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Headliner: NoviNews’ poignant narrative and weighty decisions offer an intelligent examination on a topical subject: the responsibility of media.
Headliner : NoviNewsposes the eld sometime question of whether society would rather get word a reassuring Trygve Lie or an inconvenient truth . As the curator for a national tidings way out , it ’s up to you to sway public view by deciding what info to share and what ’s best swept under the rug . Do you stick to the facts if it entail sowing topsy-turvyness ? Is it better to adhere to a consistent angle even when contradicted by opposing evidence?Headlinerchallenges the player ’s power to remain objective in a thought - provoking comment on the terrifying power of media .
You are the Headliner for NoviNews , the main intelligence informant in the nation of Novistan . The problem plaguing the body politic should be familiar to anyone who ’s followed current events in recent years : a polarizing leader , labored foreign recounting , a healthcare crisis , and domesticated take such as xenophobia . The news show - hungry Novistanians take anything you spin as evangel . Publish news report promoting a “ Novistan first ” slant , and multitude will get down distrusting other nations and may even plague alien citizen . Articles pick apart Novistan ’s government will erode society ’s trust in its leaders and lead to unresolved protests . Remaining mum or indifferent on a matter has its own consequence as well .
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Articles pasture from traditional reporting , to researched opinion pieces , to even cabal - laden sensationalism . What make the game so engaging in the other pass is that you finally do n’t live what ’s dependable . There ’s lilliputian linguistic context for Novistan ’s account so you ’ll have to trust your own intestine , especially since you may only sanction a sure amount of article . This lead to some realSophie ’s Choicemoments where you ’re faced with two vital pieces and one commendation stamp .
Finishing up the oeuvre day and taking the center - opening walk plate becomes a highlight as you find the gratifying , or atrocious , fallout of your choices first - hand . Expect to say “ I did n’t reckon THAT would happen ” often . These segments present great , ordered payoffs to decision - making , proving that every selection rightfully matters . Headliner ’s narration only spans two hebdomad , so subtly does take a turn of a backseat to escalate situations to where the plot need them to be . Even still , Headliner : NoviNewsis in force at making the player absolutely palpate the encumbrance of influence they have on the universe .
Headlinerhits hard in how pick bear on friends and family . Each appendage of the small cast represents a key demographic . Your jobless , mentally ominous brother might profit from the passing of low-cost healthcare . A friendly Centennial State - prole deliver oversea abide the brunt of society ’s eyeshot on outsider . A jovial shopkeeper struggling to support his young daughter fears the damage that promoting globalisation might have on his minuscule clientele . On top of all that , your income depends upon please your boss and NoviNews ’ financial support sources .
The characters are likable enough that you desire to do flop by all of them . In some way you’re able to , but not to the degree of handing out fairy tale termination . It ’s a touchy balancing act illustrating that staying objective is easier say than done , which feels likeHeadliner ’s main message . Does the game get a small heavily - handed ? Sure , but these varying stand nonetheless show that there ’s two side to every coin .
Choices lead to a vastly different outcomes across multiple plotlines , devote incentive to replay the Groundhog Day - style story to witness them all . It may be tedious to click through the same dialogue again but have the change feelsworth the effort . Headlinereven sweetens the deal by introduce a newfangled grapheme and murder closed book subplot . Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that as the story progresses it becomes clear that there ’s a rather clear evil , which feel out of place among the virtuously grey exit . One of the joyfulness of play the first time is that , despite evidence pointing to the worst , you do n’t know for a fact either way . Once this exceptional truth reveals itself , the secret plan turn from an experimentation in remaining unbiased and more about “ what can I publish to turn back this actual bad affair ? ” The plot stay pleasurable , just in a different , less exciting direction .
star : NoviNews’poignant narrativeand weighty decision offer an entertaining take on a topical conversation : the duty of media . sit down in such a place of might challenges your morals in voguish direction while being fun to boot . This is fake news deserving invest in .
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Headliner : NoviNewsis available now on Nintendo Switch and microcomputer . Screen Rant was leave a digital Switch computer code for the intent of this review .
