this game sucks so bad. it's really great.
fundamentally, all the pieces are there. the backdrop of something weird (and alien in nature) in chicago that's just hinted at through some dialogue and pieces of lore you can find scattered around. the conflict of "should you keep filming because this'll make a great scoop even if this makes you a monster?". the vibes where everything is just slightly off in an unsettling way, everyone moves slow and reacts even slower like you're watching a nightmare in slow motion.
i even think that the really terrible voice acting further compliments the game rather than hinders it, because it goes with the vibe that something is just WRONG. i always describe michigan as "this game feels like it was made by aliens" and it's just so true, in the best way possible.
now is this the most entertaining game? absolutely not. honestly i do kinda get bored toward the middle/middle-end, but not only is michigan short as hell, you can actively choose to speed up getting to the end by killing off the newsreporter you're with, and these moments are also pretty funny.
i do like the framing device of "you're seeing this through a camera" and occasionally you don't have control of what's happening ingame, but i'm also the biggest fan of lifeline for ps2 so what do i know, anyways? similar to lifeline though, michigan is so good because it's bad, but if this game was remade today to be better, would it even be good? for example, if the game had a strong narrative, better voice acting, better scares, and characters with actual writing... well, that would be a good game from everyone else's point of view, but i love michigan because it sucks. i'd probably like the remake, too, but nothing will beat the sheer kusoge that is michigan report from hell.
fundamentally, all the pieces are there. the backdrop of something weird (and alien in nature) in chicago that's just hinted at through some dialogue and pieces of lore you can find scattered around. the conflict of "should you keep filming because this'll make a great scoop even if this makes you a monster?". the vibes where everything is just slightly off in an unsettling way, everyone moves slow and reacts even slower like you're watching a nightmare in slow motion.
i even think that the really terrible voice acting further compliments the game rather than hinders it, because it goes with the vibe that something is just WRONG. i always describe michigan as "this game feels like it was made by aliens" and it's just so true, in the best way possible.
now is this the most entertaining game? absolutely not. honestly i do kinda get bored toward the middle/middle-end, but not only is michigan short as hell, you can actively choose to speed up getting to the end by killing off the newsreporter you're with, and these moments are also pretty funny.
i do like the framing device of "you're seeing this through a camera" and occasionally you don't have control of what's happening ingame, but i'm also the biggest fan of lifeline for ps2 so what do i know, anyways? similar to lifeline though, michigan is so good because it's bad, but if this game was remade today to be better, would it even be good? for example, if the game had a strong narrative, better voice acting, better scares, and characters with actual writing... well, that would be a good game from everyone else's point of view, but i love michigan because it sucks. i'd probably like the remake, too, but nothing will beat the sheer kusoge that is michigan report from hell.