Developer: Icom Publisher: Icom Release: 1991 Genre: FMV I remember the promise that FMV had back when CDs were first introduced to video games. We were young and dumb and thought we would be controlling our cartoons. Instead...
The post Sherlock Holmes – Consulting Detective appeared first on Classic-Games.net.
Title: The Complex
Developer: Wales Interactive
Publisher: Wales Interactive
Released: March 31, 2020
Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Game, Mac Game, iOS, Android
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4
Article Reading Time: 5 minutes
The English independent company Wales Interactive has been on the scene for over ten years. For a relatively long time, their specialization in the production of interactive entertainment has settled in a rather specific genre of FMV. Thus, they produce purely cinematic projects of mostly predictable stories, where the player takes control over the main characters’ important but often less important decisions. Three years earlier, the popular crime drama Late Shift was released from their hands, which can be seen as an ideal example of what Wales Interactive can do.
During less than an hour of The Complex story, the player can follow the fate of nine characters, i.e., real actors, dominated by the main heroine and the likable Miss Amy Tenant. The original name is Michelle Mylett, a native of Canada. In the story, Dr. Amy Tenant takes us to the city of London in the near future. There, she works as a research manager at the renowned Kensington Company, which focuses on the top-secret development of nanotechnology, supposedly capable of completely revolutionizing conventional medical procedures. But as these stories go, something goes wrong, and with nanotechnology, we suddenly have a deadly virus capable of pushing your eyeballs out your ass.
Fans of the series adaptation of the Game of Thrones universe should also be delighted by the presence of actress Kate Dickie, who, in this case, played the role of a resolute and uncompromising boss. I don’t want to make myself an expert on acting performances here. Still, after having run through this cinematic adventure three times in a row (after the first time, one can skip the repeated passages to essential decisions), I found the performance of the only well-known personality in this project rather unconvincing and lackluster. As was the performance of the rest of the cast, who needed to be helped by the below-average story. But let’s move on to the main points of gameplay.
Suppose you have ever played at least one project from Quantic Dream and are aware of the plot development scheme against the background of a purely cinematic adventure game. In that case, this FMV affair will bring you almost nothing. While the choice to help one at the expense of the other is logical, in the case of The Complex, it’s more of a forced ending to an often awkward situation where the chemistry between the characters is minimal. It’s a great pity that the creators didn’t give a little more attention to the complexity of the storyline and made everything conditional on three crucial endings, the point of which you will understand in the first playthrough.
To the question; can everyone in the game die, including you? I answer in the affirmative. But will it bother you? Not at all! This whole spectacle wouldn’t even work as a stand-alone film, no matter which of the scripts provided. Although it is difficult to judge the quality of a “play” of this type, I must, at the end of this review, reach for my feelings and drop the new play by the English authors. I can imagine a situation where the game would have gotten a better number. However, the script would have to be freed from the obviously illogical cracks, allowing us to make at least some contact with the main characters. Because this is precisely the principle on which interactive projection is supposed to work, the fact that someone has just died is supposed to tear your veins as a viewer with a real influence on the development. The Complex was rather disappointing and, therefore, received an average rating. Guys, try harder next time. We still have hope and trust in you!
The post The Complex: Nanotech Crisis Exposed appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.
Title: Erica
Developer: Flavourworks
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Released: August 19, 2019 (PS4), May 25, 2021 (PC)
Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, PC Game
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4
Article Reading Time: 6 minutes
Games like Until Dawn, Hidden Agenda, Heavy Rain, and Detroit Become Human have shown that console gamers are also interested in games where they can control the story and shape the fate of the main characters. The new Erica game tries to build on the abovementioned games, although it can’t boast such ambition or budget. But it makes up for it all with a distinctive and not-so-hackneyed style. It is not a game but rather an interactive film in which you control the main character’s actions. You can already tell this by the fact that the whole game is acted, has real actors and environments, and everything is handled in a completely believable way, which is greatly influenced by the excellent performances of the hired actors. The player is not just a passive spectator but directly intervenes in the game or instead in the story because he interacts with the objects, makes important decisions, and influences the events and fates of the characters, including the main character.
