Simulacra - Review

 

Over the years I have played a number of games by Wales Interactive, who create FMV content in a world where this type of genre has been largely forgotten. I recently played a new game by them called Simulacra, it turns out the game was created by Kaigan Games and published by Wales Interactive which is why it had a very different feel and quality about it than their own games. The game had an interesting looking UI, and my partner in crime Nollsy and I thought it could be fun so away we went and downloaded it. 

I have been on a Pringle's buzz recently, in particular their new Sizzlin range. I have tried the Extra Hot Cheese and Chilli, damn tasty, Medium Kickin' Sour Cream, a different kind of damn good. Naturally, when I saw their Spicy BBQ flavour, I thought yes, another potential damn good. Well, I was wrong, it was okay but nothing by comparison and being honest I might not even finish the can, doesn't sound like a big deal but I savage through most crisps, potatoes chips or corn snacks in one sitting. Playing Simulacra I found myself asking was this as tasty as the other flavours or was it just disappointing?

Story

The game is an FMV horror game, you find a random person's phone on your doorstep, naturally, you decide to pick it and start snooping. Quickly you discover the phone belongs to a girl called Anna who seems to be missing. Your mission is to go through her phone, solve puzzles, follow the clues and get help from anyone that you can. The game sounds interesting but often the pacing is poor, between bad acting and the 'villain' getting very little focus, and while the ending is interesting the plot seems to have a number of holes. The game offers multiple endings, all but one is bad and the good ending is not something that would be logical or apparent to most people, making it quite frustrating.

Overall the story is not bad but poor pacing, and the bad acting takes you out of the game itself and made me wonder how it won and was nominated for multiple awards?

Visuals

The majority of the game has you interacting with Anna's phone, whether that be through the dating app Spark (Tinder), Jabber (Twitter), scanning through her messages, gallery, videos and emails. Occasionally you will get video calls from people that are okay but feel like Kaigan Games could have made the backgrounds more interesting or made better use of them to help progress the story. 

Overall the look and feel of the UI is really cool and it does feel like you are actually interacting with a phone. They put a lot of effort into emulating the various applications you use, enhancing the feeling that you're really browsing through someones phone. While the video calls have a bit to be desired it is not a deal-breaker.

Music

There is no music in the game with exception of the title screen track which manages to be both creepy, and catchy like a nineties pop song that despite your better judgement and mental fortitude you just can't get it out of your head and keep humming it. It is a strange complaint but many of the sounds effects often felt to my ears the same way my mouth would feel chewing on tin foil with metal fillings.

Overall there is only one piece of music and is no need for anymore with this style of game. That being said the sounds effects are a little harsh and could be better considering the range of sounds phones now offer.

Gameplay

The gameplay can be broadly summed up in the picture above, check each app's notifications, follow every path and try to find out where Anna is, what happened to her and if she is alive or dead. There are two key characters you will interact with - Greg her ex-boyfriend that seems to have a serious attitude problem and Taylor a cheeky guy who Anna met on Spark. Every conversation allows you to choose from multiple dialogue options, rather than being simply good or bad answers/questions they often offer direct or indirect answers to get the information you need. The characters also call you, even though you can't respond - which is annoying due to the acting and voice acting being absolutely atrocious. 

Something interesting about the gameplay is that the phone glitches and causes random restores which reveals information that previously you did not have access to or even knew existed. This can take many forms but sometimes messages or images will be distorted and will need to play a mini-game to restore them and in many cases provide some interesting information. The mini-games are mostly okay, but it did take us a while to figure out how to reconstruct the images.

Overall the gameplay itself is fairly solid - aside from occasionally struggling to figure out what you're supposed to do - and is easily the strongest part of the game, and if as much effort had been put into the story and to a lesser degree the visuals and music it could have been quite a memorable game. 

