Full movement video (FMV) video games are nothing new, however Cuttlefish revamps them in a approach that spices up the immersion for gamers on cell. The interactive recreation places gamers within the footwear of notorious cat burglar Sammy (aka Cuttlefish) as they break into safes, steal diamonds, and outwit would-be pyramid scammers throughout a short-but-sweet 45-minute romp by a warehouse hideout.
However whereas Flavourworks’ TouchVideo expertise is actually a marvel, does the sport have sufficient going for it to make it well worth the restricted area in your cell machine?
CUTTLEFISH VISUALS
Proper off the bat, you will be tasked with slicing by a glass case to nab a diamond the dimensions of a rock, and it is clear from the very starting how the enjoyable heist vibe will play out by the sport. The family-friendly really feel is obvious not solely within the energetic background music and the witty banter but additionally within the recreation’s theme, the place Sammy has to go again residence and reunite together with her childhood buddies to avoid wasting her mum from a shady networking scheme referred to as Frive.
The cinematography is certainly top-notch right here, as every part from digicam angles to lighting results boast high-quality manufacturing worth. The Cuttlefish herself is extraordinarily likeable, due largely to Catherine Garton’s stellar efficiency that mirrors the equally participating performing prowess of the colorful forged round her. Even the extras do fabulous work right here, a lot in order that I truly felt for random receptionists in a villainous lair or that conspiracy theorist dude who wished nothing greater than to see aliens in his lifetime.
That stated, a protagonist is simply ever nearly as good as her antagonist, and rip-off artist Teddy does a wonderful job of thwarting the heroine. I do not wish to spoil the narrative for anybody, however suffice it to say that the story is participating sufficient to make me wish to want I used to be watching an precise quick movie as a substitute of enjoying a recreation.
THE GAMEPLAY OF CUTTLEFISH
This generally is a double-edged sword, to be trustworthy, as whereas it could actually imply that the plot is extremely well-written, it additionally implies that the gameplay itself is not all that participating. All through the title, you will be swiping, tapping, and holding down on the display to select dialogue selections, duck behind containers in stealth mode, and execute heist-y plans.
There’s additionally a pleasant little “bullet time”-esque function the place Sammy will shut in on the atmosphere round her to search for clues to get out of a sticky scenario, just like a Fast Time Occasion however with out the fast time. The freeze-frame impact will provide you with the choice to examine sure gadgets extra intently, reminding me just a little little bit of Batman’s Detective Mode in Arkham video games. You may choose whichever technique you suppose will remedy a specific drawback, then watch as Sammy executes it in stay motion.
This provides a novel layer of immersion to typical choice-based video games, however any determination you make is ok, actually. Selections do not actually make an enormous distinction, however I suppose it additionally feels fairly refreshing within the sense that there is completely no stress to get issues proper. It is an satisfying and stress-free journey that is high-stakes but low-key on the similar time, if that makes any sense.
WHAT’S THE APPEAL?
Having performed Flavourworks’ ERICA on Steam two years in the past, I had a reasonably good impression of what I used to be stepping into with Cuttlefish. However whereas ERICA was a homicide mystery-slash-thriller, Cuttlefish is a extra lighthearted journey that feels extra well-adapted on cell. The intuitive controls are completely optimised on the touchscreen as properly in comparison with the mouse, and the quick runtime makes it splendid for on-the-go avid gamers that are not on the lookout for something too heavy or hardcore.
There is not a lot incentive to replay the entire thing right here, nonetheless, as there’s additionally no quality-of-life function that allows you to skip by dialogues till the purpose the place you will should decide, not like in different choice-based video games. The story is not something groundbreaking both, nevertheless it does supply a novel type of gameplay expertise that is unusual on cell nowadays.
