Observation is set on a space station which has apparently lost contact with home base. You wake up and have to figure out what exactly has gone wrong, and your only help is the onboard AI – SAM. The twist – SAM might not be completely open with you about the nature of your mission and the trip. Also, the story is told via the lens of the AI, so you will be controlling it for the most part. This is one of the most interesting game I played this year and the aesthetic is what sold most of it for me. The sci-fi nature of the plot, the design of the ship, and the interfaces you interact with are all really well done.
The AI has an operating system that you use fairly frequently to inspect various parts of the space ship. You also use it to unlock doors, read logs, solve puzzles, and restore parts of lost data. the design of it is really neat, and the game looks really gorgeous. The suspense that the game builds is also really intriguing, and you are always compelled to push forward. The controls can feel a bit wonky since you will be working a lot with moving cameras and a robotic sphere, but it makes sense in context. Also. the soundtrack is amazing, especially during the intro credits. If you love sci-fi, don’t let Observation slip under the radar.
Pros: Looks great, great sci-fi aesthetic Good soundtrack Compelling plot Interesting perspective, playing as an AI is fun
Cons: Some control issues
Score – 9/10
About:
Observation is a sci-fi thriller uncovering what happened to Dr. Emma Fisher, and the crew of her mission, through the lens of the station’s artificial intelligence S.A.M. Players assume the role of S.A.M. by operating the station’s control systems, cameras, and tools to assist Emma in discovering what is happening to the station, the vanished crew, and S.A.M. himself.
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