Nobody Wants to Live Forever
Nobody Wants to Die opens with a serene moment at a drive-thru theater, where James and his wife Rachel are enjoying a black and white movie. However, this tranquility is shattered when Rachel mysteriously disappears, revealing the dark and gritty world that James inhabits. Despite a strong start, the game’s approximately six-hour runtime falls short in some aspects. The investigation scenes feel a bit too guided, and key features are lacking to fully explore the branching story structure. Nevertheless, the game excels in its stylish presentation.
Nobody Wants to Die follows the story of James, a detective with a haunted past, navigating a city filled with flying cars, towering buildings, and intricate conspiracies. While the premise may seem cliche, the game’s cyberpunk neo-noir aesthetic sets it apart. Drawing inspiration from classics like Altered Carbon and Blade Runner, the game seamlessly blends retro-futuristic elements with modern storytelling.
Critical Hit Games infuses a “eat the rich” motif into the narrative, exploring themes of class warfare and societal inequality. Despite borrowing concepts from existing cyberpunk fiction, the game introduces unique twists, such as the consequences of body-swapping and the quirky details of James’ dilapidated apartment building.
The dynamic between James and his partner Sara adds depth to the narrative, with players given multiple dialogue options to shape their interactions. Whether pursuing a serious tone or opting for a more humorous approach, the game allows for diverse character development and plot progression.
Nobody Wants to Hold Your Hand
While Nobody Wants to Die captures the essence of a neo-noir detective fantasy, it falls short in providing meaningful agency during case-solving segments. The gameplay mainly revolves around examining crime scenes, gathering evidence, and utilizing futuristic technology to reconstruct events. However, the lack of autonomy and guidance throughout these investigative sequences diminishes the sense of accomplishment for players.
Despite this limitation, the dialogue system offers a degree of control over James’ responses and actions, shaping the narrative based on player choices. The game’s multiple endings and impactful decision-making highlight the importance of the journey over the final outcome.
Nobody Wants You to Save Your Game
Critical Hit Games’ decision to forgo manual saving and replayability features in Nobody Wants to Die adds a layer of permanence to player decisions. While this choice emphasizes the weight of choices, it also hinders the exploration of alternate storylines. Players must commit to a full playthrough to experience different outcomes, with limited options for speeding up subsequent replays.