This "game" certainly deserves more recognition and exposure than what it currently has. I may be a bit biased as I enjoy interactive FMV experiences such as this, but even looking at it from a neutral point of view, the amount of thought and design that went into creating this is VERY impressive considering the technical limitations of 1996. The choices you make affect the story so seamlessly and I noticed on my second playthrough that scenes have subtle changes (each scene was shot multiple times for different choices you make as the viewer) which is brilliant and way ahead of its time. The TATs or questionnaires you take are different for each playthrough, and if you pay close attention during your exploration of the Overton house, the character's journal entries and reactions are determined by your choices. It's quite amazing how this makes the story feel alive and under your influence; it made the replayability high with a fresh perspective. As for the story itself, it's has a very well written script with plenty of mysteries which can be uncovered at your discretion. The actors involved gave a good performance, and I found myself believing that John Hurt was an actual therapist -- a clear sign that I was immersed in the world. It doesn't shy away from exploring deep and sometimes dark places of the human psyche, and reveals that people in the 90's really weren't very different from people today -- we are still struggling with emotional and mental health crises that deserve the attention of our society rather than disdain. As for the technical aspects, I had to change the compatibility of the exe to "Windows Vista" and turn off "full screen optimizations" which allowed me to play with no problems. The exploration animations can get old, but you can turn them off in the map menu which is good. The one thing I disliked was the resolution of the video -- quite low even for DVD -- but it is bearable. Overall, if you like a good story, this was made for you!
