Norco review: A strange and beautiful interrogation of religion

Two years ago, Katrina caused me to stop going to church.

For one reason, my mom had problems with the Catholic Church’s stance on divorce — my parents had divorced when I was six, civilly, respectfully, and to the benefit of all parties involved — and that slowly caused our habitual attendance at mass to wane. After all the work involved in rebuilding an after-disaster house, such as fighting with insurance companies to find contractors and renting a place that could accommodate two kids, Catechism classes were no longer a priority. Not only was the storm the reason but also the consequences of it all. The storm itself was not the only reason I gave up.

For a long time, I didn’t miss religion. It was actually a blessing that it wasn’t in my life. In my worst moments I was able to see the dangers of the institutions and the misdeeds of the followers. How can anyone blindly trust any institution, regardless of the many failures? I didn’t understand that faith.

Image: Geography of Robots/Raw Fury

NorcoThe point-and-click adventure, based in the New Orleans neighborhood of the same title, is an amazing experience. You will be captivated by its poetic, illuminating writing. Kay is your first character, and you return home to mourn the loss of Catherine. Unremarkable circumstances led you to leave home, leaving behind all of your resentments and doubts. Your inner monologue will overlay the landscapes and memories of your childhood as you write your backstory. The years that you have been gone and the conflict you have entered are all recalled. While recounting a story about hiding in a freightliner, you are given three dialogue options: “I prayed.”; “I slept.”; “I forget.”

The options presented twice to me: one when I tried the demo, and another when I finished the full version. Despite not being a religious person, I chose “I prayed” each time. This was instinctive, without doubt or desire to explore other paths.

Stepping into Kay’s childhood home, you quickly begin sifting through the lives that have been left frozen in time. There are books, posters and other memorabilia in Kay’s old bedroom. You can even take a stuffed monkey with you to the future. Elsewhere in the house, you find your mother’s laundry, medications, and video tapes of her warbled memories. Million, an android that your mother rescued years ago, is found outside, leaning against a shabby pickup truck. Million informs you that your brother Blake is missing — so begins your journey to untangle the past and future of your family and the town itself.

Norco’s pixel art is vibrant and kaleidoscopic, like the stained glass in a cathedral. This first part focuses on Norco’s landscape, including its oil refineries and its swampy terrain. It also examines its suburban architecture, which is often dated. The second act expands beyond Norco, switching between Kay’s and Catherine’s perspectives, as you travel throughout the Greater New Orleans area. For clues, look at City Hall or concerts. You will be able to enter the Promenade Mall. There, a bunch of zealots have gathered information relevant to your job. Third act: This is even more unbelievable. Your search for your brother leads you to the marshes, where you will encounter scenarios difficult to discern between reality and fiction. You also meet a gigantic bird, which is cloaked in dirt and has had its eyes stolen. Norco There are also some great comical moments, such as a cat being launched through the ceiling or a long story about a man shitting.

Image: Geography of Robots/Raw Fury

This pixel style captures the elegance and beauty of a Louisiana sunset. The blockiness of the image mirrors the humidity of summer. I’m notorious for my infatuation with sunsets and sunrises. There are hundreds of photos of me, all showing a different stain on the sky. They are those I treasure, the ones that I was with; the times the humidity held me tight and made me feel suffocating. My friends today will text me. You seein’ this shit? and I’ll reply, Yeah man, can you believe it? Every new pixel scene passes through my computer’s screen. NorcoPlease send me a message to my friends. You seein’ this shit? Looking for someone who can answer? Yeah man, can you believe it?

Norco It combines a variety of genres in order to tell the story: from cyberpunk to mystery to Southern Gothic. This appreciation of the environment permeates all aspects of the game. Technology is destroying the area, both in our own world (oil refineries, smartphones) and not. Norco’s framing as a mystery allows you to piece together how these technologies came to destroy your hometown.

Although the main story is a simple point-and click, there are a few side stories that go beyond this. Another side story is about a puppet performance beneath the highway. In it, an alligator whose child was killed by a shrimper asks you to find this shrimper and kill him in return for the alligator’s obedience. The map is created from flickering light and you navigate the swamp using an overhead view. You are asked to find the shrimper and kill the alligator. Then you have to make a decision.

Image: Geography of Robots/Raw Fury

Point-and-click is a game I enjoy for both the agency that they offer and the agency that they withhold. I also like the lessons I get about myself through the games. How do I describe my best or worst life moments? How do you answer? What do I say? Is my love for my brother greater than my anger at his actions? Tomorrow, will that be different?

Norco, I can be a different version of myself — more virtuous, or at least, someone inching toward it. It is possible to apologize for my absence. It is possible to reduce distance between me and my family. My town is being destroyed by an oil refinery because of my alliance with an ecoterrorist.

I killed the shrimper. The screen was covered in blood as I shot the shrimper. I returned to the alligator, telling it my mission was completed. However, the alligator laughed and continued to eat me. No matter what my intentions, I was forced to make a choice.

The underworld is a place you continue to fall into. Norco, what you’re asked to believe in becomes more extreme. When confronted with the possibility of an angel, you are given two reaction choices: “There’s no such thing” or “What if you’re wrong?” I chose “There’s no such thing.” The other character counters, “When the freightliner sped down the highway, did you not pray? It is no surprise that you can see the clearer light that erases any doubt. That is the very essence of faith.”

I froze, embarrassed how quickly I’d forgotten. I There was prayed — twice.

Image: Geography of Robots/Raw Fury

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve found myself craving religion. I find it appealing to have something larger than myself and something that can quell my endless questioning. I have friends who take their religion seriously, and I’m envious of that ritual and solace. However, as I journeyed along NorcoI came to realize that I don’t have much faith, but I do have religion. In spite of all the odds, I decided to stay in Louisiana. Despite rising living costs and an employment market designed to support the tourism industry, I am happy to remain. Norco is part of a stretch of land with air so polluted it’s referred to as “Cancer Alley”; still, lawmakers push to make Louisiana a “sanctuary state” for fossil fuels. My stay. Each hurricane season grows longer and more intense, so I remain. Following Hurricane Ida, as I sat on my porch while New Orleans was without power for days — in Norco’s case, weeks — I still sat in awe of the gift of each sunset, the Louisiana sky never missing a beat.

Norco ends on a visceral note that will speak to Louisiana’s staunch hangers-on, but also to anyone seeking a beautiful, oppressive, and ultimately hopeful story. I was overwhelmed by the juxtaposition of past and present, and it was my unbridled reaction. As I heaved and sobbed over my computer screen, I thought once again about faith — the kind it takes to stay here. If you don’t understand that faith, NorcoIt may be enough to convince you.

Norco On March 24, the game was available for Mac and Windows PC. Raw Fury provided a prerelease code for the game. The PC review was conducted using this code. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. Although these partnerships do not impact editorial content, Vox Media could earn commissions on products sold via affiliate links. Find out more. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.