3 ... 2 ... 1... Action!
In addition to the conversations and environmental commands there are also some action sequences. When you are climbing or lifting weights, you have to press the L and R triggers or make motions with the control stick. Other sections of the game, such as during a fight or when your character has to avoid enemies, a “Simon Says” type game appears. You have to follow onscreen commands that tell you to press the control sticks in different directions. It isn’t a memory based game and you can actually press the stick right when the command appears, but the sequences are very fast which really adds to the tension and excitement.
All of these elements add up to create one of the deepest and coolest experiences around. The controls and your actions are far simpler than most games, but what you do has a huge and far reaching effect on everything around you which is just really, really cool. The storyline and character development are outstanding and the gameplay is absolutely compelling which all combines to make Indigo Prophecy one of the best videogame experiences available.
Far From Perfect
Indigo Prophecy is far from perfect, however. There are serious issues with character movement and camera control that really get in the way of enjoying the game. The game desperately wants to be a movie so the camera jumps around a lot. The controls reset every time the camera moves, so pressing up to walk up stairs changes to pressing down when the camera changes to go in the same direction (but of course you’re still pressing up which causes you to walk back down the stairs). Also, the characters move extremely sluggishly and the controls aren’t very responsive so quickly changing directions is basically impossible. You’ll want to turn and walk right but your character will keep walking straight or left for a few extra steps, for example. Another complaint is that the action sequences are more hindrance than help to the overall experience because it is downright frustrating to fail a sequence because you can’t mash buttons fast enough or keep up with the twisted game of Simon. These sequences are designed to break up the slow pace of the investigation segments, but the story and investigation are so good that they really didn’t need to be broken up.
Graphics and Sound
One weak area of Indigo Prophecy is definitely the graphics. The graphics aren’t really all that important when you consider that the focus of this game is on the story rather than precision shooting, but it is hard to ignore the poor animation and blurry … everything. Some things look quite nice such as the faces of the characters, but for the most part this game is anything but pretty.
The sound, on the other hand, is extremely well done. The voice acting, which is so important in a game like this, is absolutely perfect and the dialogue is well written and believable. Accompanying all of the tension and drama is a fantastic soundtrack that is at all times perfectly paired with the events unfolding onscreen.
Bottom Line
Indigo Prophecy is one of the best gaming experiences of the year, but it isn’t without some flaws. The interweaving storyline featuring characters you really care about is the star of the show, but the exploration and investigation elements that give you an incredible amount of control over every situation really seal the deal. What makes everything you do so incredibly interesting is that every decision you make has an impact on what happens down the road. That is huge and keeps you hooked the entire time. There are some pretty big issues, however. Character movement and camera control is pretty much horrible which can get frustrating. I’m also not fond of the button mashing action sequences. The graphics could also have been much better. Most of all, though, is that this definitely isn’t a game for everyone. The pacing and storytelling style won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, so I recommend renting it before buying. For those that “get it”, Indigo Prophecy is a fantastic experience that is worth having in your collection.
