Developer: Paul Raschid / Aviary Studios
Publisher: Aviary Studios
ReleaseDate: 8th September 2022
Platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam, iOS & Android
Reviewed on: PlayStation 5
▫️ Code provided by the publisher ▫️
Over the last few years, I have played my fair share of FMV titles. Starting with The Bunker back in 2017, right up to the excellent Immortality only a few weeks ago. The debate is always there: are these experiences really games or interactive movies? While an argument can be made on both sides, what isn’t in question for me is their entertainment value. When done right, an FMV title can be extremely immersive and I enjoy seeking out teams trying something a bit different with the genre. Enter: The Gallery.
The unique hook here is that you have the option of playing through for all intents and purposes the same narrative twice, across two different time periods. One in 1981, and the other forty years later in 2021. Both stories are accessible from the start and can be played in whatever order you like.
The 1981 half is set during Thatcher’s reign over the United Kingdom. There is civil unrest and concerns that things may begin to boil over. You are directing the decisions of Morgan Haynes, an art gallery owner who is hoping that securing a highly sought-after portrait of the Prime Minister will mean a huge boost to foot traffic the next day for an exhibition that is being held. Unfortunately, just after locking up, you become aware that you are not alone. A character by the name of Dorian is inexplicably inside the property, and against your better judgement, you entertain this individual.
In the 2021 narrative, the same basic story applies, with a few new side characters providing different wrinkles to the main protagonist. The setting is also the same art gallery in London, complete with different window-dressing to compliment the times. There is a sense that Brexit Britain and the pandemic are leaning heavily on the country and I found the contrast between the same story playing out in two different time periods fascinating.
In the 80’s timeline, Morgan is played by Anna Popplewell, who you may know from the Chronicles of Narnia films. The antagonist, Dorian, is played by George Blagden of Vikings fame. One of the most interesting things the game does is flip the script for the 2021 adaptation, with Blagden taking on the role of the gallery owner, while Anna Popplewell becomes the mysterious and evasive Dorian. It’s an interesting juxtaposition and one that is in keeping with the sense that a lot has changed in the forty years between the time periods.
The acting throughout both stories is solid and the supporting cast does a good job of providing context and motivations for our main characters. For a story built around a hostage situation though, there were times when the writing didn’t convey the level of magnitude that I would have expected. This would have been less glaring if the tone was campier, as is the case in many FMV titles. However, The Gallery plays it pretty straight, and so there was a bit of a disconnect at times.
As is the norm with games in this genre, there are many branching paths and endings to see. Twelve in the 1981 story, and six in 2021 to be exact. This can be tracked at any time during the pause menu as well. Decisions by default are timed, forcing players to go with their instincts, but if you happen to be playing in a group or streaming the game there is also an option that lets you linger on choices and discuss your next course of action.
The platinum trophy isn’t difficult in any way, especially with being able to pause decision-making, but I highly recommend checking out a guide to know which decisions need to be made in order to push you in the right direction of each objective.
Value: With a launch price of just £11.99 this is an easy game to recommend to fans of the FMV genre. Each of the two stories comes in at around 80 minutes, and so putting them together equates to a feature length film. Add in the replayability factor, and you are definitely getting your money’s worth here.
Overall I really enjoyed The Gallery. For a while now I have found the FMV genre a great palate cleanser between bigger, more gameplay-heavy titles. The story here is good, and it plays out with mostly good acting from a recognisable cast. Certain areas of the story can be picked at, and depending on your decisions you may not get the ending that you want, but I think you’ll enjoy the ride.
-Craig