Cognition Episode 4: The Cain Killer
I
have gone from one episodic adventure to another and both have let me
down, but for different reasons.
The
previous one was a middling filler, that can be redeemed by what might
follow. This one was the final part, and unfortunately let everything
else down.
I
confess that I played it as a stand alone chapter, which I said in Part
3 that I wouldn’t do, so that didn’t help. Played subsequently and
continuously, its way less disappointing, but is even more exposed as
the weak link.
Why
do I say that? In short, it’s way too short, far too linear, and overly
contrived. Erica remains strong, but the supporting cast is so so, and
what was with the really long overview at the start?
Linear applies to many games, especially in this genre, but here I
didn’t feel like I was doing anything to drive things along. There is a
lack of interaction, except when there is WAY too much interaction, and
nothing much in between.
Short also applies to many episodes of many episodic games, but I reckon
this is three hours at best and probably less for most players. Played
back to back as a single whole game it doesn’t matter as much, but in
anyone’s gaming language, episodes should be longer than this.
I
also thought that the end drew attention to what is a somewhat far
fetched plot line to say the least. Like the episode of Dexter where we
have a room full of serial killers, here we have killers getting the
killers to kill the other killers, because they can’t bring themselves
to do the killing … I think.
There is more. Simple puzzles and then way too fiddly puzzles, the
conversation portraits that can result in your death except they won’t
because the answers are all rather obvious. But enough. I don’t want to
go on, because Cognition and Phoenix Studios deserve a better finale
than this.
There is a lot to like about Cognition the series, starting with Erica.
The adult themes I liked, and the cognition puzzles in the earlier
episodes added a little vive la difference to set it apart from many
games out there. Voice acting is generally good, the soundtrack well
done, and the graphic style suits the unfolding events.
Cognition is worth playing, and if you doubt me read my earlier reviews.
A disappointing last episode shouldn’t detract from everything that went
before. Give it a go and support a studio that and a heroine worth
supporting.
C+
I played on:
OS: Windows 7
Processor: Intel i7-3820
4GHz
RAM: 12GB Ripjaw DDR3
2133 Mhz
Video card: AMD Radeon HD
7800 2048MB
