Her Story
Overview -
Sam Barlow, best known for 'Silent Hill: Shattered Memories,' has gone very indie with 'Her Story.' 'Her Story' tasks the player with delving through seven interview sessions between a woman and the police. The game, which is described a "narrative game" with a "non-linear story," is built on the base of over 100 FMV clips, which the player can pull up out of a database. Within these seven interviews, piece by piece, is a bit of pulp fiction, the trappings of which ought to be quite recognizable to fans of crime stories.
Video Review
Ah, the merits of FMV. Much like 'Guitar Hero Live' (but in a different way), 'Her Story' proves that full motion video is considerably more viable than what we all remember from the 90's. Performance-wise, I was happy to run the game off a non-gaming HTPC (HD 530). I was also happy to toggle on the game's anti-glare filter.
Viva Seifert executes her performance with an enjoyable air of uncertainty. Between the clips and the sparse database interface, this indie might do too good a job a replicating a purpose-focused computer terminal. It's put in mind of an era where 'After Dark' was a big deal.
Audio Review
Once more, Viva Seifert's performance has to shoulder the burden. Her words, which are ripe with both emotion and detachment, come through clear. Still, it's also good that the clips are all subtitled.
There is some audio ambience to game. The warm sounds of the terminal, the click of lights, distant sirens- these sounds come in turns along with some ambient music. The primary feel though is that of dead air that comes between the Seifert's words.
Final Thoughts
Being an unconventional indie game, 'Her Story' is like to illicit a strong response. The heavy use of FMV is also like to turn many away, and the interface isn't the friendliest. Fortunately, those that do play the game will find a special experience that easily justifies the price. This is definitely a "have you ever played it" kind of enduring title.
