Quantic Obsession

'SUP, NERDS?!

If ya'll couldn't figure it out... I play games for story and I'm not too picky on gameplay if it has an engaging plot. My love for branched stories stems from my childhood, reading Give Yourself Goosebumps among other choose your own adventure novels and playing my absolute favorite PC game, Titanic: Adventure Out of Time, with multiple outcomes and endings. It all started here.

One of Detroit's protagonists, Kara.

You may disagree with my gaming tastes, but I think David Cage and Quantic Dream make incredibly fun and engaging experiences. Their latest title, Detroit: Become Human, is probably their best yet, combining the best elements from all their previous games. Let's take a look what makes Quantic Dream awesome.

It all started with Fahrenheit

During my tweenage years, I was introduced to Fahrenheit (better known as Indigo Prophecy in the US) by a friend whom I often played horror, supernatural and other weird, gritty games with. My. world. was. SHOOK!

Fahrenheit is the first game that I felt my words had an extreme impact on the story. A slip of the tongue or an ill-thought choice could mean the difference of whether or not a character gains an object or information that will become useful later in the game. These choices stack and can prove to be consequential if a character continuously fails.

What still impresses me to this day how Fahrenheit incorporates the stories of 3 different characters who work against each other. Lucas, a murderer, is chased by investigators, Tyler and Carla who are riddled by their own personal problems. I played the remastered (and rightfully uncensored) edition a couple years ago and I still think Fahrenheit holds up in it's twisting narrative.

This is a good game to start with if you're new to Quantic Dream. The gameplay and action itself is simple, but you'll certainly be on the edge of your seat and scrambling as Lucas. He becomes a wanted criminal in Act 1 Scene 1, so you're constantly on the run. I can honestly picture Lucas's plot as a nightmare episode of What Would You Do?

The PS3 Era

It took me quite a few years to amass such an extensive PS3 library... but during high school when I could only afford the five games I owned, Heavy Rain was a priority. I wasn't aware of Quantic Dream as a studio and it took me a couple of years to connect the dots that they created my beloved Fahrenheit. However, I don't remember seeing Fahrenheit ever receiving the amount of flack as Heavy Rain does, even to this day.

I will engrave this on my tomb: Heavy Rain is a good game. Yeah, it is basically one huge meme to the haters, but for all of its flaws, Quantic Dream does an excellent job portraying a crime thriller with nicely-paced beats. The four characters you play all have the same goal through vastly different journeys: finding Shaun Mars & catching the Origami Killer.

People may dislike the melodrama in Heavy Rain because it may be too corny, but I think that by confronting the unique scenarios the protagonists experience, it helped me reflect upon my own character and how I react under pressure. There's some uncanny bits, but the characters become funny and endearing as you get to know them. Take for example, Nahman Jayden, being one of my best video game husbandos. His fine Boston accent gets to me...

On the other hand, Beyond: Two Souls is my least favorite of the bunch, but it's not a bad game whatsoever. I think Beyond has the most star power and impressive cast with Ellen Page and Willem DeFoe as the lead characters. I haven't had a chance to play the PS4 version yet, but my greatest gripe is how the game played out of sequence. There was less of an impact on your decisions since it would be pretty much impossible to make changes to the story by playing it so drastically out of order.

The concept of having phantom, second soul intrigues me. Jodie's trials to control Aiden through various stages of her life was executed quite well. Nonetheless, Beyond is a great drama and reminds me a little something of...


David Bowie: The Video Game

Quantic Dream's first title, Omikron: The Soul Nomad, is a blast. Although a bit frustrating by default for being an older game with sometimes confusing game play, you can see how it all started for David Cage. Omikron was originally released for Windows in 1999 and later ported to the Dreamcast. I would argue that it has the most diverse game play elements of all Quantic Dream titles.

There's plenty of exploration and puzzles to solve throughout the city of Omikron, FPS sequences, fighting sequences and the best part... watching David Bowie concerts. I'm shitting you not. There are hidden concerts in each district that you see posters hanging with all the details. Bowie is an actual character and he wrote a bunch of songs for the soundtrack.

Bowie is absolutely handsome, even as a video game character.

As the title of the game suggests (and without giving too many spoilers), you are a spiritual being that can possess the bodies of Omikron's inhabitants. You are forced to swap bodies a handful of times throughout the story, but you can otherwise possess as many or few people as you wish. The game begins with you Kay'l who is investing a series of murders. It is your job to discover who is committing such heinous crimes and uncovering secrets behind the city and government.

