Dead Synchronicity Preview

Congratulations to Fictiorama Studios Kickstarter is funded for there new game Dead Synchronicity.

It’s nice that in recent years, the Point-and-Click Adventure game genre has had somewhat of a comeback. Though there haven’t really been any real classics in this modern era, there’s been a lot of new experimentation and hype surrounding them, partially due to the success of The Walking Dead and partially due to the emergence of Kickstarter.

And it’s from the depths of Kickstarter that Dead Synchronicity comes. An old-school graphic adventure set in a dystopian, chaotic world, it aims to tell a deep, mature story through an expressionist 2D graphics style. Taking inspiration from classic adventure games of the past in its interface, the dark, violent plot seems more reminiscent of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream than it does Monkey Island. Endorsed by industry and genre-specific veterans Tim Schafer and Charles Cecil, this tale of time distortions and totalitarianism will definitely be made, as it’s already passed its Kickstarter goal, but having tried it out is it worth your well-earned investment?

In short; yes.

The first thing you notice on booting the demo is that it’s got a lot of very clear aesthetic and aural choices to show. The sheer amount of style on offer is immense. The intro blends the expressionist 2D graphics with what seems like modified photographs, original music and mock-news reports to give a real feel of what’s to come. Throwing you right into the character of Michael afterwards, you discover the world through his amnesiac eyes.

The few characters you encounter in this limited preview include a homeless former businessman, who explains the “New World” to you through jaded eyes, and “The Hunter”, both of which are completely unique, interesting characters, but which bot fit right into the setting. They’re reminiscent of the characterisation which made 90’s point-and-clicks so fantastic, and if it’s a sign of things to come I’m damn excited to see who else there is to discover.

The story is also immediately gripping, avoiding the stereotypes often seem in similar stories. The concept of the “Great Wave” isn’t initially that original, but the aftermath scenario isn’t something we’ve really seen in gaming to yet. The game basically takes place in a prison or concentration camp, tackling social and political issues, and frankly I’m glad that they have the guts to do so. The use of a non-zombie plague is also interesting, with much of the subject matter feeling like it’s going to be more like proper old-school sci-fi than its modern equivalent.

The graphic style is well-executed, though arguably the in-game animation needs a little polish. Sound-wise though, the only word you can use to describe it would be “Wow”. With funk and rock influences, the music is flawlessly written and consistently interesting. This is one game that deserves a proper soundtrack release.

All in all, Dead Synchronicity is shaping up to be a real classic, combining the horror seen in modern adventure games with the solid interface design of yesteryear. It needs a bit of polish and a load more content, but I’m definitely looking forward to playing the finished product, due for release later in 2014.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=237554924