Erica- Video Games As Art
Full Motion Videos (FMVs) are having a bit of a resurgence. What with Bandersnatch and Her Story, FMVs are no longer a joke from the early 90’s joke as they’ve become more accepted in gaming society. It is with this said that Erica becomes an intriguing proposition; a 2-hour or so interactive narrative in which you take charge of Erica, a young girl who takes part in a ritual in her youth with her father, who later ends up dead. You make decisions as an older Erica as she tries to uncover the mystery of his death and why the mysterious symbol carved into his chest is so prominent in her life.
The game is a wonderful palette-cleanser from all the open-world games and also intriguing in its own right. It feels like one of those creepy BBC shows from the late 70s and early 80s which still haunt my dreams. The cinematography is impressive and the lead actress, Holly Earl, portrays a vulnerable and fragile woman well. The game is on sale at the moment and at just over a fiver, well worth the investment.
LINK- The Dead Of Night- Cult TV Review