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Full-Motion Video games are very much back on the scene, and while there’s no question that the quality of the production value and general game designs have improved since they originally cropped up decades ago there’s no getting around their pretty hit-or-miss nature. Uncle Marcus is dying (well, or so he says) after having been poisoned by a member of your family and while periodically having conversations with him your goal is to participate in a video chat game party with a handful of your other relatives to suss out whodunnit! A FMV take on a murder mystery of sorts isn’t a bad premise, and functionally the way the game goes about you trying to carefully pry details out of everyone little by little makes enough sense, though I’d argue the degree of decisions you’re able to make feels a bit on the thin side. What I think will be the major deciding factor for the typical players’ enjoyment though will be how much of a stomach you have for your in-game relatives. Woof! Imagine having almost everyone in your family being their own distinct and pretty unsavory sort of narcissistic asshat and you’ll probably have a good idea what you’re dealing with. I’m not positive whether the moments I found annoying or grating are a function of the story or the people who are embodying these people, but I’d wager it’s a bit of both. If you love your Real Housewives or other reality shows this may feel like a home run, but if you find those sorts of shows similar to fingernails on a chalkboard you’ll likely want to steer clear.
Justin Nation, Score:Good [7.1]