Detroit: Become Human is Quantic Dream’s latest title and follows in the footsteps of Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls by offering players choices that affect its story, leading them down interesting pathways that branch off in many unexpected directions.
Critics praised the game’s setting, visuals, and characters, as well as Valorie Curry, Bryan Dechart, and Jesse Williams’ acting performances and its impact on narrative choices and flowchart feature that allows players to track how decisions affected plot development.
Gameplay
Detroit: Become Human engages players emotionally by placing three android characters through an emotional journey determined by choices made by the player. Set in 2038, Detroit, this game allows them to guide Kara (housemaid android), Markus (assistant and carer), and Connor (specialized police android).
Quantic Dream’s game The Singularity Is Near was inspired by Ray Kurzweil’s book of the same name, which proposed that humans may one day become obsolete due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. For its creation, Quantic Dream collaborated with experts from human and machine intelligence fields and conducted extensive research in Detroit city center by visiting abandoned buildings and interviewing individuals.
Valorie Curry, Bryan Dechart, and Jesse Williams provided voice acting and motion capture services for Detroit: Engrossing World to Game Revolution’s delight, writing that their performances helped add another layer to Detroit’s gripping environment. “Their state-of-the-art performance capture technology further enhances Detroit’s captivating world.”
Quantic Dream’s game received generally positive reviews upon its release and became their fastest-selling title ever, selling over 8 million units since release and earning the Entertainment Software Ratings Board’s “gold” sales certification in the U.S. It currently ranks third on that list behind Battlefield 1 and Grand Theft Auto V.
Story
Detroit: Become Human is a cinematic experience that challenges players to explore what it means to be human. Through massive story branching, players experience Kara (a domestic servant and carer), Markus (a companion robot for an established painter), and Connor (a police investigation model). Each has unique personalities and moral quandaries which players can influence as part of the game experience.
Motion controls in this game allow players to interact with the environment and characters in real-time, including pressing multiple buttons and moving the stick precisely to land jumps or dodge attacks. Although precise gameplay may not be for everyone, casual play mode offers another option for those looking for an immersive narrative experience without necessarily needing to focus on gameplay too closely.
Detroit offers an engaging narrative, with every choice you make impacting both gameplay and narrative. One such decision involves whether to save or let go of an individual. Although Detroit has plenty of replayability potential, discovering the minor variations between different endings might be too challenging for some players.
Characters
Detroit: Become Human is a story set in a future in which machines have gained intelligence and emotions, leading them to rise against their oppressors in rebellion. Created by Quantic Dream’s David Cage – known for Heavy Rain and Beyond Two Souls, among many other games – Detroit follows three protagonist androids named Kara, Markus, and Connor and depends upon player interaction to shape its narrative outcome.
Critics generally gave this game high marks. Critics lauded its setting, visuals, main characters, and impact of choices on the narrative. Motion controls and historical allegories were heavily criticized; nonetheless, it is one of Quantic Dream’s fastest-selling titles, with over 2 million copies sold as of December 2021.
Detroit: Become Human was initially released for PlayStation 4 in 2018, with PC versions available in June 2020. Detroit has been optimized to run smoothly on PC, featuring stunning graphics and an eye-popping 60 fps framerate. Play is similar to its PlayStation version, with the right analog stick used for interactions and observations while the left controls movement; the touchpad can also be used during prompt quick time events and dialogue choices. The game features a wide range of character choices, with actors Valorie Curry, Bryan Dechart, and Jesse Williams providing voice acting/motion capture work, respectively, for their roles within Detroit: Become Human PC versions.
Audio
Detroit: Become Human is an interactive drama video game developed and published by Quantic Dream and Sony Interactive Entertainment exclusively for PlayStation 4. Set in 2038, Detroit: Become Human takes place in a dystopian future where lifelike androids have been fully integrated into everyday society as workers and companions; law enforcement begins tracking any who deviate from their programming – this gives the player control of three android characters: Connor, Kara, and Markus.
Critics were generally positive in their assessments of the game, with many critics noting its setting, visuals, story, characters, and voice actors and its use of a flowchart to help players determine what consequences their choices had on the narrative.
Michael Goroff of Electronic Gaming Monthly applauded the story’s setting and characters, notably Connor’s peaceful demeanor and android heritage. Additionally, he praised its cutting-edge motion capture technology and acting. Goroff called it one of “the most engaging and convincing” games he’s seen.
The game’s audio was met with widespread acclaim, earning its soundtrack several awards and nominations and its sound design being recognized among gaming’s finest. Its sweeping score and atmospheric ambient sounds helped immerse players into its world, but some critics took issue with how its gameplay and motion controls handled historical allegories and allegories of significance to society.