Still Life

"A Dark Game"

A Dark Game

Still Life is a game about solving a psychotic serial killer who already murdered four women and you start with his fifth. The game has you controlling Victoria McPherson, an FBI agent solving the murder case. The game seems to be placed during Christmas time and everyone is excited but then there is that serial killer out there. You have to work with a rookie detective who has the brain but not the experience, a crime scene forensic expert who is wise in every aspect and a cop who always make you laugh but is serious in every aspect. Basically, you're looking at a standard Hollywood-type setup like CSI or whatever is on TV right now.

You're looking at a very mature game. The game isn't a “horror” game where you'll be scared out of your mind. To be more precise, the game is “dark” and “mature” in how it is presented. Everywhere you go is dark, creepy and basically a perfect place for a serial killer to do his thing. The problem is, or maybe the beauty of, is that you don't kill or die in this game. All you do is walk, not run, around and solve various puzzles that will ultimately lead you to the killer or something like it. All in all, you're looking at a very straightforward adventure game.

Graphics (9/10)
The graphic is perfect for this game. You have a beautifully rendered background and a very nice character model. It comes with shadow effects and really nice lighting to dim places for the perfect look/feel. I must say that the graphics are almost realistic.

Controls – Menu System/Inventory Management (3/10)
The menu system in this game is absolutely horrendous. First off, the interaction of you and the game world is cumbersome due to the fact of how many steps you must take. For example, if you were to use your card to open up a security door, you have to first click the object, then it will zoom in, you'll have to pick the card from your inventory that will require around 3 additional clicks, then you must use the cursor on the key pad to use the card, and finally, you have to use the cursor again to press the buttons. Now this is way too hard and difficult to do. The steps required to do simple things are really high and unnecessary. I believe they intended to keep the game the same as the computer version; problem is that on the computer you have more easy time since you are using a mouse/keyboard, however, on the xbox you have a controller with limited buttons so you have to press more things to make things work. Personally, I think this game should have a belt or something and then when you click an object or need to use something, all you do is select the object, and then select the thing you need from your belt by pressing LTrigger or something.

Controls – Game World/Movement (8/10)
Only complaint here is that you can't run. I can't figure out how to run and I'm not exactly sure on this. It is kind of annoying to walk every where as some places are rather big. However, what I agree on this is the fact that the aim of this game is “real life” so I guess people don't “run” everywhere. Although I think they should have a faster walking pace option for this. Overall, the controls are really great for the game. Everything is smooth and easy to move around the world. The menu system/inventory management is something else that I don't consider part of the World/Movement.

Game Play – The Story (8/10)
I felt the story was really good and believable for being real, although it is a bit on the traditional approach of a hardcore FBI investigator bent on solving a case. The only thing is that there are a lot of twists and questions about the game. Imagine the movie “SAW” mixed in with “CSI” from TV and a little bit of “Silence of the Lamb,” and then those “Cold Case Files” from A&E channel, and then you'll get this game. Remember, the game focus isn't “horror” in the sense like Resident Evil or Fatal Frame or something like that. The approach of the game is to spook the user into a world and mind of a serial killer and an FBI agent on the case as maturely as possible. You don't ever get to shoot or kill someone in this game and you will never die in the game. You must complete a series of puzzles and find clues. Overall, good game for those who want to step away from the “shoot-em-up” and try out a game where you have to think and get the same “feel” from a common game.

Conclusion (8/10)
The game is very good. I was impressed by the game but the game was kind of short for me. However, the overall experience was great. I won't ruin the story for you here, and I tried to maintain a “common knowledge” approach the reviewing. Anyway, if you like to have a mature game then you will like this game.

Now to break down in Pros/Cons for the game.

Pros
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+ Great story
+ Realistic graphics to a degree
+ Eerie feel to the game about a serial killer
+ Mature game showing dead people and details and all
+ Feel like a real investigator solving a case

Cons
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- Menu system is cumbersome
- You must walk the entire time, no speed walking or running
- Some nudity is in the game of the dead women

Well thank you for reading this, and I hope you are well-informed about the game.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 08/18/05