Birthplace's first chapter, Shadetown, is a fun little prologue to the full game. Shadetown really comes alive with the chilling soundtrack, disturbing enemy design, and funny dialogue. It all comes together to create this really interesting atmosphere that I just can't really put my finger on. Shadetown feels so contained and peaceful at times, but there are moments that really make you feel like an outsider, and there's something not quite right here.
I like how the game approached the idea of being able to do any and all things just because you wanted to. I spent way too much time eating and punching buildings. The dialogue options are fun, too, allowing you to be rude to NPC's, probe them for more info, or just have a nice little chat, sometimes with pretty funny results. Shadetown is a ton of fun to explore because every place I found somehow felt like I wasn't really supposed to be there, from abandoned houses, to torture chambers, to underwater caverns, mostly due to the soundtrack and how gritty and visceral the art style is. I'm looking forward to getting lost in more of Birthplace's world.