![]() Make meaningful connections with a diverse cast of characters in pursuit of truth.The end of all things is inevitable, but defining which version of Howard Lotor reaches the conclusion is up to you. It is a linear, cinematic narrative experience that subverts genre and challenges your perception of what it means to be a person.īackbone’s gameplay is focused on storytelling and emotional expression, featuring rich and elaborate dialogues inspired by old school CRPGs, as well as exploration of the lush environments. Become raccoon private eye Howard Lotor and explore dystopian Vancouver inhabited by animals as you uncover a deeply personal story of change and transformation.īackbone is inspired by film noir, weird sci-fi, post-soviet aesthetics, modern political regimes, the works of Lynch and Kaufman, and existential philosophy of Sartre. Get to work, detective.īackbone is a post-noir narrative adventure. Thrust into unfortunate circumstances, you find yourself with no other option than to unravel what might be your biggest case yet. As the story progresses, the genre and tone seamlessly shift to something more surreal and focuses in on the existential nature of mortality.You’re not special. The themes and commentary in Backbone are not subtle and it's all the better for it. The most obvious is the commentary on class struggle and oppressive societies, highlighting how those in power eat up and spit out those stuck in cycles of poverty and subtly segregate them through rampant systemic racism. The honesty of this commentary only deepens the player's connection to Howard, and Howard's connection to others. The soundtrack by Danshin and Aroof Aftab elevates the experience, providing players with what EggNut appropriately describes as " dystopian doom jazz." It not only captures the aesthetic and style of detective noirs, it relays the complex emotions felt by Backbone's characters and the city itself. This gives Backbone a unique style due to being able to incorporate dynamic lighting and weather effects to help render a cold and existential world. Thanks to the versatility of Unreal Engine 4, Backbone's visuals are comprised by a mix of 3D effects and high-res pixel art. What immediately stands out about Backbone is its art direction and soundtrack. Each interaction involves a variety of responses that affect the decisions of whoever Howard is talking to. Though not directly stated, it quickly becomes clear that players should interact with everyone and everything they can in order to navigate each puzzle and interaction in order to achieve the best possible outcome. While it features plenty of puzzles and tense moments, the main element of Backbone is its expansive dialogue. The mechanics of Backbone feature stealth, exploration, and elements of classic point-and-click adventure games. ![]() ![]() Related: The Wild at Heart Review: A Beautiful, Heartfelt, Whimsical Adventure ![]() Thankfully, he has some help in the form of a journalist named Renee and his trusty driver/best friend, Anatoly. What starts out as a standard "cheating husband" case turns into something infinitely darker and puts Howard in direct conflict with the city's oppressive system. ![]() Backbone is described by its developers as " a post-noir roleplaying detective adventure" in which players navigate the dark and dystopian city of Vancouver, BC as a raccoon Private Investigator named Howard Lotor. ![]()
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