Papers, Please now joins the ranks of video games with a film adaptation. The Russian-language short film was released this Saturday on YouTube and on Steam, and is available to watch for free.
In case you aren’t familiar, Papers, Please takes place in fictional country called Arstotzka in 1982, who has just ended a six year long war with a neighboring country. Tensions are still high, and the player takes on the role of an immigration officer who must decide who will be allowed to cross the border.
Immigrants present their papers, which get more varied and complex as the game goes on and players must evaluate their legitimacy and grant or reject entry. More and more regulations are passed and you have to be vigilant to not miss a single stamp or misspelling. Making mistakes is costly, and too many mistakes can land you without a job or in jail.
At the same time, people will plead with you to break the rules and let them in. From lovers hoping to be reunited, to families simply looking to escape, your officer will be forced to make difficult decisions. Play to your humanity and let them through and you risk the safety of your own family.
The wild success of the game itself was not the only thing that had it making headlines. In a surprising move, developer Lucas Pope actually left Naughty Dog after the release of their hit title Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. He wanted to focus on making different, more experimental games. Clearly, he succeeded.
The short film captures the dark and dreary tone of the game. It only runs for ten minutes, so rather than spoil any of the plot for you, the entire short will be embedded below. Take a look at an artful adaptation of an already masterfully crafted game. It can also be viewed on Steam.
For anyone inspired to play the game, more information is available on the Papers, Please website.