Final Thoughts

So, after over eight hours of playing how do we feel? The theme and overarching idea of the game were interesting but poorly executed, there were very few parts where we felt truly connected to the characters and this of course causes a large level of disinterest. The visuals were okay but some mundane videos really took away from it and was a chance to shine but sadly failed. There was not much in the way of music but that was okay, sadly some irritating sound effects really took away from the experience. The gameplay itself was by far the strongest element and was quite interesting, the depth and details used in some of the apps and emails really helped pull us into the game. Overall the  game showed the seeds of potential but sadly never reached its full potential, this one gets a disappointing 2 out of 5

Five Dates - Review

 

Really been on a Wales Interactive kick the last few weeks, and thought why not keep going with it? Five Dates was released last year and is about digital dating during lockdown (yes, actual Covid-19 lockdown - this game is on point). It seemed like a fun idea and I thought my partner in crime Nollsy would really like it too so we decide to play it together.

Potatoes. There's a reason we Irish love them - they're so versatile and a few key decisions can create chips, mash and more can completely change how you experience the humble potato. Five Dates is similar, which hundreds of choices meaning every playthrough is a different experience did we find the perfect chips or mash?

Story

The story is about a single guy named Vinny, about whom we can't tell you much because you have to choose his industry, interests, and general preferences throughout the game. His bro Callum has encouraged him to try online dating, and this game starts with a phone call between them in which Vinny (you) admit you have signed up. The same five girls are always available, but how well you gel with them and what kind of a person Vinny is, are all determined by the choices you make throughout the game.

The girls you can date are:

Maya, from Spain, and feels very much the life of the party

Shaina, a nurse during COVID-19, living with her family and very family orientated

Grace, a well to do professional, and a bit of a mystery

Paige, an influencer (don't tell her it is not a real job), and has trust issues

Saffron, spiritual, insightful and a little cooky

Very different people but all quite interesting in their own way. Overall a really interesting set of stories that really focuses on how small things can really change the way we look at people and they look at us.

Visuals

The visuals create an extremely intimate feeling, talking to someone in their room and through video calls and the dating app feel real and not quite spying but like you are part of it. The bedrooms and living rooms all look and feel like the real deal and not staged. One thing Nolls noticed was that within a single date, the lighting in the background could completely change the time of day. The audio quality also sometimes changed, but rather than being to the detriment of the game it actually made us appreciate even more how this whole game was conceptualized, filmed and developed during the lockdown. The acting was, broadly, very good also and the transition between scenes as you waited to make, or made, choices was very smoothly done, with even careful editing including one character's voice chatting over a camera swivel to the other character. This really added to the organic feel of watching a real date (think First Dates Ireland, close up).

Music

Similar to The Complex there were no signs of a soundtrack being available to listen to outside of the game itself. The music is sparse, but in a game so heavily focused on the story, it is not really a big deal. Given that the game is entirely dialogue-based, it's important to be able to clearly hear what's being said at all times, and while the music may not have had much impact itself, it's noticeable that it also definitely didn't detract from the dialogue.

Gameplay

The gameplay is very simple and straightforward - it's a game designed to be replayed multiple times and the initial setup is quick. You start by setting up your online dating profile, and because you're on the free trial you can only choose three of the five dates available. There are 762 scenes in this game (7 hours of recorded footage) and almost as many choices to be made. The first of these choices include your profile picture, your industry, your star sign and a set of three interests. These will actually influence the scenes that come up with different dates. 

At each stage, you must choose one person fewer so you have three first dates, two-second dates, and one-third date. Each first date is broadly about getting to know each other, while each second date generally involves a game such as Truth Or Dare or Never Have I Ever. You can imagine how many different choices you can make playing such games, and all of this long-winded talking boils down to this - Nolls replayed this game at least 5 times in order to get each of the girls to the 3rd date. At the same time, she deliberately chose different options in the 1st and 2nd dates she had to go back through, and she noted that she learned vastly different things about each girl depending on what choices she made. 

