Gemini Rue: Hands On Preview!

May I just begin this preview by stating that I can not wait to play the full version of this “neo-noir” point-and click mystery adventure! Previously known as Boryokuden Rue, this game was the winner of the 2010 Independent Games Festival Student Showcase, and it is obvious as to why! It isn’t your average point-and-click game by any means. It has unique real time action sequences that help to progress the story and keep you on your toes, as well as full voice acting and interactive dialogues that you control through the game characters.

You begin this game in the middle of the action as you observe the aftermath of a failed escape attempt by one of the main characters, Delta-Six. He is a patient recovering from amnesia and is completely unaware of who he is, where he is, and why he was trying to escape in the first place. You’ll then switch over to the other main character, Azreal Odin, a former assassin now a cop, in search of a contact on a planet named Barracus. Like other planets in the Gemini solar system, Barracus is currently corrupt and under the illegal influence of a crime syndicate, the Boryokuden. The setting is in the far future, sometime in the 2200’s, but it still has the feel of a 1940’s crime drama. This is where the term “neo-noir” is quite fitting in referring to the style of narration, the character designs, and the overall look of the game.

Now I’ve already mentioned that this is no ordinary point-and-click. Yes, you have the puzzles and the difficult situations where you have to piece together the correct mode of action, but this game has at least three other neat aspects that make it quite unique. My personal favorite is the action scenarios! You’ll find yourself having to quickly think on your toes and logically solve problems in the midst of a gunfight or as you are being pursued by an assailant. I must say that some of the most logical actions elude you when you have that kind of pressure, but it makes the game way more interesting than your average point-and click. There is also the option to alternate between storylines. You can switch back and forth between Delta-Six and Azreal at will and therefore avoid the common issue of getting stuck at a puzzle and therefore halting your gameplay. I for one have taken indeterminate hiatuses from games after trying every possible mode of action I could think of and still failing to progress the game. Also, you have the ability to search for clues and compile that information into your trusty multifaceted communication device. Now I won’t tell you exactly how you search for, and obtain those clues, no need to spoil your gameplay by giving away yummy secrets!

I really only have one complaint about Gemini Rue so far, and it is with the moving/interaction mechanisms. You are able to move the character by left-clicking in the direction of, or on a particular spot that you desire to move to. You can also instruct the character to interact with an object by accessing the inventory with a right click and selecting the type of interaction you want (talk, touch, look, use an item on). In most cases this worked beautifully; you could be at one end of the screen and select a phone booth on the other, then right-click to tell your character to grab the door handle. Normally, the character would obey and get the job done. However, in some cases (oddly tied to some of the exciting action sequences I mentioned) you will instruct the character to act on an object and get a prompt rejection on account of the distance you are to the object. This got a little frustrating but it wasn’t a big enough nuisance to tarnish the gameplay overall. Keeping in mind that this was not the full version of the game but a preview build, there were a few little dialogue timing issues and in some cases missing voice-overs. I suspect that these will not be issues in the full version of the game however.

Overall, I am excited to play the full and final version of Gemini Rue coming out on February 24th, and currently available for pre-order! Get the download version with developer commentary for $14.99 or upgrade to the limited edition for $24.99 equip with exclusive MP3 soundtrack and free download access on the day of the launch. Either way you order this game, it will definitely be worth it!

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