There are a whole bunch of different games out there which promise to give you a truly immersive experience, with each and every decision you make shaping the narrative. Though those claims are often made, it’s actually incredibly rare to find a title that really does offer the “butterfly effect” in-game existence. When it comes to Quantic Dream’s Detroit: Become Human however, audiences will be left second guessing each move they make, eager to play through the adventure all over again following their first run.
In development for a number of years, Detroit had a lot of expectations surrounding its release. Directed and written by Quantic Dream’s studio head David Cage, the game follows in the vein of the studio’s previous releases Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, in that those sitting with the controller in hand will feel as if they’re interacting with a film. This only raises the charm factor for Detroit, enveloping the audience within the plot with ease, and refusing to let up throughout.
Ahead of release, some were worried about the graphical power of Detroit, but the game is honestly one of the most beautiful the PS4 has ever played host to. Facial animation is a joy to behold, with androids showing small but recognisable signs that they’re not one with the human race. Landscapes are gorgeous, and you can easily find yourself getting lost in them as you explore 2038’s Motor City.
Detroit sees the player take control of three different androids – there’s Connor (Bryan Dechant) who’s been sent out on an investigative mission to discover exactly why other androids aren’t doing the work they’re supposed to; Markus (Jesse Williams), who’s looking after a wealthy painter who treats him like one of the family; and Kara (Valorie Curry), a housekeeper who is physically and verbally abused by her owner.
Each actor brings brilliance to their role, with the voice acting provided allowing gamers to really believe in and even relate to the characters at times. They may be androids, but in finding their independence, they become a lot more human than even some of the actual living beings within this world. Some lines are a little clunky and cliché, but on the whole, the team have done a brilliant job of weaving this story together.
Saying too much about what each of the androids get up to would ruin the experience for gamers, but what we can reveal is that making a wrong decision or choice can lead to any of the three characters being killed. Tension is at a high at various points within the game, and you may even find yourself needing to take a breather when you come to the end of each chapter.
When that happens, you’ll be presented with a Flow Chart that showcases just how many different avenues the chapter could have gone down. As you develop your android’s stories, some paths will be greyed out completely, meaning you made a choice in a previous chapter that blocked you from going down that route entirely. Again, this encourages multiple runs through Detroit, without the danger of ever growing bored.
Sony have once again struck gold with this exclusive. It’s a title every gamer worth their salt should consider picking up and running through at least once, and with so many twists and turns, as well as a genuinely compelling storyline and talented cast of actors involved, it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat for hours.
Detroit: Become Human is available now, exclusively on PlayStation 4. A copy of Detroit: Become Human was provided to Female First in exchange for an honest and open review of the game.