The lines between entertainment mediums can really blur when it comes to video games and that has never been more the case than with this latest release from 505 Games. Reading the synopsis of this game, you can be forgiven for expecting the usual thriller mystery game where you find clues, solve the crime and be the hero. But I was not prepared for what perhaps is the most surprising gaming experiences of this year, and Virginia certainly took me by surprise.
Virginia puts you the player in the role of Anne Tarver, newly graduated FBI agent who is assigned her fist case to investigate the disappearance of Lucas Fairfax in the quiet town of Kingdom in Virginia. The player will experience the investigation through the eyes of Anne but right from the very start, I knew this was not going to be the usual mystery solving game that I am used to, and it was that first surprise that began to shape my time with Virginia.
The very first thing you are asked to do as the player, is to simply press the action button, now normally this is simply following the ‘Press A to start’ option as almost every game uses in order to get started by for Virginia the player is instead asked to ‘Press A to take a trip’. At the time of playing this for the first time, this little detail didn’t appear to be anything more than just a quirky change of text but as with so much about this title, the little details can be the most intriguing aspects to the game. Once you get to the main menu there is a great addition of reading a letter from the creators, where the history of the game and those responsible for its development explain what it took to bring Virginia to life and serves almost like the forward and dedication you would find in a book and gives a nice insight into the people who made the game.
The introduction and opening title sequence to Virginia plays very much like any Netflix or HBO television show would open each episode. The music helps set the mood of a serious and dark undertones and it really is the music to Virginia that drives the experience for me, composed by Lyndon Holland, the music sets the emotional tone of the story, the characters and each scenario so powerfully that I can only really compare it another game that uses music in much the same way, Journey. The musical score is very much needed because Virginia has no narration or spoken dialogue throughout which at first was a little confusing but the further into the story it simply showcased how tremendous the use of music and great animation was to telling the story.
Visually the game has a very retro feel with characters only having basic features but thanks to really impressive animation, the emotion in each scene from the characters involved is clearly defined and so expressive that dialogue is not necessary for the player to understand what is happening as the story unfolds. There is limited player interaction which leaves the gameplay feeling very much as though it is on rails, with it action button presses simply there to move the story forward. You can only move where the scene permits you to go and you can only interact with things needed to trigger the next scene. The focus is very much on experiencing the story through the eyes of Anne, and though you do feel as though you are simply along for the ride, the story and how it is told is really riveting.
The influences from iconic 90’s TV shows are evident throughout the story from X-Files to Twin Peaks. With movement very much on rails, early in the game it can be quite confusing to have the scenes abruptly change right in front of you. One moment you are in your supervisor’s office being handed a case file and suddenly you are walking down a corridor which then cuts to walking down stairs to then suddenly knocking on the door of the FBI agent you have been assigned with to investigate the missing person case. It does take a while to get used to this style of scene change and it can be confusing on your first play through but it gives the game a real TV show feel.
For me Virginia plays more like an interactive story experience than an actual video game and that really is its strength. Not having any dialogue forces the player to rely on their observational skills to help piece together what is going on along with the playing out of each scene. The story has many twists and turns as the investigation into Lucas’s disappearance unfolds around the different characters linked to the case as well as the player experiencing it all through the eyes of Anne Tarver. You quickly become engrossed in the story as each revelation pulls you in more and more, and noticing the little details in the sections that you can interact with the game world enhance this greatly, so it is worth taking the time when the game lets you, to explore every scene and locations.
Virginia really is a great example of showing how when the lines blur between mediums like video games and books, TV and films, it can deliver a refreshing and satisfying story telling experience that only the interactivity of a video game can deliver. With VR becoming more mainstream for gaming, this is an experience I would expect to become more frequent but the creators of Virginia have certainly set the bar high for how this formula can work. I loved how the story and the mystery being told without spoken words between the characters became a performance enriched by a superb musical score which completely managed to create a rewarding world to be a part of.
For such a low price Virginia game me a really enjoyable time that I was honestly not expecting to have. It is a testament to the creators who have managed to merge so many entertainment styles together to deliver a truly refreshing and different game. It has many secrets to discover that it will take more than a couple of play-throughs to collect them all as well as trying to see if you missed anything in the story telling.
With silly season now kicking off with big blockbuster titles being released almost weekly, Virginia is a great change of pace for those who appreciate great story telling and mysteries.
