The Complex Reviews
A polished but disappointingly by-the-numbers FMV adventure that won't linger in your mind for long.
While you can't fault the visuals and the effort put in to try and mask the evident budget limitations, that cutting of corners vibe is sadly something that plays into The Complex one too few many times.
The story and acting are superb and with so many endings it's almost impossible to predict how each decision will play out and affect the overall conclusion. A must play for fans of live-action games.
An interactive movie that tries to tell a relevant tale of near-future Britain but is marred by characters that lack credibility and a story free from dramatic tension.
The Complex is a well crafted interactive movie with a story that will initially hook you. As you lead Amy's decision making through the story, some moments can feel a bit out there or character motivations unclear, but it's a satisfying experience overall and it will scratch that sci-fi thriller itch.
The timing of the release of The Complex is questionable considering the pandemic that's currently sweeping the globe. Once you get over the similarities between reality and video game, the plot is a great if brief distraction for a lazy afternoon. It's another smooth blend of movie and video game, even if there is more movie footage than gameplay, but this formula seems to be working well for Wales Interactive.
It's your job to help two doctors – who are also ex-lovers – save an infected woman in this zeitgeist-y drama with eight possible endings
The Complex fails at being an engaging interactive experience, video game and story.
If you’re okay with having minimal interaction, enjoy making tough decisions, and love an interesting narrative, The Complex is certainly an experience to add to your list.
Mixing games and movies is hard, and The Complex still hasn't found the magic formula. At least, it doesn't take the matter so seriously as Until Dawn, but it just delivers what it promised: 6-8 hours of an interactive movie, set in a direct-to-video sci-fi context. Not a mastepiece, but stil better than the beginning of 2020.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Complex feels like a moderately entertaining super-low budget science fiction film – the first time. After that, it becomes apparent that the "interactive" part of this interactive film is just fluff, until the very end. At that point, the game slams you into an ending that feels a bit unearned. The Complex is a fun enough way to spend an evening with family or friends, but don't expect any longevity out of it.
There's a place for FMV games like The Complex, but this effort is both poorly written and performed. You'll tire of the cast long before you reach the release's credits, and while the title does include various branches in its story, it generally feels like you're on autopilot for the most part. If you're desperate for a live action experience, the PS4 already has much better alternatives to this.
The Complex is an interactive movie with a fairly interesting plot, a rather good performance from its cast and a decent amount of player involvement that goes beyond simple plot choices. While the genre may not be the most engaging when it comes to gameplay experiences, The Complex could have used some additional help with a flowchart for the plot choices and improving on some cliché elements. Overall, fans of interactive movies with sci-fi plots will have something to look forward here.
Review in Portuguese |
The Complex offers commendable acting and writing and a genuine sense of excitement to go with its interactive movie experience. However, most of the endings are quite similar and unsatisfying, and player choices often don't have much effect on the overall narrative. Still, considering the game costs the same price as a weeknight movie theater ticket, but with the added benefit of some novel interactivity, The Complex could make for a refreshingly unique, albeit short, movie night.
The Complex can be enjoyed as a decent B movie, with its poorly written plot and cheap visual effects. The actors do their job though and there is a real replay value, since the choices made thourough the game have real consequences on the conclusion, with nine different endings to get.
Review in French | Read full review
Bridging film and video game, interactive movies are a niche format. However, with most of us having a lot more time on our hands during lockdown, now may be the time to give this hybrid genre more attention. Removing many of the annoyances FMV adventures are associated with, and featuring strong production values, The Complex is a solid entry point, even if it's far more enjoyable as a choose-your-own adventure experience than film entertainment.
The Complex's potential gets lost amid weird subplots, throwaway characters, and a ton of plot holes. With so few meaningful choices, it's not an experience worth repeating more than once.
The Complex is a cleverly made interactive movie with an intriguing sci fi plot that eerily parallels the real world.
The Complex attempts to fuse Bandersnatch and Until Dawn and fails abysmally. Meaningless decision-making about characters that are impossible to care about makes what could have been a boring movie actively bad.
The Complex is a decently serviceable FMV game that has an ambitious relationship mechanic that drives choices forward. However, with some odd presentation choices and limited freedoms, this feels more like a midday movie matinee than a crowd-pleasing blockbuster.