Truly a unique find

User Rating: 8.6 | Fahrenheit (French) PC
When I first heard about Indigo Prophecy, I wasn't very excited. Blah, blah, blah psychological thriller with horror/sci fi elements. You'd think that Dean Koontz is a main game developer with the way that the words "psychological" and "thriller" are being thrown around in industry hype and previews nowadays. Things changed when I happened upon an interview with the director/developer David Cage. What really struck me was the passion that he had invested in bringing this game to fruition. Although I am pleased with the quality of game sequels that have hit stores recently, I was looking for something fresh, and it seemed like this game could have potential. I was a bit wary at first since it seemed to lean toward the "interactive video" category. Anyone who remembers the early days of Sega CD (e.g. Sewer Shark and the like) can attest to the horrors that this particular niche can bring to the world. However, from the moment I actually got into the gameplay, I could tell that this was different. It took some getting used to, but the characters interact with their environment in an organic way that helps the storyline of the "film" to progress. I enjoyed the timing challenge of the analog stick gameplay, which is kind of like simon says on speed. It was also enjoyable to have little side challenges like making Lucas play the guitar, or the basketball challenge with Jeff. Another positive attribute of this game is its verisimilitude. In movies, characters constantly drink coffee, alcohol, and water, but when do they take the time to pee with all the running about they do? This game helps to answer that question. Mundane actions help to immerse the player in the game, and also offer options for improving the character's mental state. As for the story, I had no idea where the game was going to end up by the time I finished. I liked being surprised by different twists and turns, but I could have done with a bit more explanation in some areas of the plot. Overall, it was a risk to release a game like this into an action/adventure oriented market. Despite some flaws, I hope to see more games with this degree of originality released in the future.