Quantum Break - Wow!

Quantum Break is the most innovative gaming experience I've had in over a decade. Yep, I said it. An enjoyable first-person shooter science fiction (time travel) game, it is to my mind the first true 'Xbox One Exclusive' that would justify a purchase of the console. It was marketed as a hybrid video game and TV show, and what it really is, is 5 acts of gameplay interspersed with 4 slickly produced, tautly written, and very well-acted episodes. Shawn Ashmore and Dominic Monaghan deliver serviceable performances both in the TV elements and in their virtual avatars.


It goes beyond just the game + TV sales pitch as well: this is full bore multi-media! There are scads of notes, letters, audio diaries/ written journals, graffiti, radio shows, other audio and video files, emails and the like strewn about the game world. These serve as 'scavenger bait' for achievement hounds and completionists, but refreshingly, I found they are actually worth a read. They explain otherwise confusing plot developments, character motivations, and build the world up further.

At the end of four of the five 'acts' of the game, just before launching into one the four episodes, players make a hard choice from the antagonist's perspective. These choices actually significantly impact the game experience - supporting characters may be killed off as a direct consequence, and certain "boss fights" may or may not happen.

To wit: you play as the protagonist, get into the head of the antagonist, and some of the minor supporting characters have a pretty engaging TV show running about them. Glorious exposition and depth! For people like me who play it for the story, it is a very rewarding, deep experience. In fact two of the characters of the TV show are (tragic) protagonists in their own right...

Now it's not without flaws - the gameplay is stiflingly linear, the check-pointing system is frustrating, it is a very short game and lasted me just about 12 - 14 hours across three or four gaming sessions this long weekend. Some plot holes are glossed over (e.g. how did Beth know the detail for where to make her guiding graffiti?), and the action tends to get a bit repetitive (although I did play on "easy" because I was playing it for the story). I expect the strobing, fluttering nature of the game world would cause many migraines and suchlike as well, for those who have those problems.

The positives more than drown out the negatives though. A couple of things that particularly stood out for me - 1) the gorgeous chaos in a couple of acts as the world goes mad as a result of a "fracture in time". The game designers have really outdone themselves with the 'stutters'. I shall say no more for fear of spoilers.

2) As with any self-respecting time travel story there are some fantastic "what happened there?" moments throughout the game that are competently explained by the end via paradox (e.g. a particularly nice touch was them explaining who took out the sniper in Act 1, and how the taxi got there in Act 2).

The game also ends with a mystery as the perspective of a non-playable character (NPC) points to a "big picture" that will only be revealed in sequels. There is also a whole category of "boss/ enemy" that is hinted at but never fully revealed. This takes nothing away from the enjoyment of the game though, if anything it only deepens the mythos. Rest assured, this is less "Lost Season 6: WTF!" and more "Lost Season 1: The Hatch". (see what I did there, Quantum Break fans?)

Personally, I can't wait to go back and replay the game with some different choices... while I wait on the sequel.