"While you're basically point-and-clicking your way through a movie, there is still something about it . . ."

OK, I played this in June of 2004 - so I am adjusting for the fact that the graphics are about 5 years old or more . . .

The Blade Runner movie - you loved it or you hated it. Let me tell you this right now - if you thought the movie was overrated, you probably won't like this game! But, as someone who enjoyed the movie, I liked the game for the degree to which it really caught the look and feel of the movie. In fact, the look is so dead on it really makes you feel like you are in the movie! Particularly good was the setting in Sebastian's rain-leaking hotel. Straight out of the movie! The graphics, which are pre-rendered 3D, hold up well with age, with the exception of the models themselves, which are highly aliased and move in that over-animated style reminiscent of the early Resident Evil games.

As I alluded to in the title, however, this is only a game in the loosest sense. You are really just travelling between many different locations to talk to people and pick up stuff so you can trigger the events that will tell you the story and move you through the game. It is an interesting story, and you really can change the direction it travels and even major aspects of the characters and the ending simply by which decisions you make along the way. It is about the only thing in the game that may give you a reason to play more than once.

It is standard third-person point-and-click fare. You are a Blade Runner investigating the murder of several pets in a pet store. You believe it is the work of Replicants (androids who appear completely human and can only be determined by a psychological exam to be man or machine). And so the investigation begins. At each setting, you will move the cursor around until you find something to click on - then, an item will go into your inventory which you will carry for the rest of the game but never use or reference again. The exception are several photo-disks, which you will take to a machine to scan and enlarge portions of photos to find clues - this was one of the neatest parts of the game, but you only did it in the early parts of the game. You get to shoot about three people and a handful of rats.

And that's about it. But, the strength of the game is in the setting and atmosphere - which again you will like or dislike depending on your familiarity with and enjoyment of the movie itself.

Bear in mind, this game was released before the ratings system really came into place - as such, there is a lengthy section which takes place in a strip bar and includes topless dancers (with one in a live-action FMV sequence). While there is no complete nudity (aside from one distant photo on a wall), it is still pretty racy if you are easily turned off by such stuff.

So, did I like it. Yes, I think so - but I doubt I'll play it again. It was worth the $10 or under price I paid for it. It is old enough to show up in any half-price store that sells games - don't pay more than $10 for it, and you may find something you like. Keep in mind, you could finish it off in one long night if you tried.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 07/06/04