Blade Runner

"One of landmark titles proving adventure game still lives."

As a fan of the 1982 cult movie classic, I eagerly awaited the release of this game. However, I was a bit reticent in buying it due to the fact that, historically, gamers that were based on movies were usually unsuccessful. Moreover, I was reluctant to pay full price for this game even though Westwood touted it as a ''dynamic, 3D real-time adventure''. Despite these caveats, I am pleased to say that the Blade Runner experience is a surprisingly enjoyable one.

Like the movie, the game is set in the year 2019 Los Angeles. Even though humanity has advanced technologically and has advanced into space, Earth is plagued with pollution and war. Replcants, artificial constructs created by the genetic engineers of the Tyrell Corporation appear human in every way but are used primarily for off-world slave labor due to their superior strength and intelligence. However, becaused they mutinied they were declared illegal on Earth and were sentenced to death. This resulted in Blade Runner units, whose chief responsibilities were the tracking and elimination of tresspassing Replicants.

In this game, you are a Blade Runner named Ray McCoy. Assigned to a grisly animal murder case (real animals were rare), Ray is sent to investigate a possible Replicant connection. The plot thickens and Ray is led into a tangled web of deceit and intrigue ... all of the elements of a genuine murder mystery. What I found interesting in this game was its focus on random elements. Things constantly change. While most adventure games tend to be linear in nature where you have to solve the puzzle before going forward, Blade Runner creates the scenarios on the fly. Each character is busy doing their own things, worried about their own agendas. It is up to the player to make sense of the situation. This allows the player to deal with the problem as he is playing the game. The result is that there are multiple solutions to the problem.

Moreover, how the player reacts in dealing with each character is important. For example, the player may question the Replicant in a ruthless or sympathetic manner. The way he asks the question generates a different set of answers. Therefore, the choices the player makes may have a serious impact on the story. As a result, these choices may lead to very surprising endings. What I especially enjoyed was the fact that each ending was the result of a series of twisting development paths. This was one of the very few adventure games that I wanted to play again. Blade Runner is truly unique among other adventure games in this respect.

While the non-linear aspect to this game was almost revolutionary, I was frustrated at the conversation engine. The player is given the choice of one of four default conversation modes. These make Ray act in a certain way when talking to the characters. This results in limiting the interactive nature of the game. While this is limited only to the software designer's imagination, it does detract from Westwood's promise of delivering a dynamic 3D real-time adventure.

But the game's quality does overcome this slight problem. The plot is complex. In addition, the game certainly does justice to the movie by liberally incorporating much of its atmosphere. Much of the background noise brings about images of the seedy and futuristic Los Angeles underground. Like the movie, the game also allows the Blade Runner to take advantage of the tools of his trade. As a mystery game, much of the game is spent collecting valuable clues. The player is equipped with a device called a KIA, which allows him to organize and make sense of the clues. Moreover, our old friend ESPER, a device that scans and scrutinizes photographs is also in the game. Information gathering, howeiver, also plays a vital role as well as gathering physical evidence. Sometimes advancing in the game is simply a matter of asking the right questions at the right time. This may lead to frequent stumbling blocks. However, because there are so many ways to solve the problem, the frustration factors is reduced.

There also action sequences in the game. These generally involve shootouts with other characters. Although Ray can draw his gun at anytime, there are only few avenues where he can legitimately use it. Drawing your gun at the wrong time may produce undesirable results.

The graphics are beautiful. The scenes are shot mainly from a third-person perspective. Smoke and fog wisp from the vents and creep along the ground while strobe lights flash on and off. Wandering people come in and out of the scene as a steady drizzle of rain falls on the polluted streets. It's bleak and dreary, adding much to the mood and feel. When I first saw the movie, I was impressed by the director's skillful usage of atmosphere to enhance the story. The game is much like the movie in that it almost faithfully captures the atmosphere.

Blade Runner is fun to play and has a compelling story. For those who enjoy a good mystery while also wishing for a decent adventure, this is a game well worth investing your time and money.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 05/31/00, Updated 08/07/01