2022 video game
| How Fish Is Made | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Wrong Organ |
| Publisher(s) |
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| Designer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Jeffrey Tomec |
| Artist(s) | Johanna Kasurinen |
| Writer(s) | Johanna Kasurinen |
| Composer(s) | Martin Halldin |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | 14 January 2022 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
How Fish Is Made is a 2022 narrative adventure horror game developed by Wrong Organ in which the player takes control of a sardine and explores the concept of choice through dialogue with other fish.
Plot
How Fish Is Made begins with sardine falling down a metal chute, landing in a cramped, industrial environment. The player takes control of the sardine and is given the option to engage in dialogue with a larger sardine, who asks if the player is going up or down. Other fish are encountered as the player flops through the cramped chutes and corridors, discussing the choice between up and down, providing reasoning for their own choice, or attempting to convince the player of the correct choice. The player is forced to crush a fellow sardine between the gears of a machine in order to proceed. After flopping through a dim, bloody tunnel, the player encounters a mute fish and its tongue-eating louse, who launches into a musical number over a montage of flesh and parasites. As the player moves on, the environment becomes increasingly biological, with piles of dead fish and lotus seed pods erupting from the walls. A fish tells the player how many fish have chosen to go up and how many have chosen to go down before the player is themselves presented with the choice.
Gameplay
How Fish Is Made is a single-player narrative adventure game in which the player controls a low poly sardine, with gameplay limited to flopping around the environment and engaging in dialogue with other fish. The game's expansion, The Last One And Then Another, features gameplay inspired by Katamari Damacy.
Development and release
How Fish Is Made was developed by art and narrative designer Johanna Kasurinen, designer and programmer Jeffrey Tomec, and audio designer Martin Halldin, all students at the Swedish game education institution Futuregames, and released on Steam and Itch.io for free on 14 January 2022. A free expansion titled The Last One And Then Another, a teaser for Wrong Organ's then-upcoming title Mouthwashing, was released in an update on 2 September 2023.
Reception
How Fish Is Made attracted attention on YouTube upon release. Critics described the game as "surreal", "disgusting", and "unsettling", with critique of capitalism and the futility of choice identified as key themes. Ashley Bardhan, writing for Kotaku, said that the game was "short and crude", but that it "moved me in a way few games have this year." Joshua Wolens of PC Gamer praised the developers for their "smart, creative work", saying the game was "one of the best games I've played in months". The game's atmospheric sound design was praised for its effectiveness by Jordan Devore of Destructoid, who called the tongue-eating louse's musical number a "standout moment".
References
- ^ Bardhan, Ashley (2 October 2023). "You Can Play This Life-Ruining Horror Game On Steam For Free". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 21 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Donovan, Imogen (4 September 2023). "'Mouthwashing' is a retro horror where "God is not watching"". NME. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Devore, Jordan (18 February 2022). "How Fish Is Made is a freaky horror-adventure game that's free on Steam". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- "イワシを操作する魚介系ホラゲー『How Fish Is Made』がSteamで無料配信中。ビチビチとのたうち回り謎の空間から脱出せよ". Den Fami Nico Gamer (in Japanese). 8 February 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- Wrong Organ (1 September 2023). "How Fish Is Made - NEW Chapter - "The Last One and Then Another"". Steam. Archived from the original on 27 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- ^ Wolens, Joshua (9 November 2024). "How Fish Is Made is the most disgusting horror game I've ever played, and it perfectly captures 2024". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 19 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- Couture, Joel (7 February 2022). "'How Fish Is Made' Asks Unsettling Questions About Sardine Morals". Indie Games Plus. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
- Joan, Rosy (26 January 2022). "ULTRA-INDIE Daily Dose: How Fish is Made Permeates My Membrane". DREADXP. Archived from the original on 22 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.