Little Red Lie PS4 Review

Reviewing a game like Will O’Neill’s Little Red Lie can be a rather difficult process, as it’s one of those games that has little player interaction with the focus instead being on the narrative. With all this said, it means that I somehow have to write about the game’s story, but do it in a manner in which I don’t spoil it too much. Quite a challenge, then.

Will O’Neill hasn’t pretended that Little Red Lie is anything else other than a narrative experience, and there’s always room for another one of those. Largely taking control of two characters, you do do normal game-y things such as walking about and interacting with objects and characters, but that’s about it when it comes to any real interaction with the game. I just thought I’d get this out of the way early, as this one paragraph should be enough to let you know if the game is for you or not.

Now to the challenging story section of the review, and I really don’t want to say too much about the very thing that powers the game. With that said, please don’t fear any spoilers here, as spoiling things is something I don’t intend to do. What I will say though is that Little Red Lie’s narrative is outstanding, and O’Neill has done his utter best to make the game relatable in regard to real life occurrences, which includes everything from financial inequality, love, and family life.

The story focuses on two characters, Sarah Stone and Arthur Fox. These two individuals couldn’t be any more different from one another, and even though they never actually meet, the masterful storytelling manages to make them feel connected. When it comes to the basics of the characters, Sarah is a woman finding it difficult to get by, with aging and ailing parents and a depressed sister to contend with, while Arthur is a rich and charismatic businessman with the world at his feet. He’s also extremely arrogant.

The characters in the game are beautifully written, and there’s enough fleshing out to truly get to know them and, while they both lie on the surface about different things, you’ll get to know their innermost thoughts in regard to the many different situations that the story places them in. It’s an incredible achievement, and I really did enjoy reading the reams of text to really get a sense as to who these characters are and as to what makes them tick.

I can’t really review Little Red Lie without mentioning that some of the themes that the narrative explores does mean that things can feel rather sad at times, but it does make everything feel all the more real. Still, this is not the type of game to play if you are looking for a slice of escapism to cheer you up, as it’s more about real life drama. You do get some humour here and there, but the game itself definitely feels dark and it also serves its purpose as discerning commentary about some real life events, some of which are dire to say the least.

In conclusion, you don’t necessarily play Little Red Lie to cheer you up or to enjoy a highly interactive game, but it’s still a narrative experience that is both gripping and meaningful. I may have finished playing the game through, but I’m sure I’ll remember the amazing writing and the deep characters for a long while yet. That’s Mission successful for the talented Will O’Neill in my book, then.