A game that's plagued with as many ups as there are downs.
Once again, things get even cleverer, when you get the option to be an immoral or moral cameraman. In other words, you can film the mutilations of your young female reporters; or you can save their lives with ingenious commands- It’s completely your choice. You can even be a pervert by gaining ‘erotic points’ but in my opinion, it’s a very unnecessary attempt at being a selling point. In fact, the concept of gaining ‘scoop’ by consistently aiming the lens at your reporter’s backside is a genuinely uncool move by the man who invented the seven Smiths and Travis Touchdown. Erotic points aside, there is still a lot of fun to be had with Michigan. There are multiple ways to play the game and five different endings, which unsurprisingly introduce much replay. Remember you’re a cameraman so you can’t do much more than film and point, but that’s what I liked about it. It felt fresh and unique. Conversely, I see a lot of people put off by this and I can understand their dislike. This game is quite clearly not going to be for everyone. The downside to Michigan exists in one major flaw…the characters. Appalling voice acting aside, the characters are also very hard to like. You certainly feel disappointed with yourself when you let a reporter die, but then you reminisce on how bravado they were during the most foolish of times. In spite of this, these women are likable in comparison to your ‘friend’ Brisco. Brisco doesn’t pass as a natural character at all. When he’s not stalking you, with his sound mike looming overhead; he plagues the dialogue with embarrassing, bittersweet irony and sarcasm. In other words he’s so composed during moments of danger it’s sickening.
Example: Your reporter has just shot a giant alien bug. It explodes, spewing blood on the floor. A real moment of glory and satisfaction for ZAKA TV. What does Brisco say? “Well that monster’s in heaven…or should I say Hell!”
Shut up Brisco! The bitter reality is that you can’t kill Brisco. Brisco wont die. What makes him so special? Your character doesn’t utter one single word, but you wish he’d just tell Brisco to stick his sound boom where the sun doesn’t shine. Thank goodness for the ram button. Yes, there’s an almost unnecessary move in which you hold down the R2 button and smash into things. Hold it down long enough, and aim for Brisco, he will hit the floor hard- Trust me, it’s very satisfying.
The graphics aren’t bad and the character models are well crafted, but nothing to write home about.
I think overall it’s necessary to think of Michigan as an interactive movie more so than a game. It just reminded me of a low budget horror B movie (filled with cheap effects and bad acting.)
It’s everything I hate about movies, yet it’s a game, therefore it reverses everything. Think about it, a game that’s like a film yet you’re behind the camera, makes everything much better. You also get much more gaming than I expected but unfortunately, you also get a ending that leaves you more confused than you were at the start.
In conclusion, I liked it. It was an enjoyable survival horror game, yet better ones are out there. Compare Michigan to the likes of Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Project Zero- You’ll think a lot less of it. Overall, Michigan just wanted to be in the same league as Resident Evil, but it failed and it’s been left…cowering in the shadows…and it’s not going to jump out unless you find it. That is why no one has played Michigan