The most important thing with Erica’s play is the story, which decides what it will be and how much she will like it. Story-wise, this is a classic B-grade thriller that doesn’t offend at all. It is exciting and well-written, keeping you hooked until the very finale. The main character is a young girl, Erica. She went through literally hell in her childhood when she found her father dead, with a mysterious bloody mark on his chest. When she grows up, she still suffers from nightmares, but little does she know that the worst is yet to come when she finds a box outside her apartment door containing the hands of a murdered man, which also has a mysterious mark on them. So, for her own safety, she is taken to the asylum where her parents also worked, but that’s when all hell breaks loose because everything is connected. I won’t reveal more because, of course, the game builds on Erica’s story, and it’s definitely better to enjoy it with a minimum amount of information. Considering the game’s focus, it’s definitely a shame that it’s not localized into English, as Sony’s habit lately has been. On the other hand, English is average, so if you know a little English, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Erica is a so-called FMV game. These have appeared in the past, especially in the 1990s. The attempt was to connect the world of video games with the world of film. Still, everything needed to be improved by the technology used and several obstacles back then. Nowadays, of course, the situation is entirely opposite, and everything works as it should, thanks to advanced technology. Especially the transitions between the film and the interactive parts are smooth and almost unnoticeable, which only adds to the overall experience. The developers had to put much work into this, but it was worth it.
As did the performance of the actors. The unknown actress Holly Earl plays Erica perfectly. Her performance is compelling. You can see the constant fear and fright in her eyes as she gradually reveals her not-so-happy past. But it wasn’t just Holly Earl who played her character well. Every actor handled their roles professionally. What also helps the game is the quality soundtrack provided by composer Ten, who has a rich history with games. He has composed the soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Journey, and Abzû and contributed to the opening track for The Order: 1886. The tracks for Eric’s games complement each scene well. They make it even scarier or more suspenseful.
PlayLink games like Erica have been built so that anyone can play them. Although they could be controlled using the classic Dualshock 4, they also supported control via the touch screen of a mobile phone. Still, you had to download a particular app to that first. Although Erica doesn’t belong in the PlayLink program, you can still see her roots and the fact that she was planning for it. On iOS or Android, you can download the app to your smartphone and control the game through it. In fact, the game is only controlled through the touchscreen, where you have to swipe your finger around it or select different options during conversations. This is definitely the best option. It’s true, though, that you can use the Dualshock 4, which is sufficient and a decent alternative. Still, the touchpad is sometimes tiny and needs to be more reasonably responded to appropriately. If you don’t have your phone handy, the Dualshock 4 serves relatively well, but it’s not the best choice for controlling a game.
The first playthrough took me just under two hours, during which I didn’t get bored for even a tiny moment. It is, therefore, the perfect entertainment for an evening out. Moreover, I ran everything a few more times after finishing it because of the platinum trophy and because you need a chance to discover and discover everything during the first playthrough. Moreover, I wanted to test how much the situations will vary according to the different options, which are significant. They lead to several endings, so it’s definitely worth playing through everything again. The replayability is enormous in this case, just like with Quantic Dream’s games. You won’t regret the money spent.
Erica may lack the big ambitions we see in Quantic Dream’s games, but its quality is still intact. The story is intriguing, the blend of interactive passages with the cutscenes is practically flawless, and your decisions really matter, making the game worth playing more than once. If you like this type of game or enjoy trying something new, you will go right with your purchase. Erica deserves your attention; it is one of the best FMV affairs in years.
The post Erica: An Engaging Interactive Thriller with High Replayability appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.
Title: The Bunker
Developer: Splendy Interactive
Publisher: Wales Interactive
Released: September 20, 2016
Platforms Available: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Game, Mac Game
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4
Article Reading Time: 5 minutes
Thanks to its name, it is easy to guess what environment The Bunker is set in. Yes, it is indeed a nuclear shelter in which we follow and shift a bit to the exploits of young John, played by actor Adam Brown. Indeed, the name is familiar to you, as Brown portrayed Ori, one of the dwarves in The Hobbit film trilogy. Young John lives alone in the atomic shelter, going about his day-to-day routine and clearly suffering from various mental problems. The answer to why he is alone in the shelter begins to emerge from oblivion just as John is forced to act outside his daily routine and explore other shelter areas. Something breaks here, and something flashes there. You know, something always goes wrong when you least expect it.
