer available) gives an insight of how the game was intended to function before finally becoming a full release.
It is the year 1982, and you assume the role of an immigration inspector of the glorious fictional nation of Arstotzka during a time where a six-year neighbouring war has ended. Despite peace finally happening, political tensions are still high between Arstotzka and it's neighbour countries. Your job is to thoroughly inspect the travel documents of incoming visitors and refuse any frauds for the safety of your country's people.
[3909 LLC]
Utilizing these objectives in the gameplay, Papers, Please successfully simulates the experience of being a passport inspector at the country border. Each arriving individual you meet requires you to carefully examine their travel documents such as passports, ID cards, and work permits for any inconsistencies. These could include name mismatches, invalid issuing cities, expired passports, and more. As each day (level) progresses, you'll be provided with more tools and regulations which you must adapt with, which increases the difficulty and complexity of the game.
The simple, yet complicated mechanics of Papers, Please make you think hard when examining the immigrant. Each one has two possible outcomes you can choose, whether it's allowing him/her into the country, or refusing entry. Yet with the amount of rules you have to follow, it can take time to fully look into every detail of the paperwork in order to fully determine if the person is eligible to enter Arstotzka. That, and the large queue that you have to deal with puts pressure on getting the visas stamped as quickly as possible. Allowing invalid immigrants in can result in the harsh penalty of reduced income which can impact the family that you are trying to raise outside of the job.
Visually, Papers, Please utilizes a retro computer game style from the 1980's, which seems fitting considering that the game is set during the year 1982. It is utilized alongside a limited colour pellet to give the feeling of a war-torn country still recovering from the dark days of violence. This graphic style also benefits with the gameplay by providing an easy-to-use user interface as your desk, and lacking colourful distractions to allow the player to focus on examining the documents. On top of that, each pixelated face you come across is easily distinguishable, and makes it easier to compare the face with the photo on the person's passport and/or ID card.
Along with satisfying my interest of international travel and border controls, the beta release of Papers, Please provides an intelligent puzzle experience that both succeeds greatly as a border inspector simulator, as well as expressing commentary on the harshness of post-war tensions between neighboring countries that were involved in battle. The beta version I played is no longer available to download as of now, so if you're interested in this game, it's best to purchase the full version via Steam for Windows/macOS/Linux, the Apple App Store for iOS, or the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation Vita version. Being very impressed with the beta, this is one game I'll defiantly consider on buying for myself.
