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Convict Games’Stonetries to capture the feel of stoner noir likeInherent ViceandThe Big Lebowskiand transpose it to TV game figure . This is a not bad idea on paper , butStonehits several roadblocks along the way in terms of meaningful and engaging gameplay mechanics . Its narrative , while nowhere near the quality of the aforementioned picture , does stumble several emotional high points , especially toward its surprising ending . But the perfunctory nature of its gameplay drainsStoneof any and all excitement . Even as a ego - laud interactive story , it lacks the player involvement element that make the good examples of the genre shine .
Stonefollows the eponymous down - on - his - chance koala individual police detective as he searches for Alex , his missing fan . Like the respite of the case in the game , Stone is quirky , highly flawed and interesting enough to immediately create interest . This is a major staple ofnoir fabrication , specially the lapidator subgenre , and its one thatStoneembraces right out of the logic gate . Its Australian mise en scene give the game a singular twist that belike help the plot stay far more interesting than it should give way how early its gameplay flaws become unmistakable .
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Speaking of which , whileStonecould have capitalized on its protagonist ’s private investigator career by having players gather clue or complete at least semi - interesting mini puzzle , the game settle for something far lazier . Most of the game ’s brief three hour run time consist of visiting ( and revisiting ) locating , talking to some random side eccentric and then going somewhere else to do it all over again . There are some interesting and funny conversations to be had , there ’s no doubt about it , but a failure to involve players more actively in the process of moving the plot ahead is an infuriating mechanically skillful decisiveness .
Stoneisn’t a complete waste of time . From the middle of the game on , the story becomes almost interesting and emotionally fulfill enough to look past its inadequate gameplay . While the pulse of the story wo n’t be spoiled here , the total net act and termination is challenging and affectionateness - wrenching in the most surprising direction potential . The dialogue and phonation acting is a little spotty at times , but the narrative consistency and secret plan twists are so fun , affecting and befitting of noir that it ’s hard not to appreciate the care that blend into it .
Stonealso feature a wonderful pelvic arch - hop infused soundtrack from underground creative person and allow players to view old moving picture likeNight of the Living Deadin their integrality ( either from home or by visit the local theater ) . While it ’s dubitable that most players will boot upStonejust to watch picture show or take heed to the soundtrack , it still gives the game a lived in feel and the black and white movies contrasted with its colorful , anthropomorphous verbalise animal characters particularly add to its new - age noir sense . These are pocket-sized qualities , but give its shortcomings in gameplay , it ’s important to note everything the gamedoesget right .
It ’s admirable thatStonegoes for a more casual play experience by not postulate too much from its players , but gossip the same locating over and over and talking to the same characters again and again can only sustain a title like this for so long . Even at around three hours of gameplay , Stonefeels downright flat most of the time , even when its story is fire on all cylinders . Some meaningful dialogue choice or a basic ethical motive system of rules plausibly could have offset this , but at the end of the day , Stoneis too simplistic and ho-hum to be deserving it for most gamers .
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Stoneis available on Xbox One . It previously issue for PC on September 21 , 2018 . An Xbox One computer code was provided for the purposes of this review .
