Quantum Break Review

Quantum Break (Xbox One, PC) (Rated Mature)

How often in this industry do we see actual innovation? When was the last time a game had an idea that was different or even risky? Everything we play today is mostly the same. While there have been many great titles over the last few years; Quantum Break is the first game I have played in a very long time that felt totally unique. The third-person shooter has been around for a long time, and while the combat and gameplay mechanics are not necessarily new or innovative, they form a very solid foundation to one of the year's most intriguing releases.

Quantum Break's defining feature is that it is a video game and live-action series hybrid; it may take a time to wrap your head around the concept or it may sound like a horrible gimmick, yet Quantum Break surprisingly delivers competent action and compelling drama all in the same package. The way the game is structured you will play one level of the game then watch an episode of the live-action show. During the game you get to make choices which will change the way the story plays out, this is done very differently than how most choices are handled in games. This is not a moral choice system, instead, think of it as an evolution of the choose your own adventure books.

These choices will not only affect the way the game's story plays out, but also the story in the live-action show. The game follows Jack Joyce after he acquires time manipulation powers, and he must race to fix time, as time itself begins to break down due to a fracture in the time-space continuum. The live-action show does not heavily feature Jack, it actually has it's own story and characters, yet they tie directly into the game's story. The show not only gives the game a very deep lore and builds a believable and detailed world, but it makes the story that much more involving. Both the game and the show feature captivating characters and phenomenal performances; which help to draw you into the game's deep and immersive narrative.

The story is just as good as the best Hollywood Sci-Fi thriller, in fact, it may be better than most; anyone seen Jumper? I will answer the question every inpatient gamer is asking, no you do not need to watch the live-action show to understand the game's story, but you would be missing out on what makes this game so special. I have rarely encountered games that had my attention with their narratives the way this one did. The show features some very high caliber performances and solid writing, while the main leads are mostly unknowns, they carry the shows thrilling storyline well. While the first episode was a bit iffy, to begin with, and I was skeptical of how the show would weave into the game's narrative, thankfully it was handled incredibly well. While the tone does allow for plenty of wit, charm and a good dose of humor; the story remains intense, serious and has a sense of grit lacking in most television shows that this game took its inspiration from.

Most games present a story as a means for the action; but this game is not just about the action, it is about the narrative and about getting invested in its characters and story. Which is very easy thanks to the charismatic performances by Shawn Ashmore playing Jack Joyce and Aidan Gillen playing the game and show's main antagonist Paul Serene. The compelling drama and suspense of both the show and game's story keeps you thoroughly engaged in the events that surround some very impressive action sequences. While the basic shooting action may seem familiar, and perhaps a bit underwhelming to begin with, luckily things heat up quickly thanks to your time powers.

You will start the game with access to only a few of your powers with the rest of them becoming available after. You will have access to five different abilities that are all equally useful on their own, but when you begin to combine them things get really interesting. You can zip around incredibly fast to dodge attacks and trigger slow motion to return fire, use a time blast, throw a time bubble thing that stops time, so you can fire a hail of bullets to be released all at once when the bubble dissipates, create a time shield, and use time rush to run through the slow-mo world to trigger some pretty epic melee takedowns. It takes some time to become effective at using the powers together, but once you do the game's combat really takes on a whole new life.

Many games give players superpowers, but few feel the way they do in Quantum Break. The sense of speed feeds the frenetic and visceral combat that flows with such fluidity you actually feel like a superhero. Firearms play a large role in combat, but unlike most shooters, they feel more like a tool of death than your main weapon. If you tried to play the game without using any of your powers, it would most likely be a boring affair. The shooting mechanics are not bad, but the game is not meant to be played purely for its firepower. You are given a plethora of tools and the goal is to use them together seamlessly, and this is where the game thrives.

Dashing out of danger then triggering slow motion to pop a headshot, throw a time blast and then finally sprinting away with the world in slow motion only to run into an enemy to execute a vicious melee takedown is extremely thrilling. Anyone of your powers would be a blast to use by themselves, but the way the game allows you to combine them and use them as you see fit feels free-flowing and natural. The game does have a cover system, though it is different than the one's most will be accustomed to, when you move close to an object you can take cover behind it, with Jack instantly dropping down and taking cover without any player input. I have played games with this kind of mechanic, and I enjoy it because you are not meant to stay in cover and take potshots, you're meant to use cover to quickly recover or assess a combat situation.

You can even upgrade each of your powers by finding power sources hidden in each level, and yes your upgrades do carry over when you replay the game. Beyond the hidden power-ups in each level, there are literally tons of hidden story objects to find,  and each object has information about the game's backstory and plot. Few games go to the lengths to create such a detailed world, with incredibly rich characters that you get completely absorbed in. Finding these items was not a treasure hunt, but an extension of this game's stupendous narrative.

The action is spaced out very well in gameplay, as you're never simply running from giant set-piece to giant set piece, which would have gotten quite dull after a while. The game breaks up the exciting action with some inventive puzzles that require your time manipulation powers to advance. These kinds of puzzles mostly consist of using the appropriate power and then either running or jumping to where you need to be. This may not sound over thrilling or complex and it really isn't, but the puzzle design and solutions are so visually appealing that no matter how simple they may be, they never cease to be enjoyable for the most part. There was one exception towards the end of the game, where I thought the puzzle section halted the pace a bit too much.

This is not a game for the kind of gamer that just wants to shoot and blow shit up. Shit does blow up spectacularly though, as the environments are destructible which leads to some pretty cinematic looking action. Combat is fast, fluid and tons of fun, yet this game is about more than just it's gameplay. This game is about getting involved in the story and making choices to shape it the way you wish to, while there are only a handful of choices to make in the game, the effects are varied enough to change up the story to warrant at least two or more playthroughs. You can also easily miss some of the game's smaller moments that require your interaction, and this makes the world feel more alive than most shooters.

Visually the game could very well be one of the best looking I have ever seen; the motion capture performances are so lifelike that it is astounding. The game's visuals are so detailed that it makes the creepy dead eyes of a film like The Polar Express's CGI look like a relic. The presentation is something to simply be in awe of, the lighting and action effects mean that there is always something visually astonishing happening on screen. There are a few times when certain animations can appear awkward, but when the entire game looks this good, it is easy to forgive a few awkward animations.

The game does suffer from some rather lengthy load times; and my progress was halted early on due to a glitch that did not allow a door to open, this was easily fixed by simply reloading the game and it did not happen again. While it is apparent that the game does have a few bugs and glitches, none of them were game-breaking or caused any major frustration. Most importantly the frame rate was consistent during even the most hectic of action scenes. In a sea of multiplayer shooters and so many games that feel so similar, Quantum Break takes massive risks to create an experience, unlike anything I have ever played before. Gameplay itself will last around seven hours not including any cutscenes, and experiencing the game's story and watching the show will give you a solid ten hours of content. Not to mention the urge to instantly start the game again to see the effects of making a different choice.

It is easy to see why gamers would be divided about Quantum Break; for gamers like me who want more involved narratives and a return to single-player gaming, this is such a treat. For this generation's gamers who crave the instant action of online carnage, this may not be their cup of tea. There is plenty of intense action in the game,  and it offers that special kind of action gaming nirvana I crave. Still, this is not instant gratification gaming, this is sitting down and getting to interact with a story and getting swept away by its mystery. The conclusion may not be as grand as the mystery itself was, and the door is open wide for a continuation, yet the sole reason I was disappointed when the game was over, was simply the fact that it was over. I wanted more, the game was simply that good. No matter the game's small missteps along the way, the total package is excellent and an achievement to be admired.