The Complex Is The Latest Attempt To Bridge The Gap Between Movie And Game
Does anyone remember the classic FMV Tex Murphy games? I sure as hell don’t. I was born the year the first one came out. Geeze, grandpa, get off my internet and let the kids have their fun. In a time when graphics were less visual depictions of people and objects and more vague suggestions, there was a bold trend to try and bridge the gap with actual video footage. Dubbed FMV games (full motion video), this genre has a long if not stellar history. Some of the most memeable moments of yesteryear come from the overacting and bizarre choppy editing of games like Night Trap and Phantasmagoria. While mostly a relic of this experimental adventure game era, we get a new one about every year or so to keep the tradition alive. Her Story, The Bunker, Tex Murphy 6, all show to various degrees that the technique still has some room to grow. With The Complex, Wales Interactive is looking to take the genre to the next level.
If the name Wales Interactive sounds familiar, then you’re probably familiar with their other FMV games The Bunker, Late Shift, The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker, and The Shapeshifting Detective. Wales Interactive is also known for publishing/developing a few other experimental titles, such as Simulacra and Time Carnage (just reminding you that Time Carnage exists, never forget). Their games almost always receive mixed reviews, but deserve a lot of credit for actually trying new things. In a world fo copy-paste AAA yearly releases, I’d much rather play a game that’s unique than one that’s “perfect.”
The Complex tells the tale of Dr. Amy Tenant (Michelle Mylett), a leader in the super-science field of Nanocell Technology. She made a name for herself treating victims of a chemical attack in the fictional state of Kindar. When news of a similar outbreak occurs in London, it’s up to her and her science friends to stop it. But things are not as they seem. There are questions as to the victim’s identities, and what secrets lie within the cavernous hive of laboratories.
As the player, you take the role of Dr. Tenant. It’s up to you to make decisions at key moments. Build relationships with various characters, save certain lives, it all factors into how The Complex plays out. These various paths will lead you to one of eight different endings. The game also tracks your personality, grading you on a scale of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Thanks The Complex, being judged by a video game is just what my anxiety needs!
If this sounds like your kind of jam, you can play/watch The Complex on March 31st. It’s coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Click here to add it to your Steam wishlist.
