Technobabylon Review
In a dystopian society where the Internet and such technology have become direct mind-linking devices so versatile that some feel the real world to no longer be necessary, cyber crimes have surpassed bank account hacking and have reached the level of memory stealing and even murder. Working through the eyes of two detectives and one cyber-addict, Technobabylon shows a worst-case scenario of where our future could go.
Similar to The Matrix, but more voluntary, citizens of 2087 find so much joy in living their brain-connected virtual lives that transferring into "meatspace" shows the complete disregard they have for their normal life. While dressed to the nines in their avatar clothing, their regular bodies are covered in rags they don't even wash, they ship them off to be recycled into new. Food is as bland and basic as possible, and muscles have atrophied so much they can't even pry open a container without help of some sort. Add on top of this cyberpunk cake, the omnipresent AI that seems to have unorthodox power over...just about everything.
Portions of this game were released in 2010, but they have been revamped and updated, with the full conclusion of the story nearly quadrupling in size and scope. Technobabylon plays like a classic point and click, even down to the graphics evoking an original Monkey Island feel with the pixel crafted characters. If you're a fan of the obscure combining and clicking routine found prevalent in most of the games like this, you won't be disappointed. It took several attempts for me to get out of the first room I found myself in.
This isn't to say you are without choices. One of the best things I learned about this game is the variety of options you may face. A locked door may be opened by making a call to central command, convincing your lockpick expert partner to take a shot, or using your electric stun gun to short out the circuitry. While you are always heading toward the singular ending, it's neat to know that multiple options are available. Too many times I've played a point'n'click to see an obvious solution to open a door, but the developers expected me to utilize that rubber chicken in my inventory somehow.
Technobabylon feels like a classic LucasArts game wrapped in a modern filter, giving it an edge worth noting. Fans of point'n'click or cyberpunk lovers looking to relax and hear a good story are in for a treat.
Thanks to WadJetEye Games for providing a review copy.
Final score: 3/5