If you’re like me, you’d really like to be able to stare at Jesse Williams for unnatural amounts of time, because have you ever seen anything so spectacular? Luckily we will be able to do so, minus any pesky legal ramifications, in the form of Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human, which releases May 25, 2018.
And to prep fans, the studio released a demo of the game this past week. Although it is sadly lacking in the Jesse Williams department, never fear, he’ll be in the full game, which comes from a script with nearly 2,000 pages of text. That seems like a lot of Williams to go around.
Right, right, but the game. As much as some players (read, me) main interest is Jesse Williams (because have you SEEN those eyes? Even in android form, they are dreamy), it is really about the game. And what a game it seems to be so far. With a “Mature” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for human-android sex, pole dancing androids, slow motion murder, android genitals, executions, child abuse, and “Red Ice,” this game seems just about perfect for fans of Blade Runner or Altered Carbon.
Quantic Dream/Sony Interactive Entertainment
The demo allows players to interact in the, presumably, opening scene of the game. Leading the actions of Connor, an android, you move through a crime scene and a hostage negotiation. Through either casual or experienced mode, the player interacts with objects and people in the game. As far as controls go, it’s actually easier to maneuver through the story in experienced mode, even though the controls are slightly more complex. However, in this mode, it’s also far more difficult to succeed at your mission. I died in one playthrough. But I saved the little girl, and that’s what hostage negotiations are really all about.
The game looks stunning. The capture used on the actors makes for convincing movements and micro-expressions necessary for compelling androids. These one’s certainly dream of electric sheep.
The only concern is how fluidly this storytelling will actually play out in the full game. As a “choose your own adventure,” it does run the risk of seeming convoluted or becoming frustrating, as players replay through various scenes hoping to affect their future. Or, the androids’ future. They simply want to be free. And you get to lead them on towards the revolution. But that is also what makes this game so fascinating: the ability to look at a flow chart of decisions, at all the possibilities.
Obviously, these concerns can’t be laid to rest until the full game is released, which I’ll be eagerly awaiting, because all I know is that if it is as compelling as the demo, I may never stop playing the game. I’m a sucker for crafting my own destiny.
What are some of your favorite games? Share them with us in the comments below!
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