Review: Gone Home (Spoiler Free)

Gone Home is an indie first-person interactive adventure game developed and published by the Fullbright Company. In the game, players take control of Kaitlin Greenbriar, a young woman returning home from a long trip in Europe to find no trace of her parents or sister. The game relies on the exploration of players as they move about the house and collect clues.

Kaitlin's parents inherited the secluded mansion in which the game takes place from a recently deceased uncle and have been living in it for about a year when she returns home. The game does a great job of setting the mood; the game takes place at night during a violent storm and the house is alive with creaks and moans as you move about. It provokes a very unsettling feeling as you explore and dive into various notes, drawers and cabinets all while hearing footsteps and creaky floorboards just behind you. It's incredibly eerie and had my hairs standing on end quite a few times. Gone Home is also great looking visually. It does a fine job of crafting realistic looking environments and objects, all of which you can investigate up close and maneuver as you search for clues.

Gone home takes place in the year of 1995; a blast to the past when I was still playing Super Nintendo games and watching VHS tapes. In Gone Home, you'll find stacks of VHS recordings of the X-Files and audio cassette tapes, also reminiscent of my childhood. The focus of solving the mystery however lies in notes, letters, journal entries and newspaper clippings scattered throughout the house. Scavenging for these items and trying to determine what they mean is the core of the game.

The notes do a great job of getting players to know Kaitlin's family, almost to a point where you feel you know almost as much as Kaitlin herself. As you hover over certain clues, Kaitlin will occasionally make some kind of comment or remark. For instance, discovering a dirty magazine belonging to her father hidden under some books will prompt an "oh gosh, dad" on screen. As a player, I felt somewhat the same way and it was fun to see Kaitlin's realistic reactions to some of her discoveries. Digging through her father's books and VHS tape collection, you'll learn very fast that he's a sci-fi junkie. Going through the belongings of the mom and sister reveal characteristics as well but I'll leave that for you to discover.

There is no fighting in Gone Home nor is there any use for weapons or a flashlight. You have a map and will find keys to unlock certain locked doors in the house or combinations to unlock various compartments. You use the intricacies and details of the house to learn about members of the family and search for clues to learn of where they are. This was one of my only gripes about the game. I didn't need any fighting or weapons but for an interactive story based game, I felt it was lacking any challenging puzzles. Anyone with a good sense of direction and the ability to read can play the game without any trouble. Maybe that's what Fullbright was going for though. A game that just about anybody could play and enjoy.

However, the play doesn't last long. Even after I took plenty of time to read every note and scrap of paper I found and search every nook and cranny of that house, I finished the game in just two hours. The other sad thing is that there isn't really any point in replaying the game; you won't experience anything different. Gone Home normally retails for twenty dollars (thankfully I bought it for eight) which feels like a lot for a two hour game, so be wary if you plan to purchase.

Now don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed the game despite the ease and the short play through. The game has a great story and a twist unlike any other game I've played before. It's unconventional but at the same time, refreshing and fun. Gone Home has a good message and it is definitely worth  playing. I sat down to play for only a few minutes but found myself unable to put it down. I'd recommend playing it all in one sitting for the best effect. After playing, I'm looking forward to seeing more games from the Fullbright Company in this exploration style. I believe they executed it well, but they have the potential to do even better.

Routine: An Indie Survival Horror Game

Lunar Software, an Indie game developer debuted the first trailer for their survival horror game Routine earlier this week at Gamescom.

Routine is a first person horror experience that tasks players as a cosmonaut to explore an abandoned moon base from which everyone has disappeared. The game is non-linear allowing players to explore any part of the base to uncover clues that will reveal the truth behind the strange disappearances. What adds to Routine's terrifying experience is that there is no HUD, no health packs, no lives and the game utilizes a perma death system which means when you die in the game, you're dead for good and must start all over. Routine's website states that you may even have to resort to running and hiding to survive.

