Info about Nobody Wants to Die:

Official game description:
  
Lose yourself in the world of New York, 2329, where immortality comes at a price that someone has to pay. Following a near-death experience, Detective James Karra takes an off-the-books case from his chief with only the help of a young police liaison, Sara Kai, to assist him. Time reveals all as they risk everything in pursuit of a killer, uncovering the dark secrets of the city's elite.  
Experience a noir adventure in an alternate future of New York City in 2329; technology has advanced to offer humans eternal life, allowing consciousness to be stored in memory banks or transferred from one body to another. That is, if you can afford the subscription.  
See through the eyes of Mortality Department Detective James Karra on his hunt for a serial killer who targets the city’s elite citizens. Investigate crime scenes using his time manipulation augmentation and advanced technology to reconstruct events leading up to each murder and uncover clues that lead to the horrifying truth behind the murders.  
Lose yourself in a dystopian future through this meaningful and original interactive detective story, that explores the dangers of transhumanism and immortality. In a world of eternal life and vanishing morality, you, a hardened detective, must navigate the lines of right and wrong in a society where death is a distant memory.  
Utilising the power of Unreal Engine 5, Nobody Wants to Die pushes the boundaries of storytelling, combining photorealistic graphics and a distinctly unique narrative experience.

Release date: 17 Jul, 2024

Categories: Investigative Gameplay, Single-player Story, Choice-based Narrative, Walking Simulator, Puzzle Solving, Multiple Endings


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Immersive, detailed noir atmosphere (weight 0.97): The game excels in its immersive and detailed noir atmosphere, blending cyberpunk and retro elements. Reviewers frequently mentioned the stunning visuals, captivating sound design, and well-developed world-building, drawing comparisons to classics like Blade Runner and BioShock. This creates a unique and engaging experience for players.
- Stunning and detailed graphics (weight 0.47): Many reviewers praised the game's graphics and overall visual presentation. The game utilizes Unreal Engine 5 to create detailed and visually stunning environments. This makes the game world more engaging and enjoyable to explore.
- Unique aesthetic, fitting soundtrack (weight 0.14): The game's unique blend of cyberpunk and retro aesthetics, combined with a well-crafted soundtrack, creates a memorable atmosphere. Reviewers noted the influence of classic films and games, such as Blade Runner and BioShock, in the game's art direction and musical score. This enhances the overall immersive experience.
- Enjoyable, interesting premise (weight 0.13): The game is enjoyable and has an interesting premise, drawing comparisons to other works like Altered Carbon and BioShock. However, these points are too generic to be of high importance.
- Explores philosophical, thought-provoking themes (weight 0.09): The game explores thought-provoking philosophical themes related to identity, transhumanism, and the consequences of immortality. Reviewers found the game's exploration of these themes to be compelling and engaging. This adds depth and meaning to the overall experience.
- Intuitive controls, accessible gameplay (weight 0.07): The game features intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface, making it easy to pick up and play. Reviewers appreciated the game's accessibility and relaxing gameplay style. This allows players to focus on the story and atmosphere without being bogged down by complicated mechanics.
- Impressive cityscapes, Blade Runner-esque (weight 0.06): The game's cityscapes and environments are visually impressive, drawing comparisons to films like Blade Runner. Reviewers praised the attention to detail and the immersive atmosphere created by the game's visuals. This enhances the overall sense of immersion and engagement.

