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DREAMFALL CHAPTERS (PS4)
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Publisher: Deep Silver.
Developer: Red Thread Games. Released: May 2017. Genre: Narrative Adventure. Other versions: PC; XONE. Posted 15th April 2021. By Tom Clare © 2021 |
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Long waits for sequels are nothing new: just ask any long-suffering fan of Shenmue, Psychonauts or Streets of Rage. Sometimes, this results in unattainable expectations. Sometimes, the opposite is the case and gamers are simply relieved to be getting another dose of their favourite series. Dreamfall Chapters represents the belated culmination of a decade-long wait for the series’ third instalment, a follow-on from the cliffhanger events we were left to stew over from the finale of 2006’s Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. For its part, D:TLJ was a notable if flawed adventure. Stylish visuals and ambitious settings were neutered somewhat by a lack of gameplay direction, whilst its complicated narrative was rather undone by a combination of poor writing and ropey voicing. Chapters is a whole different animal, however. Red Thread managed to fix more or less everything that was wrong with the previous game, transforming a reasonable adventure into an altogether more cohesive, atmospheric cracker.
Continuing a world-hopping story split between two protagonists, Chapters resumes with Zoë Castillo awakening from a coma, but suffering memory loss. Living in Propast, a wonderfully-realised military dystopia, Zoë’s struggles to remember her past result in something of an identity crisis. But it’s less listless and mopey than the beginnings of the 2006 game. It’s in the player’s hands whether she attempts to reconnect with her previous life, or tries to forge a new path. Continuing the sci-fi/fantasy duality, a parallel narrative centres on the magic-versus-science struggle of Arcadia, where Kian Alvane awaits execution at the hands of his own people. The plot thickens as he is sprung from his prison by the very rebels he had fought against.
Propast is a superb, futuristic fusion of cultures, whilst the backdrop of military police and curfews lend the city an edge
Continuing a world-hopping storyline that’s split between two protagonists, Chapters resumes as Zoë Castillo awakens from a coma but suffering memory loss. Living in Propast, a wonderfully realised military dystopia, Zoë’s struggles to remember her past result in something of an identity crisis. But it’s less listless and mopey than the beginnings of the 2006 game. It’s in the player’s hands whether she attempts to reconnect with her previous life, or tries to forge a new path. Continuing the sci-fi/fantasy duality, a parallel narrative centres on the magic-versus-science struggle of Arcadia, where Kian Alvane awaits execution at the hands of his own people. The plot thickens as he is sprung from his prison by the very rebels he had fought against.
Dreamfall Chapters retains and indeed builds upon its predecessor’s finest elements. Visually, it’s truly beautiful. Propast makes for a superb fusion of cyberpunk aesthetics with giant billboards, flea markets, drone-filled skies and a grimy, neon-drenched waterfront. You’ll find citizens arguing about upcoming elections, protestors facing off against armed militia, security checkpoints barring passage to certain areas and signs of the public becoming addicted to corporate dream machines, lending things a menacing undercurrent. Whilst predominantly narrative-driven, Chapters has a knack for capturing small details, delivering some enjoyable exploration elements and a smattering of decent puzzles. At one stage, Zoë must make creative use of a droid to ring a ferry bell, removing an obstructive boat from the dock. Elsewhere, her detective skills are put to good use in tracking down data transmissions using an ocular app or finding keys that grant access to the sewer network under the city.
Dreamfall Chapters retains and indeed builds upon its predecessor’s finest elements. Visually, it’s truly beautiful. Propast makes for a superb fusion of cyberpunk aesthetics with giant billboards, flea markets, drone-filled skies and a grimy, neon-drenched waterfront. You’ll find citizens arguing about upcoming elections, protestors facing off against armed militia, security checkpoints barring passage to certain areas and signs of the public becoming addicted to corporate dream machines, lending things a menacing undercurrent. Whilst predominantly narrative-driven, Chapters has a knack for capturing small details, delivering some enjoyable exploration elements and a smattering of decent puzzles. At one stage, Zoë must make creative use of a droid to ring a ferry bell, removing an obstructive boat from the dock. Elsewhere, her detective skills are put to good use in tracking down data transmissions using an ocular app or finding keys that grant access to the sewer network under the city.
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The player's early choices significantly impact Zoë's story, including where she works and who she meets along the way
Scripting, pacing and story direction are all much-improved. Whilst there’s still a bit of a bedding-in period near the beginning, there’s a lot more impetus to the story than the last game. The adventure is split into five chapters, with the integration of a few more modern traits, such as branching options that not only affect the fates and relationships of the main players, but also gameplay paths. This means that Chapters is good for a second playthrough.
Red Thread deserves a lot of credit for its strong world-building, as well as the skill and maturity with which it explores topical issues such as racial prejudice, sexuality and freedom. These exchanges aren’t overbearing, but help give depth to the worlds the characters inhabit. It’s heartening to see an adventure creating atmosphere and intrigue, without resorting to violence or shock tactics. Wisely, the occasional but clunky combat sections that punctuated Dreamfall: The Longest Journey have been left on the shelf this time around.
Red Thread deserves a lot of credit for its strong world-building, as well as the skill and maturity with which it explores topical issues such as racial prejudice, sexuality and freedom. These exchanges aren’t overbearing, but help give depth to the worlds the characters inhabit. It’s heartening to see an adventure creating atmosphere and intrigue, without resorting to violence or shock tactics. Wisely, the occasional but clunky combat sections that punctuated Dreamfall: The Longest Journey have been left on the shelf this time around.
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Not everything’s perfect. There are one or two moments in Propast where, quite abruptly, you’re left with no idea as to where to go next. In the old point ‘n’ click way, solutions sometimes only come as a result of exhausting the available options, rather than leading the player to a rational deduction. Whilst the story begins to tie things together quite nicely, the finale throws in a couple of half-hearted to-be-resolved elements which are unsatisfying and unnecessary. It’s also worth noting that the story caters somewhat to those who’ve experienced the two previous games. A picture board puzzle is quite tricky if you haven’t played 1999 original The Longest Journey: it involves the player having to recreate a chronological timeline of its story.
Dreamfall Chapters is a superb sequel, fixing the broken bits and evolving the areas in which the 2006 instalment showed promise. It’s a much more mature, professional and polished endeavour all-round. The modern narrative adventure structure suits the series really well and for fans, this should prove a satisfying and deserving send off for a series that got its house in order in time for its finale.
Dreamfall Chapters is a superb sequel, fixing the broken bits and evolving the areas in which the 2006 instalment showed promise. It’s a much more mature, professional and polished endeavour all-round. The modern narrative adventure structure suits the series really well and for fans, this should prove a satisfying and deserving send off for a series that got its house in order in time for its finale.
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VERDICT
"...for fans, a satisfying and deserving send off for a series that got its house in order in time for its finale. It makes giant strides in key areas, turning a promising but flawed adventure into an atmsopheric cracker" OVERALL: 8/10 |