- Unforeseen Incidents is a conspiracy-driven point-and-click thriller
- Explore Yelltown and discover what’s behind a mysterious outbreak
- Find out what we thought of this title, and whether we recommend it
As a seasoned adventure game enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that Unforeseen Incidents has certainly left an indelible mark on me. The game’s atmospheric tone and cleverly woven narrative hooked me from the very beginning, much like a fisherman with his favorite lure.
As a gaming enthusiast, could we perhaps reminisce about the games that had a haunting pandemic theme, even though it might seem premature? And by the way, you don’t sound sick, do you? Just a friendly joke.
Today, I’m delving into the enigma of Unforeseen Incidents, freshly dropped onto mobile platforms by the creative minds at Backwoods Entertainment and Application Systems Heidelberg. In this chilling tale, I find myself in a quaint backwoods town grappling with a bizarre outbreak. As an ordinary handyman named Harper Pendrell, I’m unwittingly thrust into a deadly conspiracy that could not only upend my little corner of the world but also have global ramifications.
If you strongly dislike point-and-click games, it might be best for you to stop reading now. However, if you’re open to new experiences or a longtime enthusiast of the inventory-searching, tap-everything-on-everything gameplay style, then you’ll find this interesting.
How does Unforeseen Incidents hold up? And how well does it work on mobile? Let’s find out!
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, Unforeseen Incidents is quite suitable for point-and-click adventures. You navigate and interact with objects by tapping, while dragging items from your inventory to combine or use in the surroundings. However, I found that accessing the inventory can be a bit tricky since it requires tapping at the top of the screen, which occasionally caused me to pull down my phone’s notification bar instead.
In other words, you can bypass the monotony of navigating from one screen to another by simply double-tapping your desired location. However, if you need to move within the same screen (or background), you’ll have to manually make your way there. These are minor issues, but they give Unforeseen Incidents a somewhat outdated feel compared to the sleek design of Darkside Detective which was just released.
As a fan, I’d express it like this: The puzzles in this game are surprisingly intuitive, and they often call for the versatile Harper’s multitool, which comes equipped with various attachments such as screwdrivers or pincers. It’s not exactly like Monkey Island in terms of its quirky puzzle logic, but it does lean towards the straightforward side, albeit with a touch of lengthiness typical of point-and-click games. However, if you find the “Ah, so that’s how it works” moments bothersome in this genre, then this game might not sway your opinion.
Graphics
As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “Unforeseen Incidents has a unique visual style that feels like a quirky European comic book transposed to America. The art is rough and stylistic, but it works well on mobile devices. Sometimes the environments can feel crowded, but having a button to highlight interactive objects really helps navigate through the clutter.
In Unforeseen Incidents, the mood is effectively conveyed through the layout of Yelltown. The town’s melancholic, rundown character comes across clearly, giving a sense of its small-town despair. Bright colors are used skillfully, making them visually striking even on smaller screens, and they either emphasize or blend objects seamlessly depending on the context. This game offers an aesthetically pleasing experience that rivals many 3D games, demonstrating that simplicity can still make a big impact on mobile devices.
Perhaps the only issue I might have is the lip-syncing and facial expressions. Some characters, like the journalist Helliwell, only have one facial expression with their eyes rolling around like some kind of demented puppet. It wouldn’t be as bad if it wasn’t for the fact that the camera insists on zooming in for some sort of dramatic effect, which just makes everything look a bit awkward. But that’s small potatoes.
Audio
It’s my belief that Unforeseen Incidents truly excels in its audio aspect. The soundtrack is incredibly diverse, fitting nearly every scene and doing an excellent job of setting the tone. The background sounds also immerse you into the world and are ideal for those who enjoy easy-listening styles. One of the clever touches is that the soundtrack becomes muffled in one room but clear in another, making it unclear what’s part of the scene and what’s not.
Regarding voice-acting, it varies from decent to somewhat cheesy, yet still acceptable. It’s not on par with Shakespearean acting, and for fans of humor-centric series like Monkey Island or other similar genres, it might lack the necessary absurdity. However, it’s far from offensive or mediocre. The Professor’s questionable Scottish accent does manage to elicit a chuckle now and then.
Performance
In essence, this game is a point-and-click type, so it’s unlikely we’ll encounter any performance issues. The transitions between screens are swift, almost immediate. However, if we delve deeper into the technical aspects, I can’t help but express a minor gripe: there are no independent volume controls in the settings menu. At times, the music can overpower the dialogue, and having adjustable volume levels for characters would have been quite beneficial.
Beyond this point, you’ll have access to numerous languages for gameplay, plus an option to choose from various font styles, such as those designed to aid individuals with dyslexia!
What I liked
Although Darkside Detective outshines Unforeseen Incidents in terms of technical elements and visual style, I found myself drawn to the mood and tone of Unforeseen Incidents more. It has an element of humor, but when it gets serious, it manages to create a genuinely chilling ambiance. Additionally, I appreciated the logical nature of its puzzles, and the incorporation of Harper’s multitool was a thoughtful touch.
One aspect that appealed to me was discovering that almost everything necessary could be found with careful searching. Since you’re persistent in scavenging, there’s minimal need for retracing steps, which I believe is a significant advantage in adventure games. After all, revisiting previously explored areas is generally the least enjoyable aspect of this genre.
What I didn’t like
Here’s another way of putting it: In this compact list, I notice a few technical glitches that catch my attention. The repeated use of facial expressions can feel overwhelming over time, and unsurprisingly, the puzzles may escalate rapidly and your inventory might expand excessively. However, dealing with these issues is something you’d typically encounter in point-and-click adventures.
My main issue, though, seems to be that certain aspects of this game needed a recheck before releasing it on mobile devices. For instance, the touch function to access your inventory and particularly an annoying puzzle where you have to adjust radio dials. It’s apparent that the developers were aware that this puzzle might deter players because the numbers jump to the correct one when you get close. What I don’t understand is why they didn’t find a way to let users input the numbers manually, considering that figuring out what the numbers are for the puzzle is the hardest part.
Conclusion
Unexpected Incidents boasts a robust foundation, and while there may be some minor issues with the controls, it offers impressive visuals, audio, and gameplay. This combination might not convince skeptics of point-and-click games, but it provides an excellent starting point for open-minded gamers interested in exploring this genre. It’s a comprehensive experience that I found just as engaging to observe and listen to as I did to play.
Although I’ve been comparing Unforeseen Incidents favorably to games like Maid of Sker, it’s important to mention a few differences. Firstly, Unforeseen Incidents costs $4.99 upfront, which is just a dollar less than Maid of Sker and unlike the latter, there’s no free trial available. In contrast, Darkside Detective, while shorter, is priced at $6.99 (and that’s without considering its second installment).
If you’re a dedicated enthusiast of puzzle-driven games, or crave a narrative experience with a touch of gravity, I’d highly recommend giving Unforeseen Incidents a try. It’s tailor-made for folks like us!
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2024-09-13 17:48