The Imperial Gatekeeper
a game by | Tengsten |
Platform: | PC (2020) |
Editor Rating: | 7.4/10, based on 4 reviews, 2 reviews are shown |
User Rating: | 7.2/10 - 5 votes |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Eroge Games, Visual Novel, Games like RapeLay |
Tengsten’s The Imperial Gatekeeper is an erotic puzzle/visual novel game primarily concerned with working within a fictional immigration bureau. Til, the protagonist and playable character is a former decorated soldier who has been assigned the position of gatekeeper. While unhappy with his situation, he is determined to make his new station work in his favour.
Story
Set in an imperialistic country, you play a checkpoint officer whose daily duties consist of checking civilian’s passes, initiating pat downs and allowing or denying entry based on your inspections. Obviously that doesn’t make for the most erotic game in the world so the main character Til decides to engage in sexual activity with individuals the player finds attractive that attempt to pass through.
The game is more or less fail proof, the only real goal is to seduce the next person and story wise, it doesn’t push into any new ideas much at all. That being said, the balance of the sexual and non sexual gameplay is actually done quite well within the story, the power fantasy aspect is complemented by the story choices and the game doesn’t simply resign itself to a straightforward conveyor belt of sex. Something I consider to absolutely deserving of praise, is the introduction of LGBTQ+ content, as homo erotic scenes are not something I’ve found to be strongly present in most other games of this ilk.
Gameplay
Here starts a game about abusing power at an immigration checkpoint, with a general game play design highly reminiscent of a perhaps better known indie puzzle title Papers Please, a game the developers acknowledge that their game share many similarities with. Strongly tied to the undressing and physical examination sections, the sexual scenes, although plentiful, do not offer a change in any one way or another. It’s the same 3 or 4 positions with no real variation. Although the gameplay is tight and well made, it lacks diversity. The game somehow successfully introduces an aspect of monotony that would genuinely be found within this career path. Also, the lack of a complete English translation causes moments of strong confusion and can sometimes break the illusion of what you’re experiencing.
Artwork
The artwork is visually appealing, with fairly interesting character designs depicting various body types that fall within the range of attractiveness standards expected in an erotic game. For me, the primary issue is that the characters don’t look properly polished and they give off a “concept art” feel. There is very little definition or “gloss” which in turn makes the designs look cheap and simple. This, along with the poor choice of camera angles and the limited positions for the sex scenes, cause it to miss out on something that would bring the game to an entirely new level of quality.
Soundtrack
Generally lacking, very little music, only really present during particularly climactic story moments, and even then, can be quite repetitive as it is only a one to two-minute repeated stretch of melody.
A sexy version of Papers, Please, this game leaves a lot to be desired. That being said, it’s not a complete bust by any means. If you’re in the mood for a power fantasy grounded in an odd sense of realism, this is definitely the game for you.
Pros
- Realistic power fantasy
- Inclusive body types
- Inclusion of different sexual orientations
Cons
- So similar to Papers, Please that it feels like it might be infringing on copyright law
- Repetitive Gameplay
- Lacklustre art direction
Download The Imperial Gatekeeper
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Game Reviews
The Imperial Gatekeeper is an indie role-playing game with pixelated graphics and an interesting story, where the player will sit at a checkpoint and inspect travelers and migrants.
A new world has come
The main character is a war legend, a warrior hero who did well in the recent war to unify the state. Brave soldiers, working peasants, and inveterate adversaries call him "Till the Spearman." One would think that the world would reward the hero after such a thing, but instead the character finds himself, attention, in the Bureau of Safe Traffic.
Everyone around here says that the era of wars is gone and soldiers are no longer needed. Men and women will drop their weapons and work as tools of labor. The former warrior has no choice but to work for good, too.
Gameplay
The player will work at the checkpoint and watch the documents, communicate with the residents who walk through. Punctuality and attentiveness are encouraged on the job. Check:
- Correct dates
- Appropriate photographs on documents
- Signatures and stamps
The more people a player checks, the more money he gets. Build up your own productivity level and make fewer mistakes, or you'll get a fine from your employer.
Careers will go up - new checkpoints in new regions. Job duties change with the workplace. Detect people in line who are breaking the law.
Characters are randomly generated, locations and checkpoints too. Therefore, each game match and campaign is unique. Distinctive names, appearances, titles, documents, and other little details. A distinctive game experience is an important component of a good game.
Earned money can be used to buy different items that improve working abilities - the player invests in skills to earn more. Things are connected with magic, such a move will appeal to fans of fantasy.
The Imperial Gatekeeper is a cool game in old-school graphics with a story with crime, love, lies, honor, and a light backstory. We recommend it to fans of Tower of Ardia and Knights of Messiah.