*MSRP: $14.99 – https://store.steampowered.com/app/1139280/The_Big_Con/
The Big Con is a game dripping with style and nostalgia. The art style is reminiscent of the colored comic strips commonly found in newspapers. The music hails back to the simpler times of the 90s. The game is a nostalgia trip back to the days of renting movies from Blockbuster, watching MTV, and calling friends on landlines.
The game play is interesting as well. The game revolves around you conning people of money. The game has phases where you have to case the area, listen to people, and find ways to approach them and talk to them to find a big score.
If you’re wondering why a young teen is out in the world turning to a life of crime, it’s for a good cause I promise! Ali’s mother has unfortunately gotten involved with loan sharks in an attempt to provide a better life for Ali at all costs. With payments being late, the family is now at risk of losing the video rental business so she sets out into the world to steal ninety seven some thousand dollars in order to pay the loan sharks back and save the store.
The dialogue and narrative elements are well written and as equally stylish and filled with nostalgia as the art and music. There is a lot of self aware and fourth wall breaking humor as well as references to lot of past pop culture. In between these cheeky sections of dialogue are tidbits of genuine moments as well.
Overall, The Big Con took me by surprise. The combination of the fantastic art and music combined with a powerful nostalgia trip on top of a unique and well made narrative adventure made for a complete package.
Ducky Obrien 