Don't worry though, you will be able to defend yourself with a weapon known as a CAT or a Cosmonaut Assistance Tool. The tool was designed to perform maitnence work but doubles as a weapon. You can upgrade the CAT using a floppy drive and a 3.5 inch screen on the gun will assist you with aiming. I can already see upgrades for the screen ranging from night vision to Infrared.

Routine seems like an awesome Indie title and the trailer below shows the teams amazing work so far. The chilling gameplay is exemplified perfectly in the video. The design looks like a throwback to old science fiction horror movies like Alien with some modern influence from games like Dead Space. The perma death system is very likely to keep players on edge and the clue searching reminds me of another very popular and successful indie horror title; Slender.

So far release is scheduled for the PC sometime in 2013 and there is currently no price listed either. You can follow the Routine website here and visit the website of Lunar Software here. Keep on eye out for more updates on Routine as I will make sure to update my blog with anything new on the game.

New Terrifying Trailer for Dead Space III

If you're excited for Dead Space 3 next year, this new trailer from EA Games is sure to increase that excitement exponentially. The new trailer assures that Dead Space 3 will be full of terror and intense survival situations that the series has become known for executing so well. Isaac Clarke along with partner Ellie and newcomer John Carver is still after the Markers, seeking to stop them and the Unitologists at all costs. The dialogue and visuals of coffins in the trailer implies that wherever the trio are, there seems to have been some kind of mass execution or genocide and then there's a subsequent breakout in which Isaac commands everyone to arm themselves. Who everyone is, we don't know. He could simply be referring to Ellie and  Carver or could he be addressing more people?

Luckily, the wait isn't too long from now. Dead Space 3 has an official release date of February 5, 2013 in North America and February 8, 2013 in Europe for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Prometheus: Movie Review

Prometheus, the third ever science fiction movie directed by Ridley Scott is the long awaited prequel fans of the Alien series have been anticipating for over a decade. Director Scott teamed up with writer Damon Lindelof to deliver a film that would serve as a prequel to the Alien series but at the same time, would explore new ideas that allow Prometheus to stand apart from the Alien movies as an original film. There's no doubt that Prometheus does exactly that; the feeling of the movie reminds you of Alien and there are plenty of cues for fans of the series to pick up on but Prometheus easily separates itself and delivers a truly unique alien movie.

Late in the 21st century, archaeological scientists, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw and love interest, Charlie Holloway discover illustrations that show men pointing to what seem to be a formation of stars that are consistent with the writings and drawings of several different cultures. This discovery leads them to believe the drawings are related and may reveal the origin of mankind. After sparking the interest of Peter Weyland, multi-billionaire CEO of Weyland Corporation, a team is put together and he funds a journey for crew aboard the titular Prometheus to follow the map to the darkest depths of the universe where the crew will learn the dark truth behind mankind's creation.

The plot of Prometheus is easily one of its strong-points but is not without its shortcomings. Instead of making the movie into a science fiction, horror-filled thrill ride, Scott and Lindelof focus on the themes of truth and religious ideologies as the characters strive for knowledge concerning their beginnings. Prometheus has a much more serious undertone than the alien movies; its about so much more than shooting Xenomorphs or fighting to escape a ship over run by aliens. Without spoiling any of the plot I can only say that Prometheus  provides answers and new insights for fans of the original Alien series but more importantly, raises new questions concerning the dark past of our creation. I found myself leaving the theater with more questions than answers but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

My only complaint with the plot was that I feel it wasn't developed enough. Prometheus is just over two hours long but I felt it was so brief. As the falling action began, I could sense the end of the movie was near and all I could think was, "Already!?" The whole movie seems to move a bit fast though. The Prometheus crew of 17 is easily forgettable with a couple of exceptions (which I will get to in a moment). Most of the characters felt like extras or were just annoying so I really didn't feel I cared about them at all. They were uninteresting and just felt flat and didn't really evoke any kind of emotion. I feel their personalities and backgrounds could have been developed much more if a scene were added.

