YMMV / Where the Water Tastes Like Wine

• Alternative Character Interpretation: Many of the stories all but invite the player to try that. Is Dupree a victim of physical and emotional abuse, and a society which leaves a beautiful woman so few other avenues to pursue their own goals? Or is it that, as she herself claims, she is simply a hustler by nature, a pathological liar and an unapologetic cheat? Is August a pitiable, shellshocked wreck of a person who could've turned out different if he hasn't lost everything he loved, or a pathetic loser whose life was one long line of responsibilities shirked and blames shifted? Is Cassady a tragic victim, rejected and emotionally toyed with by a callous lover, or a self-centered obsessive who couldn't take a hint, spinning an epic tale of victimhood out of his refusal to accept that the subject of his overblown hero worship (who, for all we know, might not have even been gay, or aware of Cassady's feelings) wouldn't reciprocate? Was Jimmy an ultimately virtuous man with a heart of gold who didn't care about labels and credentials if it meant doing the right thing, or a grifter who spent his whole life giving people false hopes by claiming to be someone he never was?
• Audience-Alienating Premise: It's almost impossible to describe this game in any capacity which actually describes what you do in terms of gameplay and makes it sound engaging. The trailers focusing on the (admittedly very charming) visuals while relegating the game part to a casual mention of "gathering stories" doesn't help. The game's actual draw, the stories and characters, which explore the plights and difficulties of the American underclass and racial minorities, can come across as Anvilicious.
• Awesome Music: The soundtrack sets the stage perfectly for the personal, human stories which you collect. "Heavy Hands" stands out in particular.
• Enjoy the Story, Skip the Game: The general consensus. Although the visuals, voice acting and writing are all excellent, the gameplay amounts to little more than walking around the map learning and retelling stories, and features several mechanics that weren't fully polished.

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