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As I mentioned earlier, Indigo Prophecy is very nicely presented, with some production values unlike anything the adventure genre has seen in quite some time. Environments feature rich colors and detailed textures, overlaid with a subtle film grain effect. The characters are expressive and articulate, with quality voice acting. Although it might not be up to snuff with the latest PC games, the system requirements are very low and the visuals easily hold their own against other console titles at the moment. Liberal use of motion capture has been used to bring the game's scripted sequences to life, to good effect, and both in gameplay and during the cut-scenes, Indigo Prophecy makes great use of split screen and picture-in-picture shots to show multiple perspectives which can make for some very tense moments.
If I had to pick a the biggest flaw with this ambitious title, it would have to be that it sadly, ends up being too Hollywood for its own good. While the story is very strong throughout, by the end players will be tapping the analog sticks through over-choreographed action sequences that would make Wachowski Brothers groan. One of the best things about the game is how effectively its able to tell a taut, thrilling, and personal story without having to find a way to work in bosses or other video game contrivances. It's a pity that it gets to big for its own good. From a pure gameplay standpoint, these sequences are longer than many players will enjoy as well.
Indigo Prophecy is a brilliantly executed game that, while not really innovating anything wildly new in terms of gameplay deserves quite a lot of credit for being able to deliver one of the most polished adventure games in years. It's a game I think everyone should at least try, and hopefully it will show that this kind of storytelling does have a place in mainstream gaming, rather than being relegated to small independent PC releases to be forgotten in the bargain bin. "Interactive Movie" might still be a pretentious term, but Indigo Prophecy has really managed to capture the essence of cinematic storytelling with the medium in a way few others have.
Editor's note: This review is based on the European PC release called Fahrenheit, which contains minor content differences from the North American release.
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