Detroit: Become Human Reviews
There’s a glaring flaw for nearly every aspect the game succeeds at, and with that, it’s tough to argue against the game’s overall look as well as the 8 or so hours of enjoyment there are to be had.
This is the first release from Quantic Dream that I've become fully immersed in, and I cannot wait to return to the gritty streets of 2038 Detroit to make alternate decisions.
Detroit Become Human touches on interesting and pertinent subjects that affect both our world and its. While it doesn’t present an overly compelling story, by the time the credits rolled it made me think about the decisions I made in a way I wasn’t expecting and in that regard, Quantic Dream achieved what it set out to do. A narrative-driven game with the ability to make players think about their decisions.
Detroit: Become Human is a jaw-dropping graphical masterpiece utterly let down by failing to include a dose of subtlety.
Detroit’s ability to manipulate human emotion which causes it to become a truly memorable experience. The game will present you with a selection of imperfect options, and plenty of your choices will leave you questioning your personal ethics. Detroit: Become Human is intelligent sci-fi at its finest.
Detroit’s storytelling is lackluster and formulaic. The script has less emotion in it than androids before they become deviants and, in fact, I have to wonder whether an android wrote it. Perhaps it’s some in-joke on Cage’s part. As consumers and critics, we would never praise this level of storytelling in movies, TV shows, or books, yet for some reason, this nonsense is acclaimed just because there is a basic level of interactivity involved. If we want the quality of storytelling in games to improve, we need to demand more than this soulless and predictable nonsense.
Detroit: Become Human is an excellent narrative-driven game, just don't come in expecting compelling gameplay.
Detroit: Become Human manages to destroy a perfect story setup with a simple "right in the face" presentation of a complex theme despite a great acting performance of the main characters. The many optional outcomes during the playthrough lose lots of replay value because of that and make it probably the worst Quantic Dream game so far. There are still good visuals and enough entertainment for one playthrough but it doesn't deliver on anything else.
Review in German | Read full review
Detroit's weighty themes could have been its undoing, but somehow David Cage has written a nuanced, thoughtful script that delivers on its promise. Detroit Become Human is a must play and an absolute work of art.
As an unashamed fan of Quantic Dream's previous output, Detroit: Become Human is a mixed bag. On one hand, there is a continuation of the work that they've done with the previous titles, and they have crafted a wonderfully bleak world with Detroit. While it doesn't quite push the boundaries as much as Heavy Rain, there are some interesting ideas planted in the early stages of the story that never blossom fully, but still gives a somewhat satisfying conclusion, regardless of how you decide to play. On the other hand, the occasionally frustrating control issues and borderline laughable moments in the script made me shake my head on more than one occasion. It's a real shame, because there is an absolutely brilliant game tucked away somewhere in here. As it stands, it's only going to be great if you're willing to look past the obvious inherent flaws.
Three androids will set you on an adventure that'll have you questioning humanity, their circumstances and yourself. Its cinematic presentation is as precise as expected, but the new flowchart is going to have you come back for more to see all the various endings you can unlock. If you enjoyed Heavy Rain you are going to love this.
Detroit: Become Human improves upon its predecessors by having a cast that you enjoy and want to spend more time around. Quantic Dream's visual craft and presentation is top-notch, but the writing hasn't quite caught up yet. It isn't subtle and some of the references to social ills are amazingly on-the-nose instead of being more unique. It's better than Beyond: Two Souls, but there's still room to grow.
Though not perfect, Detroit: Become Human is certainly Quantic Dream’s boldest attempt yet, and the refinements they’ve made make for a smoother, more enjoyable experience. Detroit is bursting with personality, full of intrigue, and exploding with emotive depth. The many mechanical and performance issues that have plagued past games have now largely evaporated allowing for you to truly immerse yourself in one of the great narrative adventures of 2018.