AIs can still scream in space
Observation
BRING HER. That’s all you’re told. But
where? And why? The strange force
interfering with the self-aware AI of the
space station Observation, whisking it
across the solar system and making all
but one of its crew disappear, couldn’t
possibly have nefarious intent, could it?
Despite there being one human still
alive on the Observation, it’s the AI you
play as, seeing and interacting with the
world through security cameras in a rare
example of a second-person game.
It’s a subtle backdrop for a sci-fi
thriller, almost silent apart from the hum
of life support, and the click and whir of
the cameras. Fisher, the surviving crew
member, fights fires and carries out
repairs with SAM the AI’s help, getting
you to open hatches and vent fumes. You
jump between cameras, your point of view
limited to their positions and arcs.
The cameras provide a distinctive
visual style, as interference and distortion
course across the feed. Exterior cameras
allow you to inspect the outside of the
station, the feeling of being millimeters
away from the void almost tangible.
Sections in which you fly freely through
the station in a camera sphere allow the
naturalistic lighting to shine, the cramped
Observation and the calm flatness ofthe luckiest are those who can dedicate
a day-long session to it. An AI should be
unfeeling, but an AI played by a human
can never be that way. When you fail
Fisher, locking her out after a glitchy
voice print analysis, or just failing to open
a hatch on her count of three, you feel bad
because you care about her, and don’t
want her to end up as just another frozen,
floating piece of space debris.
And that’s Observation’s genius. The
relationship between Fisher and SAM is
a strong one, much like that between the
characters of Lone Echo. And by setting
simple goals, with complex solutions,
against a background of austere white
spaces as labyrinthine as the plot, it
foregrounds the relationship in a hugely
satisfying way. –IAN EVENDENFisher is the focus of the
game, but playing as SAM
gives you more flexibility.SAM’s voice bringing to mind everything
from 2001 to Moon to Event Horizon.
Some jobs are beyond Fisher, and SAM
must go in alone. The Observation has a
series of computer systems to manage its
complex workings, and while some tasks,
such as correctly firing jets to jettison a
damaged portion of the station to save the
rest, are a game of skill against the clock,
others are more puzzle-like.
Occasionally, the game falls down in
its signposting, the interactive object in
the room not remotely clear, and Fisher
chiding you as you sweep around with the
camera. The thought of an AI sitting frozen
in front of a puzzle, trying to grasp its
mechanics the same way a human player
would, can shake you out of the moment,
but the puzzles are well designed, and the
game is a patient teacher.
Exploring is a must, both to find clues
to help complete the puzzles, and to dig
out audio logs and other background
information on the station’s crew. It
is possible to get lost, but a system of
waypoints helps you to get around.
The plot takes you from uneasy
suspense to actual horror, your limited
power to interact with the world doing
much to ramp up the tension. It’s not a
long game, but it does keep you playing—Observation
OBSERVED Fascinating plot
and characters drag you in.
RESERVED Too little signposting at times;
easy to get frustrated.
RECOMMENDED SPECS Core i5-6600K
3.5GHz/Ryzen 3 2200G; 8GB RAM; Radeon
RX 570 8GB/GeForce GTX 960 4GB.
$25, http://www.observationgame.com, ESRB: M8
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