The Path isn't a game -- it's interactive art. While stylish and at times interesting, its frustrating pacing kills it.
Wow... yep... it's different.
As you've read elsewhere, this is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood in an art-meets-goth-meets-psychological-horror world. There's no outright horror in the game, outside of the intense and very creepy visuals, intentionally distorted semi-random soundtrack, and generally scary vibe.
The Path (do I call this "the game"?) looks and feels like a point-and-click adventure at first. You then choose to wander from the straight path to grandma's house (which will lead to failure of the "level" if you don't wander), discovering ghostly visions, and all sorts of creepy environs like cemeteries, burned-out buildings, and fog-covered lakes. Eventually, you should happen upon "the wolf" -- a wolf in concept only, but in actuality typically another ghostly visage of a person that leads to a hallucinogenic cut-scene, which dumps you in front of grandmas house. Once in grandma's, you semi-automatically wander to rooms that you learned of by collecting objects in the forest, with each room presenting you with a creepy/artsy cut-scene. Then you're presented with your "score" which shows how many items and special areas you found in the forest, and if you successfully found "the wolf".
In concept, it's pretty cool -- very artfully done, very unique and beautiful visuals, and a nice twist on adventuring. For those with the patience and a love for esoteric imagery and a heavy dose of self-interpretive art, you'll enjoy yourself.
However, I am not quite that person. Where the wheels fell off for me:
1. Your characters walk at a hideously-frustrating pace... not that I want to rush from spot-to-spot, but when you are slowly...slowly..walking to a spot you can see, it's punishing. Yes, you can "run", but when you do, some items are hidden from view, and some areas prevent running, switching to fixed (and sometimes awkward) camera angles. Finally, if you do find the wolf, you're forced to endure a good 2 minute slog in a straight line to grandma's house in the rain, with no other options. I realize the intent is dramatic emphasis, emotion, and maybe a time for self-reflection... but... ehhh...
2. The soundtrack is often haunting, and very atmospheric. However, sometimes, when trying to instill certain emotions, it's downright nerve-wracking. I'm sure it's intentional, and it effectively hits you with emotion -- but it's still incredibly grating. Also, the beautiful portions get quite repetitive as you wander very... slowly... through the forest.
If you're looking for something different, you could do a lot worse... but you'd better be ready to take your time exploring a very interesting, but bizarre and slow-paced world. Perhaps it's meant to be a stroll through a psychological art gallery, and in that it succeeds. But is it a "game"? Ohhh no, definitely not. Unique, tough to categorize, but potentially frustrating -- The Path.