There are two ways of looking at The Bunker. Either you approach it purely as a short, interactive film and thus expect it to not abound with many opportunities for interaction, or you ignore that fact and approach it as a game. This will influence how you evaluate the work. To begin with, the Bunker has a really oppressive atmosphere. This is mainly because the game was filmed in the real-life backdrop of the now-closed Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker in Essex, England. Today, it serves as a museum, and it’s no problem to experience the atmosphere yourself.
Aside from the shelter, Adam Brown’s performance is also a considerable part of the whole atmosphere, as he comes across as quite clumsy and scared throughout and manages to convey these feelings to the viewer/player. As well as John, other characters appear in The Bunker, particularly in his memories, and the actors cast are not entirely unknown, having appeared in shows such as Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones, and the Star Wars films. In short, the production costs for The Bunker were definitely on the higher end, and it shows.
The problem comes in when we expect greater freedom or choices from the work. This is certainly not the case. The entire gameplay, if we can even talk about such a thing, is limited to occasional clicks on pre-marked objects or a few clicktime events. From this point of view, it will be a sheer bore for specific people. Those who are not prepared for something like this might not be able to wait for the end credits, which take an average of 90 minutes to get through from the opening, which can be considered a slightly below average running time for today’s movies, but that’s perfectly fine, I certainly don’t try to take this into account as some sort of victory.
It’s worth sticking around to uncover all of John’s memories, and it’s definitely worth it. I’m curious what he’s looking at at certain moments. What is hidden in the atomic shelter? A mutant demon, a deranged Nazi, or just the past shrouded in oblivion? You’ll find out, you’ll discover, you’ll learn… The Bunker won me over the most, besides the chilling atmosphere, through the main story twist at the very end of the game, which I did not expect at all, and thanks to that, The Bunker became one of the better FMV works I had the opportunity to try. I recommend it to you, too.
So how do I watch it? As someone unfamiliar with the genre, I might have turned up my nose and relegated The Bunker to mediocrity despite its qualities. As a film, it has high production values. It manages to work the tension through realistic sets or acting performances. As an interactive film? There is little interaction, limited to mere clicking, but what I wrote in the line above still applies. The clicking gives you a minor illusion that you’re actually controlling John’s actions, which makes the atmosphere a little more tense. However, I could appreciate the work more as a concise film without any interaction. Still, thanks to the atmosphere just mentioned several times. The breathtaking story twist, I can, for my part, allow this and still rank the title among the better ones within the genre.
The post The Bunker: A Cinematic Depths of Isolation appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.
Title: Night Book
Developer: Good Gate Media
Publisher: Wales Interactive
Released: July 27, 2021
Platforms Available: PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC Game , iOS, Android
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 5
Article Reading Time: 7 minutes
Wales Interactive has long specialized in producing FMV (full motion video) concepts, even though they have tried to break through with classic horror, mostly ending with average results. Their primary focus thus remains purely cinematic projects, where the player can intervene in the plot when the script offers the opportunity to do so, and replayability is directly proportional to the atmosphere of the first pass. That’s how it should ideally look if FMV’s work succeeds, which unfortunately isn’t exactly the case with a horror game called Night Book. Let’s elaborate more on that, though.
The central character of this horror flick – Loralyn, who at the start of the game is preparing for a night shift as an online translator, lives with her rather distraught father in the next room of her house. From the beginning of the video, this gentleman appears to be a person full of mental problems. Even though the whole plot is not just based on him banging his head against the room wall, he becomes the central element of the entire plot. His pregnant daughter, Loralyn, whose husband works as a stockbroker on an island with a dark history, has no time to deal with the hints of a real threat from ancient civilizations. He only cares about a well-done job while translating his clients’ text. But what the devil, his two online calls on the evening in question set off a chain reaction of 22 possible endings. Whether you want to see them all or give up on the first pass, it’s up to you.
