Blade Runner

This game is still as good as it was when it was originally launched. Would have been nice if they were able to sharpen up some of the graphics, but the retro feel is nice

This game really does worship the movie - which is great for fans of the movie as I am, but there's a caveat. This game takes place concurrently with the original movie - which makes the story a little weird. Deckard's story is going on at the same time and sometimes the player comes into a glancing contact with that. It's fun but it also makes the events in the movie and the game seem to lack gravity. After all the replicants here seem blissfully unaware of Roy Batty's efforts for example despite appearing in many of the same locations as the replicants here. Then the locations and even some characters are from the movie while others are fabricated or altered which is jarring. The game basically recreates all the movie scenes for the player, again subtly altering their meaning in both. And finally your character - McCoy - well, his script is more like something out of a Monkey Island game. Too many wisecracks that fall flat. I guess this could all have been improved if they'd spent longer in the game establishing the characters and story - as it is, this is probably a 6 hour game for the first play through. Much less if you choose to replay and there is some replayability on offer - the game isn't 100% scripted and it is possible to get the end having missed parts. In terms of the gameplay, by todays standards it's basically a pixel hunt game - move the cursor around the screen looking for it to turn green and then click. There's no inventory management, no real need to read/listen to the clues collected or deduce anything. Even the dialogue is selected automatically unless the user changes mode which gives the illusion of interactivy - ultimately the player still just selects the approriate dialogue options. So it's really a story progression game only which is fine if you're a fan of blade runner and want to re-run the movie with a slightly different story. It's not terrible, but it doesn't stand with the great adventure games of the past.

It's up there with Grim Fandango as one of the more memorable point and click games I've ever played. Truly amazing and a tragedy to see Westwood Studios gone to the ages.

+ ATMOSPHERE + Great characters + Writing + Multiple endings + Intuitive gameplay + Audio - Low fps animations - One sewer rat encounter - No subtitles (can be modded)

I purchased this game back when it was originally released, I still own the 4 disc's. I played it through successfully with different outcomes. It was a great game then, and I'm sure it will be again. (on Linux.) Will be the perfect Christmas present to myself.