The narrative is definitely ahead of its time. I highly recommend trying Omikron, maybe having a game guide handy for when you are furiously stuck doing something stupid because hell, the game is dated in some respect! You may occasionally ask, "How was I supposed to know to do that?"

DETROIT *squee*

I'm going to leave ya'll on a cliffhanger. Because this blog originally started as a Detroit: Become Human review but then I got so sidetracked that it made sense to make a separate blog. I'll be soon publishing my impressions, gushings and thoughts on Detroit!

Which Quantic Dream games have you played? Did you enjoy it? Which is your favorite? Despite all of the flack, do you consider any titles a guilty pleasure? If you haven't played any of these, which is most appealing to you?

LATER, DWEEBS!

Loverly Liz

Remembering Kate Spade & Anthony Bourdain

Hello Friends,

This entry will not be silly as they usually are, but rather somber as I reflect upon designer Kate Spade and world traveler Anthony Bourdain recently passing. In their honor, I felt it was important to discuss my love for these people, their character, careers and how they have inspired me.

R.I.P. Kate Spade

I've always had a deep interest in fashion, however it hasn't been until the past year or so that I could afford to invest in nicer clothes and even consider purchasing anything designer. Whilst passing through Macy's (among other fine department stores), Kate Spade New York products have always caught my eye. It appeals to my delicate, feminine sensibilities in addition to my desire to be colorful and bold. That's what draws me into the brand.

It wasn't until the Flights of Fancy line released that I felt like I had to have a Kate Spade-something. Unfortunately, I was a broke student at that time and could never dream of purchasing fancy wallets, purses or clothing. Now that I've finished school and found a job, I regularly raid the outlet mall.

Although I don't own too many Kate Spade items, they bring me great joy. I have a couple of pieces from the Dress the Part line. The design strongly resonates with me because it gives off mad Persona 5 vibes.

Aside from the totes, I purchased my mom a large bag for her birthday this year and recently purchased a dress in Kate's honor. I've been eyeing a particular dress for over a month and felt the time was right. Not only is this dress flattering on me, the fabric itself is incredibly comfortable and reinforced with strong stitching. The quality is worth every penny.

Even though I really love the Kate Spade brand, I honestly think she's an amazing woman. She built her brand from the ground up and remained active in the company for quite some time even after selling it. It wasn't until she gave birth to her daughter that she stepped down to focus on her family, which I think says a lot about her values. In 2016, Kate launched a new brand, Frances Valentine, and spent her last couple years designing again.

R.I.P. Anthony Bourdain

I'm not a huge fan of many television stars... but I find Anthony Bourdain to be extremely charming, his influence reaching me at a young age. My family never had a cable line, so I regularly indulged myself in unique programming whenever I hung out at a friend's house. I was a young teen when a friend introduced me to him in No Reservations because there was an episode that took place in Japan. She said I had to watch it! I. Was. Instantly. Hooked.

From there, I've been a dedicated viewer, searching for episodes online if my friends failed to DVR any of his programs before the graces of Hulu and Netflix streaming. I consistently watched new episodes of The Layover and Parts Unknown as they aired and found myself hunting down and reading his books throughout college.

Since I was a child, I've always had an interest in foreign culture, especially those of Asia and the Pacific. What attracted me to Bourdain's programs and writing is that he's brutally honest. I wouldn't consider him a jerk, no matter how sharp his tongue. There's a certain kind of respect he gives to cultures and he tries to understand the unique differences by dining among commoners. The primary angle of his shows being: food unites people.

I spent much of my high school and college life studying foreign languages, cultural anthropology, television & film, history and government because Anthony Bourdain inspires me. Hell, I remember exiting high school and thinking about my college and career options saying, "I want to be the 'Next-Generation' Anthony Bourdain."

Here I am today, saving money to invest in some basic video equipment and researching places I can visit and document the next couple of years. Even as I review my options for continuing my education and possibly earning a Master's degree, the consideration to invest that money into funding a culture & travel documentary wavers inside my head.

What to Do

I truly love Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain, looking up to their work ethics and what they managed to accomplish. However, it's a sad reminder that no matter how driven and successful a person may be, they can still be silently suffering in other areas of their life.

If you ever feel helpless and alone, know that there is always someone you can reach out to. If you don't feel comfortable asking your friends or family, you can always contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

You are loved.

You are worth it.

Thanks for reading. See you next blog,

Loverly Liz