Dustborn on PS5
In today’s day and age, it is hardly possible to put something out without a message behind it, and as much as we try to separate entertainment from politics, the coming together of the two seems inevitable. After all, games are made by actual people, and for Red Thread Games and Spotlight by Quantic Dream‘s Dustborn, there is much to wade through in this action-adventure experience.
Considering that both the developer and publisher are big proponents of narratives that involve plenty of choices, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this is a core element of Dustborn. No matter where you find yourself during the 12-15 hours spent in the game, players will always be reminded of how their choices, big and small, matter, and there are consequences.
With the plethora of subject matter being discussed, like the aforementioned power of choice, the diverse issues faced by a colourful cast of characters, and the tension that lies within the world, it is perhaps no surprise that the game feels compelled to grab the player and reiterate its messaging over and over again. Whether that works depends on the individual, but it can lose some of its impact when players are not given the proper time to digest everything independently.
All of these occur not just as a visual novel but also as a combination of other gameplay elements that help spice things up. There are combat sequences, quicktime events, and even rhythm challenges to keep you on your toes, and help transform Dustborn into something truly unique.
As Pax, players will come together with a ragtag group of individuals and attempt to deliver an essential package to the resistance movement in Canada, all while being under the watchful eyes of the Republic of America, a now fascist state. It takes all sorts to make such a journey, and the cast is put through all sorts of interesting scenarios.
When faced with obstacles, would you choose to persuade using language or force people to act a certain way using the power of Vox, a literal manifestation of the spoken word? There’s also the aforementioned combat that is not exactly deep, but a serviceable manner of getting your way when things get too messy. As for the rhythm sections, the group’s cover as a punk band comes in handy as players time their button presses to perform various songs.
Is there anything groundbreaking about all of these elements? Not really, but they do their part in progressing the narrative. The choices you make, however, are the biggest game-changers. This includes the use of Vox in certain situations, which can affect how characters feel and interact with you, and ultimately, it all culminates in differing outcomes that might not always go to plan. It is this unknown that increases Dustborn‘s intrigue and helps it move beyond being just another visual novel with a message to send.
Another aspect in which the game does reasonably well is its world-building. This is a dystopian future that none of us wants, but it is still tangible and believable in a way that makes it terrifying to imagine, even if the art style looks extremely inviting. Diverging from the point when the assassination of John F. Kennedy became a successful hit on his wife, Jackie Kennedy, instead, the world is sent into a tailspin of madness and robots, where the different are hunted and authority is all that matters.
While you can argue about how all of that could happen, Dustborn forges ahead with its premise with utmost conviction, and draws plenty of parallels with what’s happening in reality. This definitely helps to connect players even more to the trials and tribulations faced by our heroes, but again, its approach is never quite subtle, trading nuance for a directness that will likely turn people off more than anything else.
Without diving into spoilers, the ending portions also leave much to be desired. For a game with so much hinging on choice and consequences, narrowing down its focus at the end feels unsatisfactory against the backdrop of much larger stakes at play. Sure, everyone can play their part and have the power to change things, but it would have been nice to actually see that in action after spending time trying to push through the necessary rectifications.
When it comes to the execution of its vision, Dustborn might not necessarily score high marks, but at the very least, the approach to gameplay is more than laudable, helping to deliver its messages in fresh and more engaging ways than most. Whether you are receptive to that is another matter, but it is always good to see something out of the box, and that is exactly what you’ll be getting when you join Pax and the crew on this road trip to remember.
Dustborn will launch on August 20 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
SavePoint Score
Summary
There are big ideas at play in Dustborn, and there is always fun in making choices that count, but this road trip hits a few bumps on the road along the way.
