Developer: Sam Barlow, Half Mermaid
Steam Deck Compatibility?: Verified
Rrp: £15.49 (Gog.com) and £16.75 (Steam)
Content warning: This game contains mentions and depictions of rape as well as nudity. If either of these subjects cause discomfort please don’t engage with this game.
Several years ago I reviewed a game called Her Story which was created by Sam Barlow, since then he has created a studio called Half Mermaid that seem to specialise in FMV games. Or more specifically FMV games where you seek a narrative through viewing footage.
In this game you’re trying to work out what happened to Marissa Marcel, an actress who was the star of three films, none of which were ever released, and then disappeared. You aren’t just viewing scenes and clips from the films though, you also get to view behind the scene shots, casting calls and interviews. While most scenes won’t directly provide you answers, no scene is truly wasted because from within those scenes you can click on props and the actors faces which will take you to another scene, potentially revealing something new.
It’s hard to speak of this game without spoiling something about it. Even speaking on the mechanics is something of a spoiler. That being said, this is game of many layers. There is more going on than the story of these films or even or Marissa.
There are several things about this game that impress me, not least of which is the fact that the films look and sound like they were filmed in the era’s they are meant to have been filmed in (those being the late sixties, the early seventies and nineteen ninety nine). This includes some slightly muddy audio, lower camera quality and of course cinematography that matches the time.
If you like a mystery that doesn’t just give you the answers I think this might be just the thing you’re seeking. However, as I said at the top this game features depictions of rape and nudity, and because it’s an FMV game it might be more impactful than other media.
