Developer: MidBoss, LLC
Publisher: MidBoss, LLC
Rrp: £6.99 (Steam) £6.99 (Humblebundle), £10.39 (Gog.com) and $9.99 (Itch.io)
Released: 8th October 2015
Available on Steam, Gog.com, Humblebundle and itch.io
Played using: Mouse and Keyboard
The year is 2064 and technology has progressed to a point where humans can have gene-therapy allowing them to take on more animal like forms. There are also cybernetics and implants available too meaning humans can improve themselves in many ways. Unfortunately all this progress has inspired a protest group who wish to keep humanity ‘pure’, and so tensions in the city run high. Most of the populace have R.O.M’s (Relationship Organisational Manager) which are robots that help deal with the day to day rigors of life.
Our story is set in Neo San Francisco, you play a somewhat out of luck journalist whose life is about to change.
Read Only Memories is a cyberpunk, point and click, mystery, thriller (never thought I’d say that anytime soon), except this isn’t your typical point and click game. Unlike most point and clicks you don’t guide a onscreen character around a given scene, instead this is done in first person… Sort of. I say ‘sort of’ because each location is actually an animated picture set in the first person mode. You interact with the objects within that picture and choose dialog in the dark space below the picture. In a way this reminds me a little of Myst, but only in the vaguest of ways.
It further differentiates itself from most other games within the point and click genre by allowing you to progress the story even if you failed to solve a puzzle or forgot to do something. Each of these mistakes or choices changes the way the games story will play out later on (at least in some ways, I’m not saying it will change everything).
Before you continue reading this review though I must tell you that this game is extremely dialogue heavy and none of it is voice acted (with exception of the introduction video). In fact, it’s the main mechanic for solving problems most of the time.
So if you aren’t willing to read then this game really isn’t for you, which would be a real shame because it’s actually a real treat.
During conversations with some characters you’ll be given multiple options on what to say. Some of these options will yield better results than others, it’s up to you to make a judgement call on what the best approach is depending on who you’re speaking to. For example, some characters respond better to flattery so it’s best to try and flatter them as much as you can, others may need a more heavy handed approach. If you make the optimal choice a chime will sound over the speakers to indicate that.
I do have a few issues with the dialogue system, sometimes it takes a long time to appear even when set to a fast setting. On occasion you find yourself essentially reading a long cutscene because two or three characters are having a conversation that you have little to no input in. Don’t get me wrong, what is said is very engaging and interesting but it really can drag on.
The characters are well realised in their dialog which is sometimes punctuated by sound effects and music (or lack thereof). Add in that each character gets an animated portrait on the side of the screen when they speak and you can really start getting a feel for the emotions they are meant to be feeling.
Ah, the characters. I’ve not seen such a wide variety of characters and designs in quite a long time. Their designs are very clearly inspired by anime, especially the likes of Ghost in the Shell or the Macross series.
Also, I would like budding (and existing) developers to take note. This game shows you how to introduce LGBTQ characters. Not one of the characters feels ‘token’, it’s all written into the world from little things that are said and done. It’s quite refreshing to be surprised to find a character is gay, and then not have the game really even react to it. They just are, that’s it, no reaction or revelation required.
If you downloaded the demo (like I did) the main game will remember your progress and allow you to start from where you left off. What even more impressive is that you can download the demo on Steam and buy the full game on Gog.com and the saves still appear, that was unexpected.
In case you haven’t spotted I kind dig this game, it does help that it fills a little cyberpunk hole in my life, so I guess I can’t be as unbiased as I would like. I was also very surprised at how dark this game got at times, it always shocked me because of the cheery facade it had until that moment.
So yeah, get this game if you want something a little different and story heavy.
If this appeals to you perhaps try;
Shadowgate
Primordia
Snatcher
