Chapter 5

Chapter 5: A Critic's Eye

Cale Marston had seen it all. As a game reviewer in the Copper District, his days were spent sifting through endless mech battles, space dogfights, and action-heavy, mindless romps. So, when the Creative Games Division had invited him to check out their latest exhibition, he hadn't expected much more than flashy graphics and loud explosions.

Standing in the sleek lobby of the Creative Games Division, Cale adjusted his neural visor, eyeing the displays with mild disinterest. Another day, another batch of predictable games trying too hard to outdo one another. Still, a gig was a gig, and his readers were always hungry for the latest trends in galactic entertainment.

"Alright, show me something worth my time," he muttered under his breath.

One display caught his eye. A sleek, minimalistic booth stood apart from the others, its interface calm, unlike the flashing lights of the other stations. Above the holographic screen, the title floated in soft, metallic letters: Outer Wilds.

"Outer Wilds, huh?" Cale raised an eyebrow. "Didn't think anyone in the Copper District had the guts to drop something subtle."

He sauntered over, lowering his neural visor to initiate the demo. As the game booted up, a subtle but eerie music filled his ears—a far cry from the high-octane soundtracks that usually blasted his eardrums. Intrigued, Cale leaned in as the screen welcomed him with a slow burn.

Fifteen minutes into the demo, and Cale found himself oddly hooked.

"Wait... so I die, and the loop starts again?" He leaned back in his chair, staring at the screen in confusion as his character's spaceship exploded for the fifth time. "What kind of sick joke is this?"

But as the loop reset, something clicked. The world, though the same, didn't feel monotonous. Each new life gave him a chance to tweak his approach, to learn from his previous mistakes. The planets weren't just barren landscapes—they were puzzles, mysteries begging to be solved. Every time the sun went supernova, the stakes felt higher, the sense of discovery more urgent.

The game didn't hold his hand. It didn't point out obvious objectives or bombard him with tutorial messages. Instead, it rewarded patience and curiosity. Every strange Nomai ruin, every ancient artifact scattered across the planets felt like part of a larger tapestry.

Cale smiled. This was different.

Hours passed in a blur. Cale found himself deep in the game, completely absorbed in its quiet genius. There was something hauntingly beautiful about the universe Dylan Trafford had created—this tiny, fragile solar system where time itself was a cage. It wasn't just about uncovering what had gone wrong with the Nomai—it was about the thrill of discovery, about learning the rules of this strange world.

Cale couldn't remember the last time a game had made him feel like this. Not since... well, not since Earth. Games here in the Empire often lacked subtlety. The player was usually the hero, a demigod destined to triumph. But in Outer Wilds, the player was just an explorer, small and insignificant in the grand scale of things.

Outer Wilds didn't care about making you feel powerful. It cared about making you think.

"That's bold," Cale muttered, shaking his head. "This kid has some serious guts."

A game like this wouldn't appeal to everyone—especially not here, where explosions and mech battles reigned supreme. But for those willing to take the plunge, there was something special waiting for them.

After wrapping up his demo, Cale pulled out his review datapad, his fingers hovering over the screen. He was known for being brutally honest, sometimes to a fault. But today, he was eager to write.

Cale Marston's Copper District Game Reviews

Outer Wilds: A Galactic Puzzle Wrapped in Time

It's rare to find a game in the Copper District that values subtlety over spectacle. Rarer still to find one that challenges the player not just to win, but to understand. Dylan Trafford's debut game, Outer Wilds, does exactly that, dropping you into a solar system doomed to a 22-minute time loop. Your job? Figure out how—and why—it's happening.

On the surface, Outer Wilds may seem like just another space exploration game, but the twist here is its non-linear design and focus on discovery. There's no map pointing you to the next objective, no mission log reminding you what to do next. Instead, it's all about learning from your failures and piecing together the mysteries of an ancient alien race, the Nomai.

While some might be turned off by the lack of combat or clear direction, those with a thirst for exploration will find themselves captivated. Each planet is a puzzle, and the reward isn't in defeating enemies, but in understanding the universe itself.

Dylan Trafford has taken a risk with this one. It's not for everyone, but for those willing to step outside their comfort zone, Outer Wilds offers an experience that's as rewarding as it is haunting.

Rating: 8.5/10

Final Thoughts: Not your typical Copper District fare, but a refreshing breath of originality. If you're tired of the same old mech battles and crave a game that'll make you think, give this one a shot.

Later that evening, Cale leaned back in his chair, feeling unexpectedly satisfied. He'd come to the exhibition expecting more of the same, but Outer Wilds had blindsided him with its ingenuity. It was rare for a game to leave him pondering long after he'd put down the controller, but here he was, wondering what other secrets were buried in that doomed solar system.

He didn't know if the game would be a commercial hit—it was too unconventional, too cerebral for some. But that didn't matter. It was one of those rare gems that would carve out a dedicated niche of players, those who'd appreciate its depth and craft.

As Cale powered down his datapad, a small smile tugged at his lips. He didn't often feel optimistic about the games coming out of the Copper District, but tonight was different. Dylan Trafford had something here, something that could shake things up.

"Kid's onto something. Let's see if the rest of the Empire catches on," Cale muttered to himself as he stood to leave, feeling the faintest flicker of excitement for what lay ahead.