There are some seriously good, wholesome games coming out lately, the Fishbowl prologue being one such title. In this slice-of-life pixel art from the perspective of Alo, a twenty-something woman who’s just landed their dream job and an amazing apartment but bears a heavy heart.
Starting out for yourself is already a challenging yet exciting prospect. However, our Alo is somewhat overwhelmed, even if she doesn’t immediately show it to her loved ones or co-workers. Our journey in this PlayStation prologue begins with a ride home and a conversation with her mum.
It becomes apparent that Alo’s grandmother, or Jaja, has passed. This happened around a month ago, but as we all know, bereavements affect people in different ways. She’s landed the perfect job, yet she’s juggling the loss of Jaja and her separation from those close to her.
Fishbowl Prologue PS5: More Than A Feeling
Fishbowl is about making connections. We all need someone, no matter how independent we’ve become. That innocent chat with Mum leads to the arrival at Alo’s new home—a rather expansive space for an individual. It doesn’t help that there’s a parcel waiting for you, and its contents are from Jaja.
She didn’t know whether you would get the job you applied for, but she had already packed a gift for you: homemade recipes and keepsakes. It’s hard to play this opening sequence without a dry throat, as many of us will relate in some way or another. It’s time to dismiss those thoughts momentarily, as we have a puzzle to fix.
Like a rearrangement you might see in A Little to the Left or Unpacking, the first task in Fishbowl is to move items around in a sliding fashion. The way it’s presented is unusual, and it’s not a one-off, as the next mini-game involving your line of work is also a familiar mechanic, but its execution is a bit off.
Edit This!
Alo’s new job is as an editor—not some journalist type who runs an indie gaming website, but a film editor. Well, junior. A co-worker she did not meet when she started, Menguzonuo, brags about herself and says they must collaborate on an edit now that the job is remote and people are working from home.
Cue a Guitar Hero-type mini-game where you have to line up data chunks in colour order on a timeline so that your co-workers can edit the footage later. I mention that it’s an unusual mini-game because the mechanics are self-explanatory, but for a wholesome, cosy game, it’s a little too hasty and not as much fun as it could have been. Thankfully, the narrative direction is the pull.
Working from home isn’t ideal for Alo, what with her grief and living alone. She needs that interaction. Her best friend Zuari is on the other side of a video call, and that makes for some comfort, as does the package she receives at the beginning that alludes to the Fishbowl metaphor.
Would You Like A Biscuit?
Fishbowl already piqued my interest in its portrayal of daily life—one day at a time—and its focus on feelings. imissmyfriends Studio has delivered the pitch very well, as the presentation, dialogue choices, and overall narrative content are so relatable, endearing, and engaging—even if this preview was only a tiny entry point in the month you play as Alo.
Flashbacks reveal her relationship with Jaja, and a few interactive elements are here to relive the memories. A hospital scene was way off, though. She recalls when Jaja passed, and a receptionist offered her condolences and a biscuit. It took away a very poignant moment. How about a cup of tea? Is there anyone you can be with at this time? Would you like to speak to a pastor? No. Grandma has died; here’s a Jaffa Cake.
Still, we’re all up for a slice of life sim especially when the protagonist is as identifiable as Alo, right? I’m looking forward to Fishbowl, though I couldn’t give you a release date yet. It’s well worth adding to your wishlist on PlayStation or Steam to get those notifications.
