Quantum Break

"Quantum Break" stands out as a bold experiment in gaming, blending traditional gameplay with an interactive TV show to deliver a narrative experience like no other. This game isn't just about shooting; it's about weaving a compelling story around the complex theme of time travel.

The narrative is where "Quantum Break" truly shines. The time travel mechanics are well thought out, providing a refreshing take on the genre with its closed loop theory. Characters like Beth Wilder add a human element to the sci-fi, making you care about their fates amidst the chaos. The live-action segments, although a bit of a mixed bag, give the characters a tangible presence, enhancing the emotional investment in the story.

While the combat might not push the envelope in terms of innovation or difficulty, it's satisfying once you master the unique time manipulation abilities. This isn't your typical run-and-gun; it's about strategy, timing, and making the most of your powers in creative ways. The environmental storytelling through collectibles and detailed world-building is top-notch, rewarding those who delve deeper into the lore.

Visually, "Quantum Break" is a treat. The game's art direction captures the essence of a world where time is literally breaking apart, with environments that feel both futuristic and hauntingly present. The integration of live-action scenes might not always blend seamlessly, but they contribute to the game's unique aesthetic.

This game deserves credit for its ambition. Trying to merge gameplay with episodic television was a gamble, but it resulted in a memorable experience. It's not perfect, but it's a pioneering effort in interactive storytelling that should be celebrated for what it achieves rather than where it falls short.

The player's choices, although they don't drastically alter the game's path, still offer an engaging layer of interaction. It's fun to see how your decisions can slightly shift the narrative or the live-action episodes, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes.

"Quantum Break" is a testament to Remedy's storytelling prowess. For those who love a good sci-fi yarn with characters that stick with you, this game is a must-play. If you're a fan of Remedy or just enjoy a well-crafted story with a dash of innovation, "Quantum Break" won't disappoint.

You can tell how hard the developers were working to make this an intensely story rich game. A lot of effort was put into the look, sound, level design and lots of top notch voice acting. I have never seen a game with a tv show embedded in it like this one.

BUT....

Where Alan Wake succeeds I feel like this game fails. They took the same cludgy controls from Alan Wake and copied them into this game. I found myself at times trying to keep my character from getting to close to an edge and falling or not quite being able to jump up to a ledge because I was slightly misaligned to it. Where I could overlook this in Alan Wake for some reason I couldn't in this game, maybe because it was like Alan Wake was your first chance learn from those mistakes.

Don't get me wrong, Alan Wake is one of my all time favorite games and this one is definitely on my to replay again down the road. I just wish the game mechanics matched the ambition of the storytelling.

Fantastically well crafted with stunning graphics and visual elements 'Quantum Break' is a joy to play. There's downsides such as poor enemies and to an extent minimal control information but on the whole the mechanics of the gameplay are pretty solid. An Xbox one exclusive grande this isn't enough of a 'killer app' to justify the purchase of the system but it's worth taking some form of interest in with a brilliant story which always seems to feel grounded despite dealing with a relatively high concept subject matter. Relying fairly heavily on the choices made as Paul Serene (Aidan Gillen) the unfolding story is told in such minute yet astounding detail and is seriously impressive as you change the world that being created through a rather sin mole mechanic of Option A or Option B, seeming a gimmick they truly do have impact and can alter how you play and what's available to the gameplay function as opposed to a merely cosmetic image. On the whole greatly detailed and entertaining I highly recommend watching a play through or picking it up yourself

Remedy's Max Payne games are still a high point for the genre and they have been on a slight decline ever since. Quantum Break is better than Alan Wake's: American Nightmare but they again put production values over everything else. I would have preferred less motion blur during the calmer segments and a reduced grain filer but the audiovisual quality of the game can't be denied. The same goes for most of the set-pieces but the game reuses a lot of locations and thus feels a bit "small". The shooting and enemy variety could have been better as i was just going through the motions despite finishing the game on hard. The game ultimately stands and fall with the narrative / presentation and it is as expensive as it is forgettable. I had fun following along but predicted every plot point and don't expect to remember much, despite the high amount of flavor text. The branching paths have no real effect on the game and the packed in 4 TV episodes left me cold for the most part. The .hack series did the same trick over a decade ago with the slightly forgettable companion OVAs but these at least had production values. I can 100% recommend the game for the spectacle of it all but hope for less formula and tighter gameplay for the developer's next offering. 7,5/10

If it wasn't for 2020 quarantine, I probably would never give a shot this gem and that would be a poor decision... It's been a while since I've seen a good story driven action game on PC... In fact there were very few decent sci fi action games in the past 5 years at all.. So yes with best video card on the market this game performs ok and the story is amazing... Although it's not the best graphics of 2020, it's still pretty good 4 years later, the gameplay is a joy although completely linear, the story isn't though...