Resonance created by Wadjet Eye Games is a throw back to the traditional point and click adventures of 90′s era PC gaming. Although the game looks and feels like a point and click from years ago, there have been some gameplay mechanics and complexity added to the game that was unheard of when point and clicks were in their golden age. Does this title with classical inspirations work amongst modern day titles?
Resonance starts off with the world in shambles after a terrorist attack on a global scale. Targets from the White house to the Vatican have perfect spherical holes blown into them. From there the game backtracks 60 hours earlier before the terrorist attacks. I don’t want to go too much further into the story line, because the story is the highlight of the game and is excellently done. The story has authentic moments of raw emotion and twists of betrayal with plot points featuring conspriacy theories, big brother corporations, and ethically grey questions the player must face. The narrative is quiet mature and will keep you motivated to keep playing to see what will happen next. The story is also told in a unique manner as well. The game features four different characters that you’ll switch between shedding light on different elements of the story.
The mechanics of the game are fairly typical for a point and click game, and can seem a bit clunky and “click heavy” when navigating the inventory which is also typical for the genre. One modern twist of the genre is the ability to recall past event as conversation options. Some characters will respond and talk to you about past events where others will not, it all depends on if that character know what you’re talking about or experienced that event. Players have the same ability using their “Short-term Memory” Players can drag an object of interest in their STM and then bring it us as a conversation options. Both the long term and short term memory features factor into and add depth and complexity to the problem solving in the game.
Speaking of the problem solving, the game is quiet difficult and challenging. You’ll definitely have to use your critical thinking skills to complete the game. I don’t know if I’ve dulled in my intellectual ability as time has gone on, but I used a walkthrough so I could get through most of the game. Some of the games complexity in the puzzles feature the ability to switch between characters. Certain puzzles in the game require you to use certain characters to accomplish tasks that fit with their talents, intellect, or inventory. Puzzle answers also randomly generate themselves which means that passwords to computers or door consoles are never going to be the same. Players cannot memorize door codes to speed through the game, but will need to actually use the puzzle mechanics to reach the solution. The game also features different endings based on player choices.
Resonance is great modern twist on point and click adventure games, but still manages to maintain the heart and feel of the old classics. The difficultly of the game might be steep for some, but if players have the patience or don’t mind using a walkthrough they will experience a gripping and well told story line that is generally missing in most modern games. If you are a point and click adventure fan this is a title you need to look into.
Discover the truth in Resonance here. Demo available here.