Common complaints:
- Story: confusing, rushed, unsatisfying ending (weight 0.59): The story suffers from a confusing, rushed, and unsatisfying ending.  Many reviewers felt that key plot points were unresolved, twists were predictable, and choices lacked meaningful consequences, leading to disappointment and frustration. Some reviewers also found the plot illogical and nonsensical.
- Lacks chapter select/manual saves (weight 0.41): The game lacks a chapter select or manual save feature, forcing players to replay the entire game to see different endings or explore missed content. This significantly reduces replayability and adds frustration for those seeking to experience all aspects of the narrative.
- Overly linear, guided gameplay (weight 0.38): The gameplay is too linear and heavily guided, offering little freedom for exploration or independent deduction. Reviewers felt like they were passively following instructions rather than actively solving the mystery, making the detective work feel unchallenging and simplistic.
- Choices lack meaningful impact (weight 0.38): Despite the game presenting itself as choice-driven, decisions have minimal impact on the story or ending.  Many choices only affect dialogue options, with only a few key decisions near the end determining the outcome, making player agency feel limited and superficial.
- Repetitive, simplistic puzzles/investigation (weight 0.32): The game's puzzles and investigation mechanics are repetitive, simplistic, and lack depth.  The game often provides immediate hints and solutions, removing the need for critical thinking or problem-solving, leading to a monotonous and unengaging experience.
- Inconsistent voice acting, poor writing (weight 0.21): The game suffers from inconsistent voice acting, poor writing, and a lack of polish. Reviewers noted issues with lip-sync, awkward dialogue, and abrupt mood changes, detracting from the overall immersion and quality of the experience.
- Too short for the price (weight 0.17): Many reviewers felt the game was too short for its price, with playthroughs lasting only 5-6 hours. This short length left players wanting more content and made them question the value proposition, suggesting it's better to wait for a sale.
- Annoying, unlikeable protagonist (weight 0.05): The protagonist is annoying and unlikeable, with an edgy personality, clichéd backstory, and overused health issues. Reviewers found the character's self-pitying dialogue and frequent vomiting scenes tedious and disruptive to the gameplay experience.
- Vague complaints, lacks specifics (weight 0.04): This cluster contains general negative feedback and vague complaints without specific examples. Therefore, it is given a low importance score.
- General negative sentiments (weight 0.03): This cluster primarily contains general negative sentiments and subjective opinions without specific details.  Therefore, it is given a low importance score.
- Relies on overused noir clichés (weight 0.03): The game relies too heavily on overused noir clichés and tropes, particularly with the protagonist.  Reviewers found the hardboiled detective monologues corny and the characters uninteresting, making the story feel predictable and uninspired.

Gameplay feedback:
- Investigative mechanics with time manipulation (weight 0.48): A core mechanic involves investigating crime scenes using futuristic tools and time manipulation to reconstruct events. Players use devices like reconstructors, UV lights, and X-rays to find clues and piece together what happened. While interesting in concept, some reviewers found the implementation linear and hand-holdy.
- Immortality via consciousness transfer setting (weight 0.29): The game is set in a futuristic world where immortality is achieved through consciousness transfer into new bodies. This concept is central to the narrative, exploring themes of inequality, morality, and the consequences of extended life. The story often involves investigating crimes related to this technology.
- Compared to Cyberpunk 2077's Braindance (weight 0.04): Several reviewers compare the game's mechanics, particularly the crime scene reconstruction, to the "Braindance" feature in Cyberpunk 2077. Other comparisons include Detroit: Become Human, Firewatch, Remember Me, LA Noire, Observer, and Alan Wake. These comparisons highlight the game's focus on investigation, narrative, and interactive storytelling.
- Simple, uninspired gameplay mechanics (weight 0.03): Many reviewers describe the gameplay as simple, average, or adequate, but not particularly outstanding. Some found the mechanics repetitive or boring, while others appreciated their simplicity and functionality. Overall, the gameplay is seen as serving the story rather than being a major draw in itself.
- Clue board for connecting evidence (weight 0.02): The game features a clue board or evidence board where players connect clues to form hypotheses and advance the investigation. However, some reviewers found this system to be too forgiving, allowing for trial and error without penalty, or too linear, with the game indicating incorrect choices.

