This dialogue based RPG has fallen into the trap of its own ambition. One can only hope that the potential next installment might be able to avoid it. [Issue #239]
Consortium is an ingeniously subversive gem, containing enough backstory to fill a Triple-A trilogy while focusing exclusively on an airship crew in distress. The execution is a little clunky at times, but Consortium still has the charm and depth to encourage multiple playthroughs as we wait for the sequel.
As a first chapter to a larger story this game is just about perfect.
"Murder on the Deus Ex Express" played out in real time.
Game is short. Around 4 hrs. However, you'll play through it at least 3 times.
Requires multiple play-throughs before you have a hope of solving it.
If you love a game that makes you think instead of fight then this is a game for you.
If you ever tried to play Deus Ex using conversation and stealth instead of just killing everything, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try.
However, if you think CoD:Ghosts was good, then stay away from this one - you're not smart enough to enjoy it.
This game is incredibly, and unlike anything else I've found on Steam. The branching storyline and investigations really keep you engaged, and the multiple paths in the game means nothing can be taken for granted (e.g., did your comments at Time X influence Time Y? What happens if you don't uncover the truth?"). Give this game a shot.
As great as it would be to hold up Consortium as the next great evolution of adventure/RPG, it's not, though it is a valiant attempt that deserves praise.
In a horrendous package, Consortium hurts your feelings, and dresses you in a futuristic uniform, in which you'll feel the impact of your decisions, so you'll get to know slightly different stories. In any case, prepare for many uncomfortable compromises.
CONSORTIUM is one of those tricky games that will make you ponder over what could have been possible if the team had an unlimited budget and unlimited time to work. It gives you a taste and leaves you wanting much, much more.
In particular the first time through is quite exciting. Although you're on rails, of course, it's not always obvious where the rails are. Replaying the game to find the ways in which scenes can be altered is fun, but also bittersweet because you'll see the limits of what was possible.
The voice acting and direction are both excellent, and are critical to the experience (this game would not be nearly as interesting without the voice acting).
I feel it deserves a 10 not because it's perfect (it isn't, not even close), but because it really is a "must-play" for fans of the genre. Play CONSORTIUM, and wonder about what's possible for this medium.
Interdimensional Games has worked hard in bringing to us an intriguing alternate future courtesy of Consortium, but unfortunately it has been poorly executed resulting in show-stopper bugs, uninspired combat and a clunky user interface. This game isn't as great as some AAA FPS/RPG hybrids out there but it's not a bad effort by an indie development house.
Potentially interesting.
Too bad it's riddled with bugs, like disappearing subtitles (and in a story-driven game it's something extremely bad) and the savegames get deleted if you had an older version and patch it. And those aren't tolerable flaws. Also, the game raises lots of questions and don't answer them... they will *eventually* be answered in a potential sequel.
I think there is a gem hidden beneath the bugs, but it's too hard to find and I can't recommend a game so buggy and unpolished.
A sci fi RPG. Thought the game sounded interesting, but it's not, this game is boring as it's just wandering around a ship talking to everyone and hardly knowing what you're doing. A game with a tiny bit of action and a lot of endless talking. It would be wrong to class it as a fps as there is hardly any shooting.
The graphics are basic looking and sometimes a bit buggy and weird as NPC eyes seem to look in weird direction or clip and there doesn't seem to be much gameplay unless you are prepared to continually reload saves to see the different paths you can take. And relaoding is very slow.
The game is also buggy, I went back in the cabin and am now stuck in there, can't get out. The door was open but acted like an invisible barrier, no matter how many times I opened and closed the door. Had to reload a previous save.
Also characters speech timing is terrible making it hard hard to hear what anyone is saying as you'll be talking to one character and then some other character will come speak at the same time and over each other, I had the knight, Wade and rook 25 all speaking at the same time, making it a garbled mess.
The game is confusing at times. I don't know where Iam going or where something is. And not sure what to do sometimes with mission objectives.
I ended up confronted with a traitor and not being able to harm the person in anyway and just die.
The game is also very short, only taking 3 to 4 hours.(thank god)
The game is medicore and boring as well as buggy.
SummaryTaking place entirely on board a massive futuristic aircraft, CONSORTIUM is a first person science-fiction role-playing experience unlike any other. The story begins in our world - the "real world" - where we here at Interdimensional Games have developed a satellite (iDGi-1) capable of opening a digital rift through time and space.