Bright Lights of Svetlov - Review

Steam, Bright Lights of Svetlov is a first-person story centered on a Soviet family from the town of Svetlov. Released in 2021 on Steam, this review is based on the PS5 version released on August 11, 2023.

Please note that the PS5 version is in Russian and has no translation. We had to use a translator to understand the game. The Steam version, on the other hand, is fully translated.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is a very short game containing several episodes lasting between 5 and 10 minutes. This is a deliberate length, and you'll find almost no detail that doesn't add to the story. Each chapter of the story has been designed with the overall narrative of the game in mind. The scenario is therefore complete right to the end.

Bright Light of Svetlov is not an FPS, but a first-person game of exploration and intrigue. You'll have to perform various tasks, such as washing dishes, adjusting your TV or exploring your surroundings. The game's slow-paced style allows you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of an ordinary family in Soviet times.

The game has very little in the way of instructions, and you'll have to spend some time searching your surroundings. This search aspect, although a little time-consuming at times, makes immersion more interesting. Some clues appear on the screen, but not all of them are useful for progress. Fortunately, you have a list of tasks to guide you.

Bright Lights of Svetlov is marked by a very interesting, minimalist ambience, and its graphics are in keeping with the style. Even in terms of the soundtrack, there are very few different musical tracks. On the other hand, some of the sound placements are repetitive and spoil the overall effect.

Graphically, the game is good, although very dark in its normal configuration. We don't have the necessary knowledge to judge the historical quality, but the theme seems to be in keeping with the popular image of the Soviet Union. Whether in terms of the apartment decor, the furniture or the various buildings and landscapes, everything seems to have been thought out to restore an image of the 80s. A few flaws remain, however, with many invisible walls that could have been handled better.

Although some work has been done on the environment, some of the texture is too perfect to be real. More work would surely have helped make the whole more coherent.

Interaction with the environment is somewhat limited, and the character will tell you about the task in hand, but not what it involves. So you'll have to deduce the actions to be taken on your own, despite an accessible list. Occasionally, you'll pick up an item from your inventory without really realizing its purpose;