What would you do if you unwittingly committed a cold blooded murder? How would you hide the evidence? What moral fibers would you sacrifice to avoid being caught? If you were the detective on the case, would you be able to unravel the mystery? Indigo Prophecy puts you in the middle of a plot that plays out more like a movie than a videogame. If you’ve been hearing about how innovative and amazing Indigo Prophecy is, you’ve heard correctly, and if you’ve ever had a place in your heart for a deep adventure game then this is the one for you.

On a cold winter night, Lucas Kane pops into a restaurant to have a hot cup of coffee, read some Shakespeare, and makes a trip to the bathroom. He finds more than he bargains for though and enters a trance-like, hallucinogenic state, and starts carving up his arms with a knife. When he snaps out of it, he’s standing over a dead body and a pool of blood. He just brutally murdered a man.

As Lucas it’s up to you what happens next. Do you wash the blood off of your hands and face? Do you try to hide the body and the murder weapon? Just how do you plan on slipping by the cop sitting at the end of the bar without getting spotted? It’s these little decisions that make Indigo Prophecy so special, because you are put into the mind of a killer and have to do your best to cover your tracks and not get caught. Lucas is aided by those hallucinations though, because some of them turn into prophetic visions, allowing him to see events before they occur.

While they don’t have seemingly mystic abilities, you also play a pair of cops (Carla and Tyler) who are assigned to the case and have to solve the mystery, catch the killer, save the day, blah, blah. It may sound a little strange at first to take control of three separate characters from different sides of the same story, but that’s where part of the charm comes in. By unwittingly doing something as Lucas, or discovering something as Carla or Tyler, it will affect the outcome of the story. Fortunately this isn’t your typical point and click adventure though, and it borrows many elements from another successful micromanaging game known as Shenmue (maybe you’ve heard of it).

Gameplay:

The control in Indigo Prophecy is slower than most, clunky at times, and can be downright frustrating beyond belief, but this is without a doubt one of the most ingenious games ever conceived. The simple fact that every subtle action you make has the potential to reflect on your experience makes it very easy to overlook the minor flaws of design. It’s not even your actions that will determine what happens, but your conversation as well since you are given several responses to choose from. Everything in the game is about the choices we make on a daily basis, and how one ripple in a pool of water can alter something’s course. Unlike many other adventure games, you have near complete control of what transpires with the story here, and exploring that is half the fun.

My initial impression of the game was that it was going to be your typical adventure/mystery, where you slowly plod along and nothing really happens to wake you up. That thought flew out the window when I first finish placing the body in the bathroom stall at the restaurant and was trying to flee the scene. The screen split between my character and the cop at the end of the bar as he got up to use the bathroom. Lucas’ heart rate quickened as I ran through the streets looking for a cab to get me out of there. I felt the tension, the franticness of it all, and I was immediately hooked.

While there isn’t “action” in the sense that we usually think about it, the game perfectly captures and uses its creepy atmosphere to elevate the gameplay. Occasionally you will be given a small window of opportunity to get things done, and when that happens Indigo Prophecy will make you sweat. When a cop knocks at your apartment door you’d better make the bed to cover your bloody sheets and pick up that bloodstained shirt off of the floor, or else it’s game over. I may be repeating myself by saying so, but this really is one of the most tense games I have ever played.

In addition to exploring environments and trying to beat the clock, you’ll also have to play a little Simon Says from time to time. When the words “Get Ready” pop up you better be paying attention and have quick reflexes. An icon will appear for each analog stick and depending on what direction lights up, you’ll have to press the stick in kind. It can be grueling at times when the commands come in rapid succession, but once you clear the scene there is a big feeling of relief and satisfaction.

There are also some times where a meter will appear with L1 and R1 flanking it. This is kind of a pressure gauge and in order to raise it you’ll need to alternately press those shoulder buttons. It sounds easy enough, but once you have to do it for a minute to a minute and a half straight, the game becomes punishing. These little time and coordination sensitive mechanics work well with the game’s style, but they can really grate on the nerves and patience when they last for too long.

Like any great adventure game should, I found myself glued to the controller just to find out what the story had in store for me. The ending was a tad disappointing, but getting there was well worth the ride. I couldn’t get enough of having to make moral decisions and to live with the outcome. One moment in particular grabbed me the most near the beginning of the game. Lucas has a premonition about a child falling into an icy river, but the cop from the restaurant is walking towards him. You can either forsake your freedom and save the child’s life, or you can simply turn and walk away, allowing the kid to die. These types of scenarios will send shivers down your spine and constantly leave you guessing if you made the right choice.

Graphics:

While the game itself is a borderline masterpiece, the graphics are effective, but leave a lot to be desired. There are many rough spots and jagged edges in the textures and designs, plus the environments themselves are somewhat bland. There is plenty of detail and atmosphere, but the quality is really merely above average especially when it comes to animations. Many of the character movements are lifelike, but there are some that seem a little awkward or jilted. Fortunately, the intuitive camera angles save many of these flaws and allow from some very dramatic footage. It really feels like you are playing an interactive movie, especially when multiple windows open up in a style not too dissimilar to “24”.

Audio:

What the game lacks in visual presentation, it makes up for with aural. The voice acting, sound effects, and music are all used perfectly. Lines are delivered professionally with some quality voiceovers that really take the script and hit it out of the park. The sound effects are creepy, realistic, and once you combine the atmospheric music on top of them, the game comes alive. I can’t say anything other than I was completely floored by Indigo Prophecy’s sound direction, and it matches the atmosphere to a T.

Conclusion:

There is no way around it. This game will make an immediate impression on you and stick with you long after you put the controller down. The concept may not be new to the adventure genre, but the execution breaths life into something that had all but decayed over the past few years. The graphics may leave something to be desired, but the sound in the game is phenomenally executed. Make the moral decision and pick this one up if you’ve ever had a place in your heart for a strong adventure game. Highly Recommended