One of the absolute best elements of this game is how complex and layered each girl's personality and life is - depending on your choices, you can form spectacularly different opinions on them on different playthroughs. Saffron, a vegan yoga enthusiast who doesn't like horror movies would not be at the top of Noll's list on paper, and indeed the first time we played through, we actually failed to get a second date with Saffron (yes, you can piss off each girl to the degree that they decline any further dates!). But on a second run-through, we discovered her love of clay boobs, her incredibly interesting way of using Tarot to encourage self-reflection, and one final big shocker that we won't share, because we want your response to be as authentic as ours was when it happened. Saffron is easily one of our two favourite characters (the other being Maya if you're interested). And all of this is just about Saffron - image how much there is to say about all the other characters, including your own character and the available choices there. We highly recommend multiple playthroughs of this game.

Another fun element of the game is your bro Callum who checks in with you before and after your dates for a debrief. 

Final Thoughts

Nollsy wants to give this game a 5/5 for ingenuity, authenticity, and appreciation of imagining people complexly. The whole game acts as an exercise in being non-judgemental and you learn a lot about yourself along the way too. There's a very good chance Nolls is going to keep playing it until she gets all the scenes because she's so impressed with the game. This one gets a solid 5 out of 5

The Complex - Review

 

I really love that to some degree FMV games are making a come back, one studio in particular stands out, Wales Interactive. I played Late Shift a couple of years back and enjoyed that, and then played Erica which was also really enjoyable. I love when a game is heavily story based and you have to make decisions that will potentially effect the overall story in minor and often major ways, it is a big reason I like TellTale Games The Walking Dead. When I saw that Wales Interactive had released a game around potential virus and pandemic outbreak it really resonated with me, can't imagine why!

I recently tried Cadbury's White Chocolate Oreo Bar and I loved it! I love white chocolate and like a fungus Oreos have grown on me over the years. The combination of the two means I scoff it down so quickly I worry I might lose the tip of one of my fingers. In summary, it's damn good. Playing The Complex I found myself wondering was I in danger of losing part of a finger?

Story

There is a new potential drug that could be used to help heal people with limited supplies, in particular an upcoming mission to Mars. Turns out if someone break in, steals it and get infected by it before it has been completed it makes for a nifty bio-weapon. The game has you take control of Dr. Amy Tenant, the scientist responsible for making the drug/weapon, along with a slightly old untrustworthy colleague you are stuck locked in the facility with, trying to figure how who, how and why this all happened. Can Dr. Tenant figure it out or are we all doomed to stay in lockdown permanently?

There are lot more decisions to be made verses Wales Interactive's previous games, it is not quite as clear cut as good and bad decisions and instead goes for something deeper. If you had created something and it was then used as a weapon how would you feel, how would you deal it?

Overall the story is pretty solid and offers multiple endings, characters can even die based on your decisions so choose wisely, or don't.

Visuals

The FMV quality featured in the game are great, high production values and even with the lockdown element there are still a few different locations you will get to see. My favorite part visually is the lab you are locked down in, it has a very real feel to it with some mildly futuristic instruments, doing this creates a blend of being both grounded and futuristic without pulling you out of the story. 

Overall the visuals and locations used are really good, the only thing that was occasionally jarring is when choosing a decision there was sometimes a solid 1-2 seconds where it stutters and while it was far from being a deal breaker it certainly could have been a little smoother.

Music

Unfortunately, there was no sign of a soundtrack being available to listen to outside of the game itself. The music is sparse, but in a game so heavily focused on the story it is not really a big deal. There are few snippets of music used often when a bigger decision is being made, nothing to write home about it.

Gameplay

The gameplay and story are almost one and the same. There will be a lot of decisions to make, everything from who should get the vaccine, whether or not to ignore someone or give them a snarky response, or picking to use a microscope to open a vent (?) over using science and a little brain power. Some of them are a lot of fun and did have me smiling in places.

