Was 35MM Worth it?

Tired of sitting inside? Here’s a walking simulator in the great Russian outdoors. Was 35MM worth it?

Full disclosure: We received a review code for the Nintendo Switch version of this game. Rest assured that this will not affect the quality or candor of our review.

Background

35MM is a walking simulator set in a post pandemic Russia. Ironically, it isn’t influenced by Covid-19, as it was originally released in 2016. It just got a new home on the Switch in March 2022, though admittedly the delay in porting the game has put it well behind its competitors in the genre. Put simply, it’s Cormac McCarthy’s The Road in Russia, with less cannibalism. Accordingly, the game is dubbed in Russian, so keep that in mind if you aren’t a fan of subtitles.

What does 35MM do well?

It’s a one-man project, so not only does the developer deserve praise for getting it to market, but it’s clearly a product of their vision, for better or worse.

The music is by far the best part of this game, and the soundtrack comes free with the game on Steam (no such luck on the Switch version).

What could 35MM do better?

It’s hard to see because everything is grey and fog abounds. The camera bobs and is somewhat nauseating to look at. Player movement is slow, but what’s worse is your companion, who moves at a ponderous crawl. I’ve played plenty of games with escort mechanics, but never one that made me so bored that I would leave the room for a snack or would pace around while waiting. Exasperation ensues.

There’s no real point in exploring due to the invisible walls.

Narratively, it makes sense that the protagonist might cling to some facet of his former life, but despite providing the name for the game, the actual camera aspect isn’t very important to gameplay. You find out early on that the protagonist was a journalist, but this isn’t Pokemon Snap or Fatal Frame: you don’t actually need to take pictures of anything. I was also surprised that the camera aiming wasn’t more precise.

Was 35MM fun?

I wasn’t a fan, but I can see how this kind of experience would appeal to a certain kind of player, especially gamers from the Eastern Bloc who crave representation.

Is 35MM good value?

35MM is currently priced pretty fairly at 9.99 on the eShop. It has already gone on sale since it’s release on the Nintendo platform. Incidentally, it’s only 8.99 on Steam – Switch tax strikes again!

Was 35MM Worth it?

35MM isn’t a bad game, and it is priced appropriately. There is a niche for slow, atmospheric games, but 35MM will likely run out of film for all but the most patient players. Diehard fans of the walking simulator genre will enjoy this, but players who are looking for a faster paced and more active experience should steer clear.

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