The Bunker Reviews
The Bunker is a well written short film with some good acting. It’s not really a game though, so it ultimately fails to live up to expectations.
Overall though I found The Bunker very entertaining despite it’s brief lasting time. It tells a well thought out and well acted story that will have you guessing and trying to figure it out until it ends. I really hope to see more FMV games like this one in the future as it’s a unique gaming experience unlike most others. Sit down, turn the lights off, and enjoy you’re stay in The Bunker.
Do not be sucked in by the intrigue of Full-motion video 'making a comeback,' as despite good intentions, The Bunker is a bland story with an over-reliance on button mashing that never engages those…well, not really 'in control,' more 'viewing' the interactive video sequences. The concept is indeed a good one, but so poorly executed, leaving an overall feeling of emptiness when all is said and done.
I had a tough time taking 'The Bunker' seriously. It was an admirable attempt at live-action psychological horror, but the John segments meander on and stumble around like the main character. It's not entirely predictable, but nor is it treading new ground.
The main gripe with The Bunker is the limitations with the gameplay. There are no puzzles to be solved, and it is a linear experience where the interaction stems from opening the doors and picking up the key items in order to progress the movie. However, beyond that is a wonderful acting performance by Adam Brown, Sarah Greene, Grahame Fox and the rest of the cast that inhabit the world below in the dark and quiet bunker. Full of mystery and intrigue, this is a remarkable effort at an interactive movie, which works well enough for another attempt at creating a live action video game. This is a gripping movie, and although short, fans of the horror genre looking for something different need to check this out and experience the unforgettable tale of John in The Bunker.
Dripping with a rich atmosphere, The Bunker brings FMV back in a big way. Its intriguing story setup, the setting, and plot twist provide an unforgettable experience. While it's not hugely interactive, it is hugely enjoyable, and well worth a look from people who like horror, BBC programmes, and the tasty spices of a period drama. Stellar work from a team that will hopefully want to make more games in a similar style!
The Bunker won't appeal to players looking for a long, deep experience. It's short, and the interactive elements are sparse, with little punishment for making any mistakes. Horror film buffs will likely appreciate the game's strong narrative and its atmospheric tension, though. If you fall into the latter category, The Bunker is certainly worth checking out on Switch.
The game is about as long as a movie, making it short at three or so hours in length, but I enjoyed the ride. The gameplay is a tad weak due to the puzzles being very easy to figure out, but realistically you are in this one purely for the storytelling. Also, the game has a satisfying ending which a lot of games seem to be lacking these days.
Did I like The Bunker? Certainly. It’s a 21st Century game that pays homage to how things were done many, many years ago for FMV games while also doing its own thing and showing what new tech and a bigger budget can do. Sure, some might complain that the game is only a couple of hours long at most, but it is an interesting and fun game. It’s basically a feature-length interactive movie, and considering the current price of a movie ticket, the asking price of $19.99 for The Bunker is not a problem. I enjoyed my time with the game as I wrote this The Bunker review, making this one an easy game for me to recommend to you to buy.
Despite a compelling performance from Adam Brown, The Bunker fails to capture that same talent in regards to its writing and direction, leading to a messy pseudo-film filled with pacing issues and a lack of commitment to either of the two mediums it's trying to merge.
It's short, and replayability is pushed for because of the insertion of collectibles and a branching path ending. But I didn't find these enticing enough to come back. Once in the Bunker, was enough for me.
The Bunker weaves a decent plot, is well cast, and certainly has its moments of intensity
The Bunker's professional production and compellingly told story make it an extremely engaging experience despite its low level of player interaction.
Overall though, The Bunker is an excellent game, and one that I'd glad to have played. The cast performances are terrific, the writing is sharp, and the mechanics are sufficient for the story it sets out to tell. It is a great example that FMV games don't have to be over the top and campy (as fun as that can be) to be compelling, and is a great example of this style of game.
The Bunker definitely won't revive FMV titles, but it's a bold storytelling platform in 2016 that pays off. The Bunker is surely bound to attract even the most anti-FMV gamers out there.
The Bunker is a game with big ideas that fails to reach the heights it obviously wants to. The stiffness of movement and animation loops, coupled with the continuity errors and the awkward gameplay means it is constantly drawing you out from being truly immersed in the game. There are things that The Bunker does right and it is definitely an interesting experiment that some may enjoy, but it falls in to all the usual trappings of the genre whilst failing to bring anything that feels new to the table.
The Bunker weaves a compelling narrative packed with amazing performances, authentic sets and believable writing let down only by limited interactivity. If you love a tense, chilling story, The Bunker provides all the mystery and intrigue you could hope for!
Since it isn’t a very long experience (maybe 2 - 3 hours, total) I suppose you could go back through to try to find everything or see how it could play out differently but I found my one run to be satisfying enough. Overall, if you’re down for an experience in this bleak sort of setting, with a story that intrigues and an outcome that may telegraph a bit but is still interesting to watch unfold, The Bunker is a very different kind of experience you haven’t yet had on the Switch.
The Bunker was a game I really wanted to enjoy. I love the idea of mixing movies and video games as they are two things I am massively passionate about but this just doesn’t work. It doesn’t work as a video game and it doesn’t work as a movie. While it looks great, the acting leaves a lot to be desired and there just isn’t any involvement for the player as you’re just pressing the A Button a couple of times here and there without ever really having to make choices. It had potential and any future games can certainly learn a lot from this, but my advice is to stay well away unless you’re absolutely desperate for something to do for an hour or two.