The developers weren’t so much trying to bring some variety, as there’s woefully little of that subject interaction. Still, they were primarily concerned with evoking the creepy atmosphere associated with the imminent risk of an obsessive father and a closed environment. Unfortunately, they failed to achieve that effect, even with one of the endings above to this film strip. I don’t mean to cast aspersions on the primary performances here, some of which were above standard and good by the standards of the concept (The Complex wasn’t wrong in that regard either). First and foremost, we have an entirely predictable plot, and its denouement is directly related to several clichés that would shame a first-year film student. The fact that all the action takes place on the desktop of the central character’s laptop doesn’t help a bit, as the script vehemently tries to explain all the illogical ideas rather than covering them up with anything scary.
Once you’ve made it to the finale for the first time, and the statistics of endings discovered and sequences viewed flash on the screen, you’ll feel that you haven’t made it one-third of the way through the (un)game. Logically, you’ll then proceed to retry, using new choices and decisions to try and see more and unlock something new. However, this is where another big problem arises from my perspective: the interface’s inability to skip a previously viewed scene and the poorly designed splitting of the images themselves. Therefore, anyone who wants to fill the extras to the brim and absorb the entire hour of recorded material from the first second to the last will find it a pile of tedium and repetition. The worst thing about the whole thing is that even if you gradually work your way through all the plot endings, you’ll always keep the vapidity that the entire point of this FMV production possesses. The only thing you’ll get out of it in the end is the statistics and the feeling that you’ve at least used your wasted money for something. The whole thing is blatantly mediocre and mind-numbing the second you try to discover more and see something new.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the ‘Night Book’ development adapted to unprecedented circumstances, shaping a game that encapsulates the challenges of that period without meeting in person. The unique production constraints and social distancing measures led to an inventive setup where the entire cast seemed to perform 100% remotely, mirroring the global isolation. This isolation seeps into the game’s atmosphere, making the player’s experience strangely resonant with the lockdown experience. In the game, Loralyn works as an online translator from the confines of her home, dealing with supernatural threats through her laptop screen. This setting reflects the limited physical space many of us were confined to and the mental and emotional boundaries imposed by the pandemic. By leveraging remote production techniques, the developers crafted a game that directly responds to the world’s sudden shift to online interaction and remote living. It’s a poignant reminder of when our homes became the center of work and personal life, challenging the boundaries between the two. In ‘Night Book,’ this blending of home and external threats enhances the horror elements, as the safety of one’s home is breached, not just by the supernatural, but by the intrusion of work and the outside world into personal space.
While “Night Book” may not stand within the FMV genre, its production under the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic sheds light on the dedication and adaptability of its creators. Despite global lockdowns and social distancing, the game’s development highlights an impressive effort to maintain creative output when traditional production methods were disrupted. This context brings a new appreciation for the game, not just as a piece of interactive entertainment but as a document of the times.
Loralyn’s interactions, confined within the digital screens of her laptop, resonate with our recent lived experiences, where much of life was compressed into virtual spaces. The game cleverly uses this setup to amplify its horror elements, utilizing the claustrophobia of our realities to enhance the terror within. Additionally, the actors deliver commendable performances, bringing depth and realism to their roles. These performances and effective jump-scare moments enrich the gameplay experience beyond its narrative limitations.
Despite its flaws and a certain predictability in the plot, “Night Book is worth playing for an hour or two. It reflects not only on the supernatural but also on the intrusive nature of our new, more digital lives, blurring the lines between work, home, and otherworldly realms. The game, therefore, serves as a reminder of the era it was born into, offering both a reflection and an escape from the isolated environments many of us found ourselves in.
In evaluating “Night Book,” it’s clear that while it may not have reached the heights of some of its FMV peers, it captures a moment in time with authenticity and a genuine sense of unease. For those willing to overlook its shortcomings to taste its atmospheric and thematic strengths, “Night Roof” provides.
The post Night Book – A Flickering Tale in the Shadows of FMV and COVID appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.
Přihlásit se
