Read Only Memories Demo

Computers have evolved at a steady pace ever since they have been invented a few decades ago, and their power has doubled every couple of years. Nowadays, people fear the inevitable singularity, which states that computers will reach a state of self-awareness in the near future. On the other hand, it can also be a good thing, as long as they do not get the opportunity to interfere with our lives when we do not want it.

Read Only Memories is a retro point-and-click adventure game that sends you a couple of years into the future, where technology has already reached a few singularities. The game itself is designed to look as retro as possible, which is a neat contrast, considering the fact that it approaches subjects like machine intelligence and all sort of hi-tech gadgets. Its mechanics are classic, on the other hand, so you’ll be clicking on objects and having dialogs most of the time.

Speaking of which, the story is mighty intriguing as well. As it happens, you play the role of a journalist struggling with money, when you are visited by a machine that has developed a conscience. The events take place in Neo-San Francisco in 2064, and most of the missions require you to solve puzzles and interact with other characters.

Just like in every other adventure game out there, the world around you is very interactive, given the fact that you can observe, use and even pick up most objects. In fact, your goal is to find the items that can come in handy during the puzzles, as well to combine them in order to obtain something useful. The puzzles are not very complicated, but they do require a decent amount of tinkering before they become obvious.

As mentioned earlier, the graphics are retro, which means that they are heavily pixelated to look like something released back in the 80s. The environments are still pretty detailed, but you shouldn’t expect anything too flashy. On the other hand, the voice acting is sublime, and it’s a pleasure to hear the narrator talk you through the events every step of the way.

All things considered, Read Only Memories has a lot to offer to adventure fans, even if it does so in a very old fashioned way. Hence, if you are up for a good story and you do not mind the pixelated landscapes, this is definitely a game to have in your library.