An 80's style, sci-fi, noire adventure with enough intrigue to keep you on the edge almost to the very end.
The game is presented in an 80's style aesthetic. With its gritty noire tone, the games art direction greatly aid in the immersion and believability of its world. There are several short "cut-scenes" in the game presented in a manner much like the story sections used in indie arcade shooter Jamestown. The entire scene is painted out for you with the same style as the game. It is then played out on one large picture showing you important events through dialogue boxes.
The combat in this game is very under developed. When a fight starts, which there are only 4 or 5 in the game, the main character scuttles behind cover. You are only equipped with a pistol and have to time your shots just right. You do so by pressing either the A or D keys to come out from cover on the left or right side. You use the space key to fire and the ctrl key to take a deep breathe which allows you to make a head shot. While it is a fresh idea, I felt as though it a bit tacked on and unnecessary.
The story is played from two parts. You play as Azriel Odin(...) trying to infiltrate a facility called Center 7 which is owned by a mob called the Boryokudan to save your brother. You also play as Delta-6, who is trying to escape the same facility. The Boryokudan is a mob that has taken control of the galaxy you are in. Center 7 is a rehabilitation facility that uses methods of mind sweep to integrate criminals back into society. Braking into Center 7 proves a challenge because it is located on a meteorite inside a gas mass. Getting out proves to be an equal challenge. If you are caught trying to escape, and you will be, your mind will be wiped clean time after time. The final confrontation of the two characters is extremely well played and provides an undeniable moment of "...omg...".
The characters supporting the great story brought to us by Wadjet Eye Games are very well realized. Azriel Odin is the main character of the game. He is an ex-assassin, gone law, now on the hunt for his abducted brother. His brother, Delta-6, has been captured by the ruling mob, the Boryokudan. Alongside Delta-6 are Epsilon Five, a quiet and brilliant companion who assists Delta-6 with an attempted escape, and Balder. Balder is tough. He instantly reminded me of a mix between Chad Feldheimer(Burn After Reading) and Jeffrey Goines(Twelve Monkeys). He is twisted and easily influenced by deceit. All four of these characters play a major roll in the story and even make for an intriguingly hard decision towards the end of the game.
Gemini Rue offers an intriguing story topped with an excellent and memorable twist. The setting is dystopian. The tone is dark and mature. And the characters are well realized for the rolls they play. If you are a fan of the adventure genre and are wanting to see what has happened to it over the years, Gemini Rue proves the genre's worth, potential, and its persistence.