Remedy, it seems, is a studio that would rather make movies than games. Their biggest hit, the 2001 revenge thriller Max Payne, was inspired by Hong Kong action flicks, while Alan Wake, the 2010 cult horror title, owes a huge debt to David Lynch.
Quantum Break takes this love of celluloid to its natural conclusion. A sci-fi time-travel adventure, it boasts an impressive cast including Shawn Ashmore (X-Men), Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) and Lance Reddick (The Wire). It also contains multiple 15-minute segments of live action film starring said actors.
The scope is ambitious, but the gameplay remains quite basic. It’s a cover-shooter featuring special powers that enable the hero, Jack Joyce, to stop bullets and freeze enemies. Gamers must also manipulate time to overcome a series of rudimentary platform puzzles.
The combat is satisfying to begin with, as players can deliver powerful blasts of time energy, freeze enemies in mid-air and dash at high speeds, all while pulling off slow-motion headshots. Yet as the game progresses, even these mechanics grow repetitive. Jack’s powers can be upgraded, but this doesn’t add much by way of variety.
The focus then, as with all great movies, is on the story, which is the game’s strong point. It is an enthralling yarn with great performances from the cast. The live-action elements – a narrative told from the perspective of the bad guys – also work surprisingly well, despite the lack of interactivity. And gamers can even influence the plot by making a series of choices, which offers some replay value.
This story, central to what elevates Quantum Break above its rivals, is the key to how cleverly the game engages. As with Max Payne and Alan Wake, players will feel like the hero in their very own TV show – an effect compounded by the combination of a great soundtrack, lifelike visuals, strong acting and a compelling script. Quantum Break may not be a groundbreaking gaming experience, but it succeeds in being both hugely entertaining and very cool.
