Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love
Take a look behind Irony Curtain in this satirical point-and-click inspired by the best works of LucasArts and Daedalic Entertainment! Experience the totalitarian Matryoshka through the eyes of Evan – a low-ranking, goofy journalist involuntarily pulled right into the middle of an espionage stand-off between two powers. Jump into the wacky spy adventure, uncover secrets of the bizarre communist country (and the powerful capitalist empire!), witness a story full of unpredictable twists and turns, and discover the true agenda of the mysterious Supreme Leader! What business might the loving father of the Matryoshkan nation have with a lowly, capitalistic pen-pusher? Why suddenly lift the Irony Curtain and welcome a stranger into Matryoshka? And why is there an alligator in the middle of the bathroom?!
Steam User 1
Nice 10 hours spent! The story is funny, the graphics are lovely and the main character is utterly naive like in old good games like Monkey Island or Larry. Recommend!
The only tiny issue I have is with no support for touch screens - I believe it should be standard for point and click games, as it's the most intuitive way to play them for me.
Steam User 1
Great humor, funny story and cool puzzles.
If liked the Deponia series you will for sure enjoy this game.
The story really keeps you entertained to the very end and you will for sure enjoy it if you know some history of the USSR.
Steam User 2
Irony Curtain pays homage to numerous top point-and-click classics in an original satirical adventure.
Unconventionally based on the atrocities of dictatorships under communist regimes, this surprisingly serious subject matter is invariably explored with the genre's expected sense of humor. Though here it is more the sort that causes a few chuckles, not fully laugh-out-loud moments. The entire comedy is an assumed caricature from start to end, as is every character you'll meet.
The game is admirably executed and generally enjoyable, with nicely hand-drawn cartoony scenes, mostly fair and logical puzzles, clear objectives, meaningful conversations, impeccable interface free of technical glitches, but it is perhaps still not quite an essential must-play.
Main character Evan is rather dumb and overly naive, a classic trope of point-and-click adventure games, but unlike many of his predecessors he's not especially likable or relatable, with few (if any) redeeming qualities. I could never really tell if he was supposed to be a young adult or a teenager with his simplistic perceptions and awkward relationship to others. Some of his responses are occasionally a bit overacted at times, though most characters are generally well performed (though consistently stereotypical).
While largely linear in structure, the game always gives the player numerous objectives in moderately sized environments. Navigating to places is always a breeze, despite some required back and forth. All modern point-and-click conveniences are present: spacebar hotspot highlights, simple inventory, double click running, etc.
Hint telephones available in every area, always helpful and amusingly varied from scene to scene, are surprisingly one of the game's greatest appeals. If you get stuck, diegetic advice is always just a phone call away.
Positive
Seldom explored subject matter and time period
Amusingly helpful hint telephones
Nicely hand-drawn cartoony scenes
Great theme song
Fair puzzles in significant situations
Fun conversations, helpful observations
Colorful voice acting and characters
Negative
Some unskippable mini games require fast reflexes
Oddly misplaced sexual innuendo on more than one occasion
Overly naive and unrelatable protagonist
Whole adventure is drowning in clichés
Try-hard humour not always on point