1979 Revolution: Black Friday Reviews
A documentary in game form that allows the player to experience historical events authentically in a way no film could.
Part historical documentary, part video game, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday is a solid foundation for a tension-filled story grounded in the reality of a confusing time.
Were this release packed tighter with content it would be an easier recommendation. But, so long as game length and gameplay are not primary concerns, this story is worth considering for those eager for narrative-driven games, and who especially enjoy an interesting cast of characters,
Despite the kinks, some of which may be ironed out in future installments, 1979 Revolution represents an unusual and largely successful mix of an adventure game and history lesson.
If your goal when playing 1979 Revolution is escape and fun you’ll be sorely disappointed, but not all experiences have to have that purpose...
By pushing for change in a slightly messy way, the game fittingly embodies its revolutionary namesake in a way that will hopefully encourage others to follow suit and improve upon what it has started.
At its heart, this is a street-level view with a focus on people and their relationship more than the politics of the situation - which is saying something with the amount of historical content found within. It reveals a timeless truth that we would be careful to heed in our heightened cultural climate: the fires of revolution always burn hot, but they are uninhibited in who or what they consume.
Certainly rough around the edges, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday still boasts enough heart to make it worth playing by any Telltale fans.
Ink Stories should be congratulated on their tackling of a much misunderstood historical event and doing so with such accuracy, clarity and impartiality. However, with a glut of gameplay issues and a short game length that prevents the opportunity to explore some interesting ideas further, there's far too much incentive to give 1979 Revolution: Black Friday a miss. This is best viewed as an educational tool, rather than a satisfying interactive experience in its own right.
As a historical narrative told through a personal perspective, 1979 Revolution: Black Friday is certainly a capable piece of media but as a video game, it quickly falls apart and simply doesn't feel finished.
1979 Revolution's rough edges don't obscure its ambition in a worthwhile, enlightening narrative adventure.
This is a game that can broaden an individual person’s horizons and that of the entire medium, as well. It’s definitely worth your time.
Along with games like “Cibele” and “That Dragon, Cancer,” “1979 Revolution” sets a new path for games by providing a template for how the medium can tell stories grounded in ordinary life. Some of my favorite episodes in the game were much less spectacular than the incidents one normally sees in games like the aforementioned family dinner or tending to the wounds of an injured protester.