I finished 1000xRESIST about a day or so ago. Verdict: it’s very good.

Also, fair warning, it’s longer than you think. I kept getting into sequences where I’m like “oh they’re wrapping things up” and… nope. Another entire section. And then another. Total playtime for me was 13 hours. The game doesn’t overstay its welcome or get too diluted necessarily, but it’s one of those things you should keep in mind as you play.

Speaking of “playing,” as previously mentioned, 1000xRESIST is definitely on the walking-simulator side of things. You have to talk to certain people to move the story forward, but you can also run around and talk to a bunch of different people too. I very much encourage you to do so, because there were surprisingly poignant side stories that were tucked away in unassuming spots. That said, there are definitely some really cool time jump sequences where you can bounce back and forth to navigate around obstacles. Plus, the devs really mix things up with perspectives at times.

So… what’s it all about? It’s tough to go in deeper than a surface level without getting into spoilers.

Essentially it’s a sci-fi story wrapped in a coming-of-age story wrapped in generational trauma and real-world (Asian) political events. Specifically, the Hong Kong riots of 2019. At times, this both worked and didn’t work for me. There is a kind of banality when it comes to political metaphors in fiction, IMO, especially when things are so on-the-nose. The 3-Body Problem book series starts out with Mao’s Cultural Revolution, but it’s not about the Cultural Revolution. With 1000xRESIST, the game is mostly about the Hong Kong riots back in 2019 and ensuring diaspora; not only were the parents of Iris protesters who eventually fled, but the alien beings who invade are labeled Occupants, the deadly disease they bring causes you to leak water from your eyes (tear gas), etc, etc.

That said, the rest of the dialog and interpersonal relationships within the game make it worthwhile. Seriously, I ended up taking over 100 screenshots throughout the game from when the writing shocked me and/or made me abruptly laugh. The banter is witty, biting, and sometimes all too real. The shifting gameplay elements are unique and kept things interesting. I’ve mentioned it previously, but I also extremely enjoyed the world-building language of the game as well. Still want to use “hair to hair” IRL.

Overall, I enjoyed my time.