Erica is the latest title in the FMV renascence we have been getting on the PlayStation 4. It is developed by Flavourworks and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This is the first game by the new London based studio and with the quality on display I would wager it won’t be the last we see of them.
As this is an FMV game the entire thing is shot as an interactive live action movie. I did however find this to be the most well directed game I have played in this genre. Each playthrough is littered with beautiful shots of the rural Delphi House, the care home where most of the narrative unfolds.
Our story revolves around Erica, who had to endure the murders of both of her parents while she was young. Flashbacks show that she was present as her dad drew his last breath. Fast forward to present day and Erica receives an alarming delivery which brings her past very much back to the forefront.
From here Erica is advised to return to Delphi House. Her parents old workplace and a location that brings back lots of old haunting memories. From here the narrative can branch off in many unique and interesting ways, with vastly different outcomes. To see all that the game has to offer you will be looking at about half a dozen playthroughs, each of which has a run time of around 90 minutes.
Gameplay inputs may be limited, but Flavourworks has created the most interactive FMV game I have played to date. You have two control input options, deciding between the dual shock 4’s touchpad or your phone/tablet via the Erica app that is available for free on both Android and iOS.
While the touchpad can be a little erratic at times, the app works flawlessly and should absolutely be your preferred input method. Scrubbing the screen to access flashbacks, flicking your screen to ignite a lighter, opening and closing doors, slowly leaning around corners and selecting dialogue at varying rates of urgency are just some of the tasks you will undertake and it is all executed in a way that feels great.
Acting performances are solid throughout from cast members such as Terence Maynard, Duncan Casey, Sasha Frost and Chelsea Edge. The real star though is Erica herself, played by Holly Earl. She absolutely owns the screen in every scene she appears in and does a fantastic job of getting you invested in the outcome of her story.
The game comes packing a platinum trophy and while the difficulty level in obtaining said platinum is low, you will be looking at a minimum of six playthroughs (with a guide) in order to mop up all the various objectives and endings. To allow for maximum immersion, trophies obtained throughout each playthrough only pop during the ending credits, which mean you cannot cut down on time with saved checkpoints.
Overall, if you love strong narrative games I highly recommend checking out Erica. At £8.99 you really can’t go wrong and this is the perfect kind of game to play alongside a non-gaming partner or friend. The run time is short but there is plenty of replayability on offer and honestly, it is worth it for Holly Earl alone, who has shot up my list of favourite actors this week.
-VDZE
Reviewed on PS4 Pro.
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