Feel like I should have hated it, but this was surprisingly solid. Deffo has obvious as fuck issues tho.
I did not watch the movie, so I cannot draw comparisons. Treating it as a generic movie adaption, I initially thought that it was okay - an intriguing mystery, and a lot of loose ends that actually get tied up. But in reality, it's underwhelming.
As most movie games, it strikes an unsatisfactory balance between both. The cutscenes are just fine and you wouldn't think twice about them if they were in an action game, but focused like this, all the undecipherable and exaggerated facial expressions, the frequent lack of shot composition, and random camera pans or cuts become more visible - though it at least avoids the uncanny valley. As a game, it unsurprisingly offers running through locations and QTEs, not too exciting either.
I'm not sure about the themes in the game; this is where seeing the movie would've been useful. What sticks out the most is the orchestration by a seemingly all-powerful plain evil person - a background that for some reason also gets explained during the about last ten minutes - and an unquestioned, unwavering belief in memories and their factual accuracy that only superficially gets challenged - oh, your memories are wrong? Just remember harder, then the real factually objectively true events can be reconstructed.
Lastly, I think it's just too long. This is reminiscent of the pacing of Daedalic games, specifically State of Mind, which start out pretty slowly - but at least they pick up pace later. Vertigo stays put and its generally laudable desire to tie up its loose ends starts to feel like a roadblock, explaining everything in detail.
I'd just say to play State of Mind instead - it has superficial similarities regarding the pacing and the annoyingness of the main character, but does it better, plainly speaking. Mainly because it doesn't want to be half a movie.
As most movie games, it strikes an unsatisfactory balance between both. The cutscenes are just fine and you wouldn't think twice about them if they were in an action game, but focused like this, all the undecipherable and exaggerated facial expressions, the frequent lack of shot composition, and random camera pans or cuts become more visible - though it at least avoids the uncanny valley. As a game, it unsurprisingly offers running through locations and QTEs, not too exciting either.
I'm not sure about the themes in the game; this is where seeing the movie would've been useful. What sticks out the most is the orchestration by a seemingly all-powerful plain evil person - a background that for some reason also gets explained during the about last ten minutes - and an unquestioned, unwavering belief in memories and their factual accuracy that only superficially gets challenged - oh, your memories are wrong? Just remember harder, then the real factually objectively true events can be reconstructed.
Lastly, I think it's just too long. This is reminiscent of the pacing of Daedalic games, specifically State of Mind, which start out pretty slowly - but at least they pick up pace later. Vertigo stays put and its generally laudable desire to tie up its loose ends starts to feel like a roadblock, explaining everything in detail.
I'd just say to play State of Mind instead - it has superficial similarities regarding the pacing and the annoyingness of the main character, but does it better, plainly speaking. Mainly because it doesn't want to be half a movie.
Based on my admittedly indefensible love of Blacksad: Under the Skin, I decided to check this out. Huge mistake.
I am going to come back and make this review more in-depth when I have time, but stay away. It is honestly the worst thing I played in 2023, possibly an all-timer
I am going to come back and make this review more in-depth when I have time, but stay away. It is honestly the worst thing I played in 2023, possibly an all-timer
This is very slow and slogish game. Long and tedious cutscenes are followed by meaningless gameplay without a lot of sense or engagement. The only reason you want to finish this eight hours game is to see how the story unfolds. But then the end comes and the story just ends without a real purpose or interesting conclusion. The characters are annoying and without a real meaningful motivation, nothing logical actually happens (I know, we can argue about that :D)... And that final scene... really?! I have to watch the movie again instead of this boring game.
It was pretty good although the story can get a little convoluted overall i would recommend anyone to play it if you get the opportunity especially if you like story heavy games!
Such a terrible take on a telltale experience. The lack of diverse outcomes, god awful animation and long winded scenes make this game a borderline joke……. But because of this, the game was a must finish just to watch the game do its thing. The cherry on top is the terrible voice acting, causing literal laugh out loud moments (literally given the choice to make the final death end in the character saying ‘meow’).
It has a solid idea, but it has so many annoying things to it, that I just couldn't make myself play any longer. Plus, the game is really slow, like, really really slow.
And what's with the women in this game, too? They all act so weirdly.
Not much to do with Alfred Hitchcock, either.
And what's with the women in this game, too? They all act so weirdly.
Not much to do with Alfred Hitchcock, either.
The story is not bad. Its not good either. Alfred Hitchcock would nod, he wouldn't be disappointed nor proud.
As for the gameplay, oh boy, its SHIT. Why give the dialogue selection option if the ending will be the same regardless of choice?
Dont play this, its a waste of time and money. PS1 games have better gameplay and less bugs than this monstrosity of a game. Im so pissed right now, but I know for sure, without bias, that its shit. I had to watch the ending on YouTube because it had a bug that prevented me from progressing. I had to see it through though just because I invested too much time on it already.
As for the gameplay, oh boy, its SHIT. Why give the dialogue selection option if the ending will be the same regardless of choice?
Dont play this, its a waste of time and money. PS1 games have better gameplay and less bugs than this monstrosity of a game. Im so pissed right now, but I know for sure, without bias, that its shit. I had to watch the ending on YouTube because it had a bug that prevented me from progressing. I had to see it through though just because I invested too much time on it already.