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It's All Fan And Games: Remember Me Review

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(Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

By Ray Atkinson

This generation of video games is coming to a close.  Developers are gearing up for new titles on fresh new consoles.  In the leadup, the market will be filled with sequels and yearly updates.  Once in awhile though, a game publisher takes a chance on a new title at the close of a generation.  Remember Me is one such title.

Since this is the first review in the history of "It's All Fan And Games," let me lay some ground rules.  I do not give review scores.  They are irrelevent to me since a review is one player's opinion about a game.  Do you ever give a score when recommending games to your friends?  Of course not.  Also, plot spoilers are kept to a minimum.

In Remember Me, you play solely as Nilin.  Nilin starts off as a prisoner who had her memory (now digitized) completly wiped, and has to figure out her purpose.  Yes, this game has characters share actual memories and the feelings associated with them like we share statuses and photos on Facebook.  It is a science fiction tale set in 2084 Paris that is a mixture between Blade Runner, Ghost In The Shell, and Arkham City.

I am not big on graphics, but let me just say, this game is gorgeous.   DontNod Entertainment created a beautiful take on futuristic Paris.  They built a city on top of a city, and the results are very pleasing to the eye.  A lot of current gen games use brown as their primary color.  Remember Me is filled with vibrant colors while maintaining a sense of realism.  The little details make the city feel alive.  Character designs are also off the charts.  No bald generic soldiers in this game.

In terms of gameplay, Remember Me is hybrid puzzle solver, platformer, and at it's core, a beat-em-up.  You will spend a lot of time knocking heads in this game.  Nilin is an avid fighter who has several combos at her disposal.  These combos can be customized to deliver heavy damage, heal, and recharge your special attacks.  If you take too much damage, you do not have to stop to heal yourself.  Simply change up your combos to one that has a lot of healing attacks.  You'll still do damage, but you will also restore your own health.

Remember Me - Combo Gameplay by XGN on YouTube

Exploration is more enclosed than most games.  Don't expect an Assassin's Creed type city where you can go everywhere.  The developers have a set path for you to take.  That path is littered with ledges to jump off, corners to find, and attack drones that need to be averted.  It flows pretty well, but there are a few quirks.  Some ledges are not as obvious, and if you jump off the wrong one, you have to start the area over.

Autosaving is a little clunky as well.  A little icon appears at the bottom right hand corner of your screen.  Problem though is that when I say it is little, I mean little.   Also, it only appears for a microsecond.  I cannot tell when my game saves.  Cool thing is that it saves often.  That leads to another issue though.  The font in this game is tiny.  I have a 32 inch high def, and I had problems reading the fine print in this game.  Shame too because this game has incredible back story.

Since memories are digitized in this game, you can hack a person's mind.  Nilin is an "Errorist" after all (love how they took out the "T").  Hacking someone's mind allows you to shape events differently to control a person.  You watch a memory unfold, and then change little details drastically affecting the outcome.  Move a trash can in a certain spot, and someone trips over it falling into a coffee table.  A little trial and error is involved, but the results you get can be hilarious.  It's a refreshing change of pace in the game.

The story of Remember Me is fascinating.  Nilin is not a cliche protagonist with amnesia.  She has a true motive, and you will enjoy finding out that motive along with Nilin.  Voice acting in this game is superb, and the music used to enhance the atmosphere is mesmerizing.  The opening title theme is one of my favorite tracks.

Overall, Remember Me is a different type of title.  If you are looking for a change of scenery in a sea of sequels, this is the game for you.  Science fiction fans shouldn't pass this one up either.  Instead of providing a score; should you buy, rent, or pass?

Verdict:  Buy.

Remember Me is available now for the XBOX 360, Playstation 3, and PC.  It is developed by French company DontNod Entertainment and published by Capcom.  Parental Advisory:  Rated M for Mature for blood, partial nudity, strong language, and violence.

It's All Fan And Games is a weekly blog focused on the world of video games.  Follow the author, Ray Atkinson, on twitter.  @FilthyRay
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