Games that break down the barriers of what constitutes a genre can often become famous for what they can do to improve gameplay. And when it comes to story-based games, As Dusk Falls builds on its predecessors and manages to top what it could have achieved.
Born from former Quantic Dream developers, indie studio Interior Night is behind As Dusk Falls. The game captures the heaviness and weight that defines these narrative experiences. However, the combination of this compelling story, a unique art style, choices that seem important, and the parallels it shares with some of TV’s best series means that As Dusk Falls surpasses much of what has come before. And all because Interior Night is doing its job, breaking down the barriers to what an interactive narrative game can be.
While most interactive games focus on realism or storytelling with a more stylistic visual framework, As Dusk Falls combines the two.
The result is a beautiful flipbook-style game where the real actors playing the game characters are filmed live and then painted to give the game its own visual flair. These individual character shots are then combined in a classic comic style, putting As Dusk Falls in a whole different category.
And while you might be wondering why Interior Dark didn’t stick to the tried-and-tested FMV format, after six hours of gameplay you’ll understand why this creative decision was the right one for As Dusk Falls.
And that’s because it gives more and more free rein to your imagination. Because I don’t directly control the characters using simple button commands and quick events to navigate the story, this style forces you to step back and fill in the gaps between each action or dialogue option as to what a character does.
It got me through six digestible episodes and kept me from staring at my phone or getting bored playing a scene, which is exactly what creative director Caroline Marchal started doing. It is not limited to the easily accessible styles that the genre has used before. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but if you can get through all the pre-orders, you won’t find a better experience on Xbox Game Pass.
As I witness this story of two families of Holts and Walkers whose lives intertwine in a single day in Two Rock, Arizona, I find myself becoming more and more involved with the characters and their journeys.
Part of that was due to the excellent cast, which really helped sell the serious story of death, loss, and life as told by As Dusk Falls. While some narrative games struggle because flickering face animations are distracting, the visual style solves half the problem. And the writing here is also top-notch, contributing to Marchal’s lofty ambition to bring fans of crime dramas into the world of gaming.
The other reason for the success of As Dusk Falls is that all of the decisions in this incredibly human story are cohesive and far-reaching. From momentary minor changes to consequences that occur throughout the game, every decision has a lasting impact on the characters around you and their relationships with each other.
But do not get me wrong; these decisions are not just one-dimensional or black and white. In two separate games, me and editor Jess Wells found ourselves in completely different situations, and that’s because our instincts tell us to act very differently as the story progresses.
A character’s fate was at stake in different ways due to the decisions we made earlier, leading to different outcomes in the latter part of the game. In fact, Jess visited a very different location and plot due to decisions she made, which I have never seen before.
Even the simple decisions you make in the introduction have far-reaching consequences, and you’ll need to think deeply about each option. For example, in the opening moments of the play, Vince and Michelle plan to raise their daughter Zoe for a year in school.
I chose to support this decision, but it – understandably – affected his development and made him more introverted as the game progressed. Also, if you choose a different path, you might miss this option altogether.
It’s clear that Interior Night’s accomplishments are impressive. This style of play has always struggled to make your decisions matter, but the more I think about it, the more I think As Dusk Falls is perhaps the first linear game of its kind to deliver on the promise of a story shaped by you. the decisions.
The game satisfies your thirst for these different options by presenting a detailed story tree at the end of each chapter showing how your decisions led to events. It’s the butterfly effect at its finest, but the gray areas of decisions you didn’t make are an impressive show of strength that will keep you coming back again and again.
The game goes one step further by attributing your dialogue choices and actions to features that give you an idea of how you play the game; Are you analytical, looking for a fight, in love or someone who thinks with their head before their heart?
And these ideas stand out because the story of As Dusk Falls is based on human experience. It’s not about tackling moral issues, it focuses entirely on these two families and the events that bind their lives together. And so you can easily put yourself in everyone else’s shoes because anything you see in the game can happen to you.
And if you play the game as you would in real life, this information Interior Night offers you can reveal new details about your basic principles. All of my traits and values - even though I was placed in difficult scenarios – made this one of my favorite parts of the game.
It’s these systems combined with a stunning story that make As Dusk Falls one of the best in its class. While there are a few weak points here, the gripping story, recognizable characters, consistent decisions, and unique art style make the game one of the best interactive adventures of the year.
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Source : The Load Out
