Deadly Premonition - So bad its good!
I purchased this game after watching a "Now Playing" with Kevin Van Ord and I knew I had to have this game. It plays like a PS1 title giving such a "B grade" feel that you can't help but like it. After all, it is what it is. Just because the graphics and audio aren't all what they are cracked up to be doesn't make this a bad game. Some aspects of the game have been done poorly but what this game lacks technically it sure makes up through its compelling and gripping story telling.
I've played over 10 hours in this game and there have been times when I have been spooked out and freaked out that for full levels I've had goose bumps and my hair standing on end. I'm not one for horror games and the like and there were moments where I didn't want to go on, but I HAD to!
The difficulty in this game doesn't really exist - it is an easy game to play and the enemies you kill aren't difficult. If you are used to or after insanely hard games then this really isn't for you. If you appreciate a good story with some interesting twists and turns then give this a go. The more of this game you play the more you get sucked in.
I really like the investigation side of this game and it is done really well and helps break up the game a little bit. The game has you collecting clues for you to profile and as you collect each clue more of the story becomes clearer. I also really like the moments when the main character goes over "the story so far" and has the player selecting answers to questions about what they have played to keep you from forgetting the story line.
The QTE's in this game can become a little repetitive at times but there isn't enough of it to become a nuisance, it tends to add to the game play not take away from it. Sometimes, the main character may pull dumbbells out of his suit pocket and other objects that obviously could not be there. He also makes the same sound walking on grass as walking on a foot path and EVERY door no matter what it is made out of makes the same sound (Old wooden door and chain link gate make the exact same sound). However, there are times when you cannot help but smile, "So says Mr. Stewart".
The art style is simplistic but gets the job done. The music in this game is great. There are times when the music score goes from an intense build up to a soothing piano tune and then to a chilled out "country bumpkin" feel. After some intense music when the more relaxed and cheerful music comes in you yourself sit back a bit to enjoy a little bit of a cut scene. The only thing letting down the music in this game is how "staggered" it feels. You can tell when a music cue is loading at times, especially when there is dialogue as it isn't seamless at all. The sound is kind of "patchy" and it gives you the feeling of music and/or dialogue having to load for a second.
I didn't like the missions in the game where you had to be somewhere at a certain time - There is too much waiting around for things to happen. At one point I had around 8 hours to go and find something to do as time doesn't pass super quick in this game. During parts like this you might want to look for somewhere to take a nap to re-generate your energy but there are times where you only have a couple of hours to kill which means you can't really sleep and you don't want to go too far away from the target area so you tend to stand around waiting. Although you can smoke a heavy cigarette to help you pass the time but the side missions help with your achievements.
Driving around can be arduous at times but the game doesn't overdo the driving scenarios. If you have driven for quite awhile to a remote location the next cut scene shows you back somewhere local so you're not forever driving back and forth. There is enough driving in this game so not having to back track at certain points was a blessing. I also like the petrol mechanic to this game but find it limits the "open" feeling of the game as it creates a barrier of sorts as to how much you can explore before having to "fill up".
Others may or may not find this to be a problem as the map isn't overly big, however, finding locations you have to drive to can be a task all in itself as the map doesn't zoom out enough. You'll find yourself tracing the map reticle along roads so you can work out which way you need to go. You will start to get a hang of driving around town but you find yourself loading the "pause" menu time after time checking out that map.
The characters suck you in and immerse you into a world of mystery which keeps you guessing and where the moment you get some spare time you run off to investigate your own leads you feel might give some clarity and these will generally lead you off into some side missions.
I love the fact you need to eat, sleep, shave and change suits when they become dirty - It gives you a grounded feeling of your character and helps convey the "every day" life that the characters around you are living.
This game has got me thinking about what it is that makes a game good and what makes a game bad? When I first started playing it I was a little indifferent but once you see past the bad voice acting and character modeling it is a gripping suspenseful story that has you wanting MORE!