Knee Deep Demo

Noir movies are not that popular nowadays, although it’s a genre that still has a lot to offer. Sure, the stories may all involve some sort of detective and a murder or two, but it’s the general atmosphere and the characters that draw the audience in. Sin City is a good example of doing things right, while The Wolf Among Us is the video game equivalent in regards to quality, although it’s not exactly noir for all intents and purposes.

Knee Deep is different from any game you might have experienced before. It may not be a revolution, and there are many elements in common with other games, but the overall product feels like nothing else out there. It’s basically an interactive theater stage, except that you have control over the actions of the three main characters that serve as the protagonists of the story.

Speaking of which, the story is split into three different acts, each one of which develops over a couple of hours. As mentioned before, you get to play as three different characters: a reporter by the name of Jack Bellet, a blogger named Romana Teague, and a private detective by the name of K.C. Gaddis. Their purpose is to find out the truth behind the suicide of a famous actor, and each one of them goes about this in a different way.

Every now and again, the game faces you with a critical decision, one that has serious repercussions on how the rest of the cast sees you. Whether you upset your boss or the friends of the victim, it all depends on what you say and how. When Romana Teague has to post on the blog, you can choose how to approach your story, in order to play it cautious or just cause as much drama as you possibly can.

As far as the visual aspect is concerned, there are many surprises in store for you. Since the action takes place on a stage, each location is actually a set, and you move around between them on some kind of platform. Moreover, each scene is framed wonderfully, although the actual graphics quality is a bit behind for this day and age. On the other hand, the soundtrack is sublime, since it really helps with the “swamp noir” atmosphere created by the designers.

It’s a wonder Knee Deep is not more famous by now. The creators have managed to create a unique setting and present it in an outstanding fashion, which makes it easier to be a part of the story. While it is true that the dialog could use a polish here and there, the game is definitely worthy of a try for every adventure fan out there.