Point and click games used to be the most popular game genre in the world. The genre dominated the 90’s with titles such as The Secret of Monkey Island and Grim Fandango, but over time the genre dwindled and was replaced with new types of games. However, much like the return of old style graphics, there have been recent attempts to bring the point and click genre back to life. Australian based studio Powerhoof are the latest developers to create a new point and click experience with The Drifter. A game that see you step into the shoes of Mick Carter, a drifter with a tragic past who is thrust into a mystery that has plagued his home town. As someone who has never played a point and click game I was sceptical going into this one, but within the first 2 hours The Drifter managed to convert me into a modern day point and click fan.
Gameplay
To fans of the point and click genre The Drifter will feel right at home. Players move the cursor around the levels to either get Carter to move, interact with objects or talk to NPC’s. It’s an incredibly basic control scheme that allows the players to easily play the game without needlessly complex button prompts or inputs. Taking what worked from the older games in the genre and bringing it to the modern day; if it ain’t broke then don’t fix it. The Drifter’s gameplay loop will focus on finding key items in the world and using them to advance the mystery. Whether this be from combing two item together, to showing it to an NPC, or using it to clear a path, it’s up to the player to figure out what they need to do to move the story along. Whilst some will find this frustrating, especially with the game’s incessant demand for the players to go through so much trial and error, the satisfaction you are rewarded with after solving the game’s various puzzles make it all worth it in the end.
Whilst the gameplay loop is simple yet satisfying, there is one glaring flaw that the game suffers from: backtracking. On occasion the game will have the player travel to different areas multiple times and clicking on anything that moves desperately looking for something so they can progress. An item will be found in one section of the world which you then take to an NPC to get them to talk about it, but you then need something else from a different part of the world and travel there to find it. Only then can you then talk to the NPC and get something from them which you take back to another part of the world where you start the repetitive cycle all over again. This is the only negative aspect of The Drifter’s gameplay and it’s not even that prevalent in the whole title. The game has 9 chapters in total and out of all of them it feels the most egregious in Chapter 4, so 1 out of 9 is very good all things considered.
Story
As mentioned previously, The Drifter puts players in the shoes of Mick Carter. A rough, no nonsense homeless man who returns to his hometown to attend his late mother’s funeral. However, no sooner does he step foot back into his usual stomping ground than he is thrust into a conspiracy with so many elements. Homeless people are going missing all over the place, people are going insane for no reason, a reporter has been kidnapped by masked me, and to top it all off Carter discovers that he can’t die. Carter seeks to unravel the mystery plaguing the town whilst also discovering what is happening to him. The Drifter’s story is an exceptional thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.
This is achieved through two main things. The first is the mystery itself. The premise hooks you immediately within the first chapter and keeps that interest alive all throughout. The story’s twists and turns provide you with a narrative that keeps you constantly guessing; even when you think you might have a idea on what direction the plot will take the game throws a curveball into the mix and completely subverts the player’s expectations in a phenomenal way. The game’s soundtrack and art style also help the mystery flourish too. The soundtrack provides different melodies relating to what’s happening in the chapters, but always with an amazing synth sound to boot. The art direction also adds more to the world and its environments with a pixelated style that adds a lot of style and character to the overall visuals.
The second reason why the narrative is so strong are the characters. Carter is a great protagonist. Compassionate to those he loves and cares for, but also being short tempered and isn’t afraid to stand his ground. However, he has a tendency to fold when faced with the ghosts of his past and throughout the game he is tested in multiple way to overcome his demons and conquer his fears. In addition to that, the side characters also standout. Carter’s indomitable sister Annie is always there to alleviate the tension with a wisecrack, but she has a habit of sticking her nose into things where it doesn’t belong. The suave and cool Detective Hara is the Robin to Carter’s Batman; always by his side and easy to work with to come up with a solution to the pairs ongoing issues. These characters are expertly brough to life that they begin to feel like real people which is a testament to how well written the narrative truly is.
Conclusion
The Drifter is a phenomenal experience that takes you on a roller-coaster ride unlike any other game that I’ve played in recent memory. The gameplay may be simple to some but it provides players with a lot of satisfaction with every puzzle solved. Couple that with a gripping story featuring incredible writing, memorable characters, hard hitting themes and messages, amazing art design and a brilliant soundtrack, and The Drifter has everything that it needs to provide you with a perfect experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s hard to find flaws with the final product and if a game can pull that off then it deserves no great title than the highest it can obtain.
The Review
Masterpiece
