The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an expanded edition of the famous joke game about office worker Stanley, who one day discovers that all his colleagues have disappeared. The player is encouraged to walk along the corridors and listen to the narrator, but the catch is that obedience is not at all necessary: ​​you can take a wrong turn, close the door, go against instructions and watch how the commentary changes depending on your actions. Formally, this is a game about exploration and choice, but in reality it is about interaction with the narrator himself. Each antics leads to a new scene, joke or ending, and the voiceover reacts to what is happening with increasing irritation. There are no failures here: every decision is considered part of the overall joke. Ultra Deluxe adds new content to the original, including additional scenes and a section that itself pokes fun at the additions and player expectations. All of this makes this the best way to get to know the game, giving veterans new reasons to laugh and newbies a refreshed starting point. It is also worth noting that the game has a museum with exhibits from past versions and a section dedicated to criticism of the publisher itself. All these details work towards the main joke of the project. For those who love games about games, the The Stanley Parable is a rare and smart experience. The game is short, but multi-layered: you want to replay it to see all the options for behavior. For those who appreciate humor and metaphors about freedom of choice, this is almost a must-have experience.