PC Gamer

resources. Most obviously you can
see the stinginess when it comes to
the magic juice called EVE. But I was
also aware of scarcity when it came
to ammo. Y’see, the game has a
photography system where you can
take snaps of enemies in order to
learn more about their weaknesses
and which ammo to use against them
for optimal results. The implication is
that you would use this information,
selecting the right tools for the job.
In practice this meant I knew
what would be more effective if I had
it in my arsenal, but would then need
to make do with the scrapings of
ammo I had to hand. Armour-
piercing rounds might be the ideal
option, but try telling that to the
bunch of napalm, two proximity
mines and three regular pistol bullets
in my inventory. I was doing the
equivalent of rummaging round in
my handbag for bus fare and then
trying to buy a ticket with a fluffy
toffee, four stamps and a hairband.
It also seemed like the game was
teasing interesting power/weapon
combos and aiming for Dishonored-
style emergent experiences (don’t @
me about the release timeline). But in
reality, you never needed to progress

from the electric-shock-then-wrench-

or-shot tactic. You could try other

combos if you wanted to, but it felt

awkward to do so and the payoff

wasn’t really worth it.

SPRINGING A LEAK

While I’m talking about the

negatives, there is a dreadful escort

mission, the level layouts can be

rather confusing and the save system

meant it was more efficient to die,

respawn and return to a brawl than

expend health packs during a fight.

I also found the feted Fort Frolic

level hard to navigate. I can see why

it’s the standout of the game in terms

of being the level which does

something different. It forces a

different kind of complicity out of the

player – making you photograph

corpses and display the images is a

very different experience to simply

killing a boss.

It also allowed for rare moments

of expressive play in terms of how

you framed those photographs. I only

photographed the feet of the dead. At

the time I was trying to photograph

as little of a corpse as I thought I

could get away with and still trigger

the next step. Looking at the resulting

display of dead feet in the level’s

lobby, I think I managed to outdo the

boss, Sander Cohen, in creepiness.

But as someone who has played

games with hub-type levels since the

mid-’90s, the navigation here felt

counterintuitive. As I became

frustrated I knew I started missing

I have many questions about

who designed these machines.

Admiring the iconic Big Daddy

while jogging backwards.

PERSONAL PLUMBINGWhat your favourite pipe piece says about you

STRAIGHT

You’re a fan of

lying down or

standing up

and nothing in between.

Sitting down scares you.

You also cannot bend to tie

your shoelaces.

CROSS

The good

news is that

you are

incredibly versatile. The

bad news is that you are

also horribly broken and

spill gloop everywhere.

ALARM

Anxious. If

any other

member of

society makes any

demands of you, you start

screaming and throwing

robots at them.

ELBOW

Your chat s

always take

an odd turn

and, if you hang out with

three like-minded friends,

have a tendency to go

round in circles.

OLD GAMES, NEW PERSPECTIVES

REINSTALL

Making a dramatic entrance.