Erica Reviews
Erica is a novel concept which fails on almost every count, unfortunately, and can't as such be recommended at all.
PlayStation 4; Flavourworks/SonyThis experiment in storytelling has a fascinating premise – but its repetitiveness renders it a lesser Bandersnatch
With its intriguing narrative hook, Erica's premise is enough to pique any FMV fan's interest. Sadly, clumsy plotholes and unnecessary choices weigh the game down, and it doesn't quite deliver in the end. It's still entertaining enough if you're looking for a different kind of movie night, though.
ERICA stands as an intriguing example of connecting players with a game through touch controls. It succeeds primarily as a technical feat and less so as a deeply-engrossing video game. If the storyline were given more time to grow then maybe it would have blossomed into something special. As is, it's akin to a murder mystery popcorn flick. There's fun to be had solving the mystery, but not quite enough to create a memorable experience.
Despite its production quality, some good acting and great accessibility, Erica doesn't feel like a great interactive movie. Most of the actions are just pointless and the story and characters as a whole, whatever our decisions are, feel rushed and fail to really create a connection between the player and the characters.
Review in French | Read full review
If you've never played an FMV before, Erica will probably be a lot more interesting and maybe it's a good entry-level to these types of games. But as far as I'm concerned Erica Mason can stay in the hospital and stop bothering me to help light her damn zippo.
Even with annoying faults like duplicate choices I quite enjoyed my time going through this interactive thriller. Great cinematography and acting more than makes up for a cliché story and setting. But for a game that focuses on player choice I find the inability to view the choice tree or even custom save very limiting. It's fine for casual walkthroughs but completionist play is unnecessarily tedious.
Review in Czech | Read full review
With each decision, the player feels closer to unraveling a mystery, all the while knowing a single playthrough will only just crack the surface.
Short but good live-action thriller about Erica's past and the shocking truth, just with simple story.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
This is a game valued accurately – although there isn’t much gameplay itself, who hasn’t paid at least this much just to watch a movie?
Erica is by far the best game to feature in the PlayLink category, but some of the ideas are unnecessary. The acting is great, but the story never really picks up until the final third of the game.
Erica offers a very casual take on the adventure game genre with a rather convoluted story, but a great price and solid production values make it a novelty thriller that's worth a look.
Erica is a great story with mystical plot, which is clearly worth the money, even if you decide to finish it just once. Only the inability to choose a chapter, some limitations of the format and the inevitable flow points of the plot cause minor disappointment.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Erica promises players a nice story. But is the story beautiful enough? We don't agree on this
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Erica is an outstanding production that may jumpstart the interactive live action game genre yet again.
action makes it different from its genre but it also confines it within it, specially about interactivity and design. However, despite its low duration and hybrid nature, it's evident the passion in every level (writing, background, actors). A courageous but also riskful experiment.
Review in Italian | Read full review
As a film, Erica is a very engaging thriller, not for the somewhat cliché plot, but for the interactivity that brings a special flavor, since the decisions define the ending that will be shown. It is a pity that only the options at the end of the film really matter for the outcome and that there is no system for revisiting scenes or altering decisions. Still, Erica is an interesting title for anyone who is looking for simple entertainment, but with the participation of the viewer, staying in the middle between a conventional film and a game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
With a fairly solid use of known tropes of the thriller genre, ERICA's highlights aren't necessarily its story or characters. But it's a well-crafted and interesting enough tale to present what is in fact the most special aspect of the game, which is the way Flavourworks has found to increase player engagement by creating a layer of extremely natural mechanics and interactions on top of live-action elements. It is a product that builds a new, more interactive base for FMV productions, opening new potential for the genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Erica isn’t exactly ambitious when it comes to FMV or adventure games. But it doesn’t have to be. It is a succinct experience with lots of different choices that change the story and lead to different sorts of outcomes. It is well performed has good transitions, and there are no overly-complicated inputs.
As long as you don't plan on making a repeat playthrough, Erica is a great experience. Only upon replay do issues like limited narrative variation, non-essential quicktime events, and the illusion of choice make an appearance. Despite that, this is a fantastic use of the FMV genre that more people deserve to experience.