Detroit: Become Human

Being an absolute fan of narrative-rich games and having experienced Detroit: Become Human more than once, I think I may assume that I am able to give a very detailed review of this masterwork. In general, I would place it right at 9 out of 10 for the outstanding narrative and absorbing experience, along with some slight defects in game control.

Story (10/10)
Seriously, the story had me hooked from the very beginning. It is extremely captivating and at the same time raises a lot of questions, particularly concerning what makes us human, more so with the game having AI as the main subject of debate between consciousness and morality. The expression of your choices in the plot and their lead to various endings is something incredible. I have gone through it several times just to get different outcomes, and each time it appears still new and significant. The game really takes it as a point to give a lot of importance to every choice you make, and that is a big plus for me. The main characters—Connor, Kara, and Markus—have such strong personalities, and their paths are so touching that they can even be called heartbreaking. To be honest, it really is one of those games that you feel its presence even after the end.

Graphics (9/10)
From the graphical perspective, Detroit: Become Human still appears to be a beauty, even to today's expectation, after its release in 2018. The character designs and backgrounds are very fine, and the use of motion capture technology allows the characters to show a whole range of very human-like expressions and movements. The fictional city of Detroit in the future is both a great canvas and a wide vast landscape where the players can feel the presence and aura of the city. Occasionally, I caught imperfections in the animation such as a character's face being not as expressive as it should be, but on the whole, the graphics are so stunning that they not only support but also enhance the story's emotional intensity.

Sound & Voice Acting (10/10)
The sound design and voice acting are of the highest quality. The performance of each character is so real that it makes their journey feel much more powerful. The music score is just amazing, the even have three separate music teams for each main protagonist, giving a whole different experience for each character. I was actually overwhelmed by the audio during many of the scenes. It is very apparent that a lot of effort went into creating the game’s sound environment, especially in the case of sound.

Gameplay (6/10)
The game’s weakness comes here— gameplay is quite simplistic. It consists mainly of QTEs, discovery, and moving about. If you are an action lover or enjoy complicated mechanics, you might find it wanting. If you want lots of action, you might be bored. It’s more about picking your story and seeing what happens. I didn’t hate it, but I can see why some people might want more to do.

Replayability (8/10)
Because there are so many different paths and endings, I replayed many times to see each outcome. Each time you play, there are new choices and consequences which make the game feel totally new. I have managed to get a lot of different endings and also experienced a variety of character interactions. Therefore, it is going to be worth several times through if you are a fan of story-rich games.

Characters (9/10)
Characters are one of the most attractive points of the game. Connor, Kara, and Markus each have their own views and have been through paths which they feel very close to and have an impact. Their growth is even-handed, and your decisions have a say in how their characters change and how they connect with others. It truly seems like you are the one who influences their lives, thus creating a deeper level of emotional involvement.

Cons ❌
If you are thinking of very much action all the time, then the gameplay may be experienced as shallow. Some chapters are a little too long even for the slowest investigators. Moreover, the lack of skip-cutscene feature can be quite boring in a case of many playthroughs. Sometimes, you might see small animation problems. Additionally, some people have had the game crash because of the graphics.

Overall (9/10)
Detroit: Become Human is a game to be played if you are narrative-driven and enjoy intellectually challenging games. It is a perfectly created plot that stirs the audience's conscience, draws their attention to social matters, and takes them through very emotional moments. Although the game mechanics are limited in some ways, the narrative and the graphics are the aspects that make it a singular experience and worth all the time spent. My opinion is to try it out—you won't be sorry!