The lead character is very strong and likeable but unfortunately almost no one else in the game is, but I think that was by design rather than an accident. As the game progress it give you percentages stats on your relationships with others and what kind of personality you have based on the responses and decisions you make.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the game are the endings, there are quite a few and some of them are pretty intense and there are more than a few unexpected turn of events.

Overall the gameplay was pretty solid and definitely makes me interested to try more of Wales Interactive games.

Final Thoughts

So, after six hours of playing how did I feel? Not bad. The story is pretty solid, it is a shame the only likeable character was the one you play as. The visuals are high quality and some decent productions values, the occasional stuttering when making decision was a little jarring but not the end of the world. The lack of music was unusual, but if you look at episode of a TV show you would not expect to hear a lot. The gameplay like the story is pretty solid and the multitude of ending provides some great replay value. Overall this one gets 3 out of 5

Late Shift - Review

I was recently sent an email by Limited Run Games notifying me that they would be releasing a physical copy of a game called Late Shift.  I had never heard of the game before but was curious to know more, after a small amount of research later I decided I had to play it.  I didn't have the patience to wait so I downloaded it from the PlayStation store and so began my journey with Late Shift.


Oreos.  I have grown to really like those little biscuits known as Oreos, some of their flavors I enjoy more than others.  My favorites are probably the white chocolate covered ones and the peanut butter ones.  From time to time I like to enjoy the chocolate creme ones, I can only have a few at a time because I find them a little much.  Playing Late Shift I found myself asking what kind of Oreo was I enjoying, and was it too much?

Story


The story has you take on the role of Matt, a student just trying to get by.  Matt works the late shift at a parking garage, on what seems like an average night he investigates a noise and ends up having his whole world turned upside down.  Matt is caught up in a crime that will end up having him fight for his life.  How will he survive?  Who will he help?  Who will be hurt?


The game has you make a lot of decisions for Matt, some big, some small but almost all of them have consequences.  The game features seven endings so there is a good bit of replayability, which is always a plus.


Overall Late Shift has a pretty solid story that held my interest from beginning to end and is definitely an experience I won't be forgetting soon.

Visuals


It's hard to flaw the visuals when they are movie quality, the sets look great and take you from the mundanity of a parking garage to sophistication of an auction house.  In honesty, I can't really go into detail without spoiling the experience for you.


Overall it is visually entertaining and while it may not look like your average game it is still pretty good.



Music


The soundtrack has a kind of electronic feel, that really is just backing music, but that's not to say it's bad.  The music is composed by Cyril Boehler, and the additional music is by Harry Herchenworrth,  their works include music for the films; Mulhapar, Wilder, and Suck Me Shakespeer 1 and 2.


The score runs at just under an hour and while the soundtrack as a whole isn't amazing there were some good tracks, my favorites being,  'Intentness', 'Tchoi Action', 'Hainsworth', 'After Crash' and 'Pushin Your Chances'.


Overall the soundtrack is okay but it's not particularly memorable.

Gameplay


I love movies, I like to be entertained and sometimes just to zone out, but sometimes I wish I could be part of what's going on and that's where Late Shift comes in.  While watching the film/game you will have moments where you can choose answers to questions and decided which actions to take.  Depending on the decisions you make you will get different endings and even potentially miss chapters altogether.    The game has seven endings, ranging from really good to really bad, the first ending I got was really bad and I felt quite disappointed.  The feeling of disappointment from my first ending drove me to play it again straight away.


Overall I didn't have any issue with gameplay, it worked well and made me want to keep playing to make other decisions and see other endings.




Final Thoughts

So after a few hours of play how did I feel?  Not bad.  The story is pretty good, the visuals were good, the music was okay and the gameplay was engaging.  I liked playing and being part of Late Shift, and while I enjoyed the uniqueness of the game it's not something I can imagine going back to again and again.  Overall this one gets a solid 3 out of 5