Nobody Wants to Die GBAtemp review
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Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): July 17, 2024
- Release Date (EU): July 17, 2024
- Publisher: PLAION
- Developer: Critical Hit Games
- Genres: RPG
- Also For: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
New York, 2329. Mortality Department Detective James Karra is assigned to retrieve the ichorite from the corpse of Mr. Green, one of the city’s most influential persons. Despite the lethal outcome of the case, Green’s ichorite - a digital encoding of his consciousness - will allow him to see another day in a new body. That’s just what’s possible in 2329. Nobody wants to die and you don’t have to; if you can afford the fees…
However, Green’s case turns out to be more than what it seems. His ichorite has been permanently damaged - meaning permanent death, even for the rich and famous. Detective Karra decides to investigate further, which leads him on the trail of a serial killer and a case more personal than he thought.
Cyberpunk New York
We’ve had our fair share of cyberpunk video games to the point that such virtual universes tend to become cliched or even monotonous. However, Nobody Wants to Die’s version of 2329 New York manages to stand out. It’s not only the stunning visuals rendered in Unreal Engine 5, but developer Critical Hit Games concocts a compelling mix of noir and cyberpunk aesthetics. The result is something akin to Bioshock meets Cyberpunk 2077.
Dystopian New York is chock-full of people crammed in neo-lit towers as far as the eye can see. Wealth inequality is exacerbated to such a degree that the disadvantaged even have to rent out their own bodies to make ends meet. Amidst the cyberpunk backdrop, citizens of this future ride hovering cars designed after vehicles from the 1950s; they host parties abroad Zeppelins; and use typewriter-styled desktops for work. Such a unique retrofuture presentation perpetuates throughout the game’s detailed landscapes, adding some originality to Nobody Wants to Die.
Critical Hit Games also added a cinematic presentation to the game, with seamless transitions between gameplay and cutscenes. This is supplemented by professional voice acting and an atmospheric soundtrack that adds an apt gloomy, noir vibe to the experience.
However, Nobody Wants to Die sometimes feels like it's trying too hard to hammer in the noir aspect. It leans on the detective stereotype, a grumpy male with a substance abuse problem who likes to indulge in lengthy cynical monologues.
Despite its stunningly-depicted environments, there aren’t many NPCs that you see or interact with. When you do, it’s only for a few minutes at most, and most communications are done over radio. Having some more characters to interact with would have enhanced the presentation by making it more memorable. That said, the NPCs you do engage over audio do have interesting and original personalities.
Nobody Wants to Die: a combat-free cyberpunk noir adventure
Despite its premise, Nobody Wants to Die is a completely combat-free game. While there are some shooting sequences, you won’t be actively using your gun. Instead, you’ll help Detective Karra progress in his investigation. You will have to explore your surroundings, investigate and analyse clues and even make decisions that alter the course of the game.
While most exploration is done in first-person in a point-and-click fashion, I wouldn’t necessarily term Nobody Wants to Die as a walking sim. This is because there is more than just exploration involved. As a detective, Karra has high-tech equipment that allows him to reconstruct past events in holographic fashion. Reconstruction requires the gathering of sufficient clues and once completed, Karra can play and rewind a scene to further identify suspicious elements.
He also has other tools such as portable UV and X-ray scanners that further aid in investigations. This sci-fi detective mechanic, which shares some similarities with elements of Detroit Become Human, complements the presentation.
Another interesting mechanic is that of making hypotheses. Instead of a wall-mounted board with red threads, Karra projects holograms on the floor in order to analyse clues collected from a scene to make a hypothesis. Finding clues adds a layer of challenge, although you do have access to optional hints that point you in the right direction. There is an initial learning curve to some mechanics, especially when needing to make a hypothesis.
Further challenges come in the form of in-game decisions. Some actions and conversation choices can lead to different outcomes and other conversation prompts. Eventually, these lead to one of the four endings you experience in a playthrough. While the choices are not often morally ambiguous, they do up the stakes as you aren’t sure which decision will lead to a certain outcome.
Somebody will have to make a choice
Nobody Wants to Die is a visually stunning RPG with an original cyberpunk noir premise. Throughout its 6-hour of gameplay, I wanted to be able to explore more of its detailed vistas. However, the game does not allow for much exploration beyond confined scenes. While there are some scenes in hovering cars, you are not able to drive in a New York in the far future. Despite Karra’s monologues while overlooking towering skyscrapers, you are not free to explore what the city has to offer. In this sense, it feels limiting and this is due to the scope of the game, even if it invites the player to engage more with its intriguing universe.
Even if there are some challenges to in-game decisions and finding clues, Nobody Wants to Die isn’t particularly challenging. Having more morally ambiguous choices and offering less of a hand-holding experience overall would make for a more enticing experience.
Despite such limitations, the universe is engrossing and the mystery is captivating. Being in the thick of it, with meaningful in-game decisions, further makes for a memorable experience. While the diverging paths are limited, they do entice replays and make for an engaging gameplay. Overall, Nobody Wants to Die is a promising debut from Critical Hit Games and I hope they allow gamers to revisit this universe with more freedom of exploration.
Nobody Wants to Die | Trailer
Verdict
- Compelling presentation mixing noir and cyberpunk themes
- Original reconstruction and hypothesis-making mechanic
- Stunning visuals
- Limited challenge
- Some cliched noir beats
- Exploration is restricted despite engrossing universe
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