Wow, wow, wow… those are my thoughts on Firesprite’s The Persistence in an eggshell. This was not only one of the best sci-fi games that I have played recently, but one of the best sci-fi games I’ve played in my entire life. The attention to detail, fluid mechanics, excellent audio, top-notch graphics, unique and enjoyable gameplay, and captivating storyline made this an A+ game all around. In a time period when many gamers feel like gaming has become somewhat stagnant, The Persistence is the medicine that you all have been asking for.
Without giving too much of the storyline away, the plot revolves around a spaceship drifting dangerously close to a black hole in which all of the crew have been killed by mutants. The security officer and engineer have managed to survive as digital recordings and can be put into host bodies via a cloning machine. This is where the story becomes interesting as each time the player dies, they are “reborn” again in the same location at the clone-maker. The currency of the game (so-to-speak) is stem cells, which can be collected from harvesting the bodies of mutants or scavenging around the ship. By using these stem cells, the player can increase their melee damage, health, dark matter (teleporter fuel), and stealth with upgrades to subsequent clones.
What was probably my favorite aspect of The Persistence was the fact that (as the game explains it) due to the ship’s proximity to the black hole, the configuration of the ship changes each time a new clone is made. This means that while the rooms may look the same, they are all in different locations upon each life, forcing the player to adapt and actually hone their stealth and combat skills to account for new variables with each life. This aspect of The Persistence was unlike anything I had seen in a game and I absolutely loved it because the game never became monotonous and every playthrough felt fresh and engaging.
The graphics and motion-tracking in The Persistence also stood out to me as being particularly exceptional. The detail put into the ship and environment in addition to the player’s movements felt very realistic and made for a much more immersive overall experience. The player can use chips collected throughout the ship on the weapon fabricator, which gives player a specialized weapon of some sort that has a unique (and often brutal) one-hit-kill animation that helps immensely in fighting off hordes of mutant baddies. The combat felt fluid and satisfying and not clunky or uniform at all.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about The Persistence was the fact that it was not just a hack-and-slash game but was also not a stealth-only game. There were certain situations that called for stealth and others in which the player was forced to fight, but there was usually a choice in how the player would progress their way through the game. This type of free will blended nicely with the other aspects of the game to truly make me as a player feel like I was creating my own journey and not simply following a set path pre-made by the developers.
The sound and story were compelling as well with the automated voice of the security officer aiding the player in their pursuit of liberating the ship of the mutants and fixing the damaged systems in order to return home. Certain mechanics such as the stem cell harvester, scan-sense (an ability that lets the player scan the room for enemies), and the personal teleporter were all brilliant additions that were inspired and unique components of The Persistence that only kept me wanting to discover more of what this game had to offer. The wide variety of available weapons and the mysteries surrounding crew members made for unique and compelling side-stories and gameplay as well that only added to an already phenomenal game.
I have not had as much fun playing a game in quite a long time as I did with The Persistence. There was never a dull or useless moment as every second felt deliberate and detailed to the point that I couldn’t stop playing. Hats off to the developers at Firesprite for making such an excellent game. I hope that all of you reading his will be quick to purchase it once it comes out.
Check Out The Persistence Launch Trailer:
The Persistence will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Thursday, May 21st, 2020 for $29.99/£24.99/€29.99. Those who pre-order on Nintendo Switch (between Thursday, April 23rd and Wednesday, May 20th) and Xbox One (between Thursday, April 30th and Wednesday, May 20th) will receive a 10% discount.
For more information, please visit: https://firesprite.com/
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I've been playing video games since I got a Playstation 2 when I was about 5 or 6 years old. The original Star Wars: Battlefront series and the Spyro series initially ignited my interest in gaming, but it wasn't until I got older that I truly appreciated the subtle details that make video games such a unique form of entertainment. My favorite type of video game would have to be any lengthy and plot-driven open world game, with my favorite games of all time being Batman: Arkham City, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, and Firewatch.
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