Strangely enough, the character I enjoyed the most was the android David played expertly by Michael Fassbender. He's the one character without a brain, a soul or a heart yet he was the most interesting crew member without a doubt. Fassbender stole the show with his excellent performance as David and his acting expertise really shines. David is meant to look and behave exactly as a human. David has an almost unlimited source of knowledge but he can't quite comprehend the reasoning behind the voyage to the strange planet. Each scene with Fassbender is a delight and to me, his portrayal of David was the highlight of the movie. Fassbender says he was heavily influenced by the replicants of Ridley Scott's, Blade Runner and also took cues from David Bowie's, The Man Who Fell to Earth. 




Noomi Rapace plays opposite of the emotionless and moral devoid David as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, who is desperately seeking answers behind the creation of man. Her limits are tested as she learns that planet they are own holds dark secrets. Noomi fit the role well but I feel like there was more to her character than the film let on. A brief flashback gives us a glimpse of her skeptical views on religion, yet Shaw wears a cross around her neck. Her complicated views are the focus of some scenes and her beliefs do spur some interesting thoughts. She does an excellent job in a few solo scenes which aren't for the squeamish and you won't want the kids to see. Similar to Ripley from Alien, you will feel sorry for her as she does endure quite a bit of punishment but again, I would have liked to learn more about her.

The visual presentation of Prometheus also drew my attention. The movie was shot entirely with 3D cameras and also relied on more conventional video effects rather than CGI, as most films do these days. Scott's direction mastery is exemplified by his intense set-pieces and the fact that green-screens were used less than six times during filming. The dark caverns, the futuristic technology and mysterious planets are nothing new but Scott presents them perfectly to evoke feelings of fear and awe. New monsters and alien species also provide some excellent visuals that are sure to leave you terrified.

While Prometheus was Scott's first time filming in 3D, he testified it was pretty simple and instead of creating scenes that pop out at you, Scott focused on adding illusory-depth to the movie to really immerse viewers. The opening scene of the movie caught me by surprise. It provides an impressive fly-over montage of different parts of Iceland panning over majestic mountain-scapes, waterfalls and endless plains which is beautifully shot and took a reported two weeks to finish.

You shouldn't let the fact you haven't seen the original Alien movies keep you from seeing Prometheus. No prior knowledge of the original movies is needed as Prometheus can stand perfectly well on its own and delivers a rich and satisfying plot full of disturbing elements that'll make you cringe. Scott and Lindelof purposely left many questions unanswered but encourage fans to seek answers throughout the film. I personally enjoyed the movie and I would recommend seeing it. Two expert performances made up for a cast that mostly fell flat and the story alone of Prometheus is as exciting and grim as they come.

Reality Pump announces Sacrilegium

Reality Pump, the developer behind the Two Worlds games, has announced their newest title. Sacrilegium is a survival horror experience that Reality Pump promises will deliver cinematic sequences and spine-tingling action in a way gamers have never experienced before.

Sacrilegium follows a pretty-faced 20 year-old college girl, Alex as she travels the globe in search of paranormal evidence linked with ferocious vampire-like creatures called Moroi. Reality Pump boasted in an interview that the Moroi are much deadlier than the average vampire and that they could easily "eat one for breakfast." Alex's treacherous journey will take her from comfortable California to mystery filled Europe where she arrives at the titular Sacrilegium.

Alex isn't just a pretty face; she is well trained in martial arts and likely has other skills that that will no doubt come in use as her limits and fears are tested by the horrors that await her in Sacrilegium. You can check out some screens posted below which look quite impressive. I have to say, I'm glad to see a new survival horror IP and I'm very interested to see more on Sacrilegium. Hopefully Reality Pump can live up to their promise and deliver a truly terrifying experience. No time frame was given for Sacrilegium but it has been confirmed for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

What do you think of Sacrilegium and Reality Pump's ambitious plans? It may be too early to tell now but hopefully information will surface soon on this mysterious title.