Game 143 - Milk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk - Week X - June 24

ilk Inside a Bag of Milk Inside a Bag of Milk is another rung on the avatar sim that started with Emily is Away. Although this one certainly sits more in the psychological horror department with DDLC and Nerdy Streamer. In the beginning we're introduced to a girl on the road attempting to go to the shops and buy milk. She's surprised by our presence, setting us up as her inner monologue. Something is clearly off about the game and the girl only sees large shades of red. Its clear that his is no easy task for her to buy milk, a grand quest for her to achieve. Much like even the simplest task are mountains to those with chronic depression and anxiety. She begins by struggling to even walk, one foot on the road and another on the footpath. At this point we can help guide and encourage her, show her how to walk or dismiss her. As the game goes on this shifts from dismissing to insulting. Representing an increasing level of self-doubt the further she gets from her home. The game over state occurs if we insult her too harshly, in essence she gives up on herself and goes home. As you continue she begins to reveal more about herself, or perhaps acknowledges repressed memories? 

She reveals how holes disturb her and shows us a vision of what is perhaps a blackhole with an unsettling sound to convey the dread she feels. As she navigates the store she'll encounter people who speak gibberish and we must help her interact. The cashier wants the money but it comes out as nothingness and we must intuit, so she can proceed. If we succeed in helping her navigate the store and buy the milk she'll tell us more about her life. She'll show us the last memory of her father, a splattering of red across the ground. Is this why she only sees red? Finally we get home and see her mum... WTF is that. An alien looking creature that speaks in an ominous and assertive voice, almost abusive in its feeling. Is this why she's so mentally crippled. Is this why her dad committed suicide, to escape her mum? Oh remember what she said at the start. "If I don't buy milk my mum will throw me out the window". All within 30 minutes the game conveys a perfect and horrifying story. I must say the game is perfect in conveying its story and what I can only assume it feels like to have this level of depression. Its an example of what only this interactive medium can do as art. By involving you in her journey and giving you a failure state. 

She's so concerned about what her mother will do if she can't get the milk she doesn't understand they're just asking for the money required for the milk.