I want to start this week by talking a little bit about genre bias and its impact on video game ratings.
There is a huge variety of different gaming genres out there and not every gamer is going to enjoy every type of game. Whether you are writing for a major gaming site or you are someone like me, you are bound to have personal feelings on which genres you like and which you don't. I have made it pretty clear I don't really like racing games and that RPGs are my favorite, so I kind of grade those genres on something of a curve, even if its only subconsciously. Some genres appeal to more gamers than others, mostly fringe stuff. One of those fringe genres, at least I consider it to be fringe, it point and click adventure. These games are very different than anything else out there, for better or worse, and I recognize they aren't for everyone. But if you like these kinds of games, or can even tolerate them, you need to play 2064: Read Only Memories right now.
2064 is not an action packed adventure or a challenging test of gaming dexterity. But it has one of the most relevant, thought provoking stories I've ever experienced in a video game. It explores topics like community, inclusion and acceptance in a way that's impactful while remaining nuanced and avoiding pretention. It explores the ethical, moral and societal implications of booming and rapidly evolving technology, diving into topics like genetic alterations, A.I. sentience and personal privacy in an increasingly digital world. It also delves considerably into marginalized communities and their past, present and continued fight for inclusion. So much of what's covered here is so on-point for our rapidly changing society and these topics are important to discuss in any media format, video games included.
As previously stated, you explore various locations in Neo-SF through a point and click interface. You can move the cursor about the screen with the PS4's touchpad, but you can also select items with the analog stick. From there, you can choose to look at, interact with, touch or talk to any object. Some items are critical clues while others are completely useless. Some have very specific purposes while others can be used to solve multiple puzzles. The closest analog to this that most people have played is probably Myst, but even that really isn't a great comparison. Maybe those Quantic Dream games like Indigo Prophecy or Heavy Rain? Maybe Shadowgate? I would say it falls somewhere in between, you aren't solving brain teasers like Myst, but it's a little more in depth and not as cinematic as the QD games. It's interface is like Shadowgate, but that game is very much about constant trial and error. 2064 asks you to make more use of your detective/journalism skills, which as a former journalist who's the son of a detective, I found to be both enjoyable and relatable.
The graphics are done in a pixel art style, which adds to the "indie game" vibe. It looks great and it amazes me how detailed they can get some of the sprites to look. I don't even know if they're actually sprites, but whatever. The character portraits are okay, some of them look amazing but others are kind of jumbled and messy. The same is true of the varying locales, it's very apparent that they took way more time on some areas than others. I think the sound is amazing, they really put together some catchy chip tunes that sound like they're straight from the NES. However, the sound design is so great that they really feel like the fit in this futuristic, cyberpunk setting. This is one of the better old school or old school-esque videogame soundtracks I've ever heard. I also think the voice actors did a really good job here. They got some pretty big names to lend their voices to these characters and it's very apparent that a lot of these folks really know what they're doing. I thought it was cool to see WWE wrestler Xavier Woods voice a character, even if he didn't have too many lines.
If I had one issue with the graphics, it's that the game doesn't take up enough of the screen. Everything takes place inside and oddly small window. I think it should have been bigger, even if it meant sacrificing some image quality. I never found it to be a major issue, but I could see this layout causing some people to miss items. It's impossible to get locked out of finishing the game, but it's still frustrating to have to make a decision that you otherwise wouldn't because you missed a tiny, minuscule item. I do think some of the character portraits looked messy as well, but that is a nitpick.
It's difficult to really discuss gameplay with point and clicks because they are so different from every other kind of game. There's no enemies to dodge or times to beat or hit detection to complain about. I think the control here is fine as long as you don't try and use the touchpad, it's way too sensitive. They did the best job they could on a point and click where you don't have the actual apparatus to, well, point and click. Your eyes and your wits are more important here than what you can do on the sticks and the game very much recognizes that. Items are usually in logical places and the various potential puzzle solutions are very intuitive. They are just cryptic enough that they're a challenge to solve, but not so much so that they don't make any sense. You must also manage your relationship with Turing, you can treat him as well or as poorly as you want, which determines which of the game's five endings you will get.
But the focus here is on the plot, environment and characters, all of which are top notch. I won't get much deeper into the story much deeper than I already have, though I want to reiterate that it covers some heavy, important topics that I don't think are discussed enough in any sort of media. The characters are all outstanding. From Turing to the hacker Tomcat to the young punk Chad to the enigmatic Dr. Fairlight and his assistant Dekker, the characters are well written and have very natural and realistic dialogue. Things get pretty heavy here as you dig deeper into Hayden's disappearance, though the game does strike a great balance between serious and silly. It could just be me, but the final boss sequence was one of the more intense and unsettling gaming experiences I've had in a while.
The world is brilliantly fleshed out and great care is taken to make it feel lived in. It's not even just lived in, it's lived in in a way that feels completely organic. For example, the ongoing battles between the hybrids, humans who have undergone genetic alterations, and Human Revolution, a group that opposes such procedures, would be easy to embellish or over-do in a video game setting. But the writers showed restraint, they aren't spilling each other's blood in the streets, they are protesting and fundraising and fighting each other in courts. Neo-San Francisco has a thriving LGBTQ community, kind of like actual San Francisco. It's great to see any representation, but this is not representation for representation's sake. It's thoughtful representation in done in an impactful and meaningful way, though that's not surprising given where the game came from.
2064 nails the big stuff, but I always thought a big part of world building was in the minute details. Being able to boot up your computer and read news stories about the world around you especially helps in this regard, especially since they are surprisingly well written and thought out. You can read a detailed sports article about the 49er's quest for their 10th Lombardi Trophy, as it laments their recent playoff losses to the New York Giants (if I make it that long, my 70-something year old self is going to love watching that happen!) and Mexico City Luchadores (which should totally be the team name if the NFL ever really does put a franchise there). It doesn't have anything to do with the actual game, but it helps set the stage. The game is filled with quirky references like that.
At the end of the day, it was just very apparent that they people who created 2064 just really love video games. The art style, the music, the atmosphere and presentation, everything is a love letter to video games of old, and not just popular ones. Hell, even the main character's working name, Alys, was a Phantasy Star reference. It features a thought provoking plot to go along with a fully realized environment filled with strong, diverse characters. I think I may have a little bit of personal bias going on here, as I found playing as a journalist incredibly relatable. As much as it stressed me out, I really miss the business. I loved being a writer/editor/reporter and if I could go back to it without working 80 hours each week while making a starvation wage, I would in a heartbeat.
I will admit this game is probably not for everyone. I know a lot of people, especially console gamers, can't get into titles like this. 2064 cuts a quicker pace than most, but it's still a very methodical and deliberate game. If you come into this expecting off the wall action, never ending explosions and hails of gunfire, you are going to be very disappointed (though you might want to check out last week's review). But in my opinion, the plot, world and characters are too well done and impactful for me to say anyone should pass it up. 2064 has a lot of messages most people should hear, and I recommend everyone at least give it a shot. A lot of gamers may not become fans, but it's worth hearing the message. Point and Click or even old school RPG fans will eat this up.
9/10
Comments
Post a Comment