Nobody Wants To Die | Review

Initial release date: July 17, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Critical Hit Games

Genres: Adventure game, Adventure

Publisher: Plaion

Engine: Unreal Engine 5

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT!!

Key Takeaways

• Six hour campaign
• Impactful choices makes me want to do another playthrough
• Oozes with sci-fi cyberpunk noir atmosphere
• Linear walking sim with various gadgets to use and puzzle board gameplay mechanics
• QTE gun shootout
• Unreal Engine 5 displayed dazzling visuals
• Blade Runner, Noir movies, Observer, Cyberpunk 2077 energy
• James Karra and Sara Kai written well with believable chemistry
• The best walking sim I played in years
• Reconstructor, UV Lamp and X-Ray were useful and fun to use gadgets
• I felt like a detective three hundred years into the future
• Like SOMA in regards to “what is consciousness?” theme
• Terrible sound mixing during James’ tropical beach sequences
• $24.99 is a good price point for the quality this game delivers
• If you’re into cyberpunk, noir, Blade Runner and walking sims buy it!

Introduction

I played a few walking sims over the past couple of years such as Firewatch, Gone Home, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture, Journey, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter and more. Nobody Wants To Die Video Playlist

I enjoy walking sims if they are good, quality video games which brings me to Nobody Wants To Die developed by Critical Hit Games and published by Plaion. This video game could possibly be my sleeper hit of the year as it took me by surprise and didn’t at the same time.

It didn’t surprise me in this regard because I researched the game prior to launch and knew it was a cyberpunk, Blade Runner noir video game set in a future dystopian New York City. The latter immediately sold me because I just love that style of media from music to movies, to video games etc.

However, what did surprise me was how high the overall quality was for Nobody Wants To Die minus some sound mixing issues. Nobody Wants To Die’s sci-fi cyberpunk noir tale of immortality was a real treat for the six or so hours it took me to reach it’s credits.

Presentation

I played through Nobody Wants To Die on my Xbox Series X bought and paid for $24.99 (actually less due to a Xbox Live Discount). Technical problems wise? I did experience a few stutters prior to the day 2 patch when I switched to quality mode.

Performance mode was smooth 99% of the time but looked a little washed out compared to the game’s quality mode which looked amazing locked at 30?. Sound mixing for three sequences involving tropical beach where James drowns.

The rest of Nobody Wants To Die was magnificent from a presentation standpoint. I loved how noir and cyberpunk this game was. An example, during James’ apartment sequence you could go outside and sit on a giant neon sign while smoking a cig watching the flying cars zoom by while reminiscing about landmarks James’ visited in his past body.

Nobody Wants To Die was aware of itself and the world it was in. The player on occasion could sit back and chill and stare at it’s dystopian city’s landscape. I loved the little moments in this game such as when James’ met Sara Kai face to face for the first time and had a sit down conversation with her over drinks.

The pacing within Nobody Wants To Die’s gameplay loop of crime scene investigation into solving the case via the evidence board. In between the actual investigations we get important sequences involving James Karra as he deals with his new body in a plethora of ways.

Story

The year is 2329, New York City. You play detective James Karra ex baseball star turned detective. Killed in a train accident with his conciseness transferred into a drug addicted new body. James sees visions of his deceased wife Rachel throughout the story.

New York is on the verge of rioting due to the death of one of the most powerful wealthiest “immortal” inhabitants Mr. Green. James along with his liaison Sara Kai must solve his murder.

Police Chief Steiner happily boots James off the case but that never stopped this hard boiled detective private dick. Along with Sara Kai, James uncovers the wealthiest secret of controlling the immortal data bank economy.

James eventually hunts down the killer of the immortal elites in Central Park which is when the story gets confusing due to the past choices I have made. I ended up shooting a woman named Jane Salma who the murderer hacked. Sara Kai wanted her skin.

I really enjoyed the story until the very end as I was confused and landed James Karra inside the eternal data bank. Did the hacking murderer escape? Was James the murder all along as I never found out the identity of the stranger /murderer? I haven’t done a second playthrough to confirm how deep my choices were.

Gameplay

This is a first person walking simulator where you use three gadgets during crime scene investigations called the reconstructor, UV Lamp and X-Ray. All three were useful and fun to use while solving murders.

After crime scene investigation sequences you must link the clues together along with Sara Kai’s help while using James’ evidence board which looks sorta like a chessboard with pieces that resemble clues.

In-between crime scene investigation and evidence board puzzles there are sequences where you use James’ flying car to travel around New York City. There are quite chill sequences as well loud action set-pieces.

The overall gameplay loop was actually great for a walking sim in my opinion as too many walking sims do too many “samey” things throughout their campaigns. Not with Nobody Wants To Die. The gameplay loop kept me wanting more. Wanting to see what happens next due to my in-game dialogue choices.

Visuals | Art

The visuals and art are superb in this video game. Every local setting shows off what the Unreal Engine 5 is capable of. I know I know walking sim, it’s supposed to look great. True, but keep in mind this game has actual gameplay mechanics like the reconstructor which manipulates the game’s locations.

Special effects while using the reconstructor was something out of the Matrix. Flying car sequences with rain soaked windshields looked extremely detailed and visceral. Central Park, Slums, James’ Apartment, Green’s Tower almost every single location offered detailed art that does it’s cyberpunk New York City setting justice.

I could never get enough of New York City’s vistas in this game as they appeared to look vast with hundreds of flying cars and hundreds of civilians below in some instances. This game is a looker on Xbox Series X,

Sound | Music

Writing along with voice dialogue between James’ Karra and Sara Kai was really impressive as they joked and argued with each other depending on your dialogue choices. Music was super fitting and reminded me of that 1990’s Dick Tracy movie.

Great music and voice acting all around no complaints here. I loved the atmosphere they fostered. I guess that’s it. If you are like me and love cyberpunk and walking sims. Buy this game. It will feed you. Thanks for reading – Jason