What begins as a carefree cooperative puzzle game about exploring an island and completing tasks culminates in an unexpectedly moving experience in Big Walk. Developer House House has crafted an ending that imbues the multiplayer adventure with significant emotional weight, transforming the player's journey into a reflection on connection and friendship.
Throughout the majority of Big Walk, the gameplay loop is straightforward. Players navigate an open world, completing puzzles to collect red gourds. These gourds are then used to unlock mechanisms within various towers scattered across the island. Once all towers are cleared, a large gate opens, revealing what lies beyond.
The Importance of Communication
The puzzles themselves are designed to foster communication and teamwork. House House frequently introduces challenges that impede players' ability to hear or see one another, forcing creative solutions. Soundproof walls might separate teammates, necessitating the use of limited in-game body language—waving arms, squatting—to convey ideas. While tools like walkie-talkies and laser pointers can aid players, the core mechanic emphasizes collaborative problem-solving.
A Test of Trust
This emphasis on communication becomes the central focus of the game's finale. After passing through the final gate, players are transported to a surreal tower filled with new puzzles. The twist is that all communication is disabled; players can no longer hear each other, and distinguishing features like player colors are washed away. The challenge shifts to solving these puzzles based solely on the established trust and non-verbal cues developed throughout the game.
This scenario, which could easily lead to frustration, instead becomes a powerful testament to the bonds formed. Players find they can still communicate effectively, relying on learned gestures and movements to understand each other. The shared experience allows them to recognize teammates through unique behaviors, such as one player's persistent fixation on a laser pointer, even without visual cues or verbal confirmation. This deepens the connection, proving that the learned understanding between players transcends the game's limitations.
The Final Goodbye
Upon completing the puzzles within the surreal tower, players exit back into the game's normal environment. Colors return, and verbal communication is restored. A couch situated before a projector screens the end credits, offering a moment for the team to decompress and reflect on their shared journey. This space allows for expressions of gratitude and the reinforcement of the bonds strengthened throughout the game.
The game's ultimate puzzle, however, introduces the finality of parting. A turnstile prevents players from passing simultaneously. A mechanism displays three colors, corresponding to a teammate's colored body parts, indicating it is their turn to proceed. As each player passes through a white light, they move out of proximity chat range, eventually leaving the player alone. The game concludes with a simple splash screen thanking the player for their participation.
Reflecting on Connection
Big Walk's ending resonates deeply because it mirrors real-life relationships. The hours spent forging bonds, solving problems together, and sharing moments create a lasting impact. The game's structure, from the initial character customization where teammates choose colors, to the final sequence where those colors dictate passage, highlights how players are shaped by their connections. The final moments serve as a poignant reminder of friendships, both present and past, and the indelible mark they leave on an individual's identity.