Performance notes:
- Inconsistent performance, optimization issues (weight 0.19): The game's performance and optimization are inconsistent. Some players report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, while others experience significant frame drops, stuttering, and crashes even on powerful hardware. This suggests that optimization may be lacking or that performance varies greatly depending on specific hardware configurations and settings.
- Loading times and shader compilation (weight 0.14): The game includes shader pre-compilation at startup, and loading times vary. Some players experience fast loading times, while others find them longer than expected. Frame rates can be improved by enabling DLSS or adjusting graphics settings.
- Minor bugs and glitches reported (weight 0.14): Many reviewers report no significant bugs or crashes, while some encountered minor glitches like texture pop-in, awkward animations, or issues with specific graphical features. The frequency and impact of these bugs appear to be relatively low.
- Demanding hardware requirements (weight 0.13): The game's hardware requirements are high, demanding a fast PC to run smoothly. Some players report that the game can run on lower-end PCs, but this likely requires significantly reduced settings.
- Inconsistent voice recording volume (weight 0.12): Some players have reported inconsistent volume levels in voice recordings, with noticeable changes in microphone quality and volume between lines. This suggests potential issues with audio mixing or recording quality.
- Flickering scenery, texture issues (weight 0.12): Some players have reported flickering scenery and noisy texture flickering on surfaces, potentially related to rain effects. These visual glitches can be distracting and detract from the overall visual experience.
- Overheating issues on some systems (weight 0.12): The game can cause computers to generate a lot of heat, potentially leading to overheating and shutdowns. Lowering the graphics settings may resolve this issue.
- Good Linux and Steam Deck support (weight 0.02): The game generally runs well on Linux with Proton and on the Steam Deck, though some settings adjustments may be needed for optimal performance on the Steam Deck. This makes the game accessible to a wider range of players.
- Forced upscaling, resolution limitations (weight 0.01): The game forces upscaling, which cannot be disabled. Some players also report issues with setting fullscreen resolutions lower than the native resolution. This limits player control over visual settings and performance optimization.
- DLSS/FSR essential for performance (weight 0.01): DLSS or FSR is often required to achieve playable frame rates, especially at higher resolutions or settings. DLAA is very taxing. Some minor edge aliasing is present on all DLSS options.

Recommendations:
- Purchase on sale recommended (weight 0.48): Many reviewers suggest purchasing the game on sale due to its short length and/or flaws. Some reviewers enjoyed the game despite its issues, while others found it boring or disappointing. A few reviewers explicitly recommend against purchasing, even at a discount.
- Great for genre enthusiasts (weight 0.39): The game is highly recommended for fans of noir, cyberpunk, and detective stories, especially those who appreciate a strong atmosphere and narrative focus. Reviewers often draw comparisons to titles like Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, and Observer, suggesting a niche appeal for those who enjoy these specific themes and settings.
- Positive overall experience (weight 0.09): Many reviewers express overall positive sentiments, describing the game as fantastic, great, or worth the money, especially considering its price point. Some reviewers give it high scores and consider it a must-play, while others acknowledge minor drawbacks but still recommend it.
- Walking simulator gameplay (weight 0.02): Some reviewers note that the game is more of a walking simulator with added features, and that players seeking more freedom and deeper gameplay should adjust their expectations. They suggest improvements to environment interaction, investigation elements, and save systems to encourage exploration and multiple playthroughs.
- Compared to similar titles (weight 0.02): Some reviewers compare the game to other titles like Detroit: Become Human and Blade Runner, noting that it may not be as good or as action-packed. They suggest that those expecting intricate investigation mechanics should skip it unless they want to admire the visuals.
- Short length is positive (weight 0.01): The game's short length is seen as a positive aspect by some reviewers, who appreciate its focused and tightly paced narrative. They recommend it for those who are bored of long, open-world games.
- More games like this needed (weight 0.01): Reviewers express a desire for more games from the studio and more games like this in general, indicating a positive overall impression and a hope for future projects.
- Save before the ending (weight 0.01): Some reviewers recommend creating a save before the ending to experience different endings in one playthrough, and to avoid using guides during the initial playthrough.
- Cool, short experience (weight 0.01): Despite being short, the game is considered a cool experience by some reviewers, who are willing to look past the downsides.
- Avoid due to poor execution (weight 0.01): Some reviewers do not recommend the game due to broken objective markers and a lack of execution, considering the purchase a waste of time and money.
- Good for casual play (weight 0.01): The game is recommended for light, dynamic entertainment, especially with friends, and is suitable for a weekend evening or as a party game.

Other player notes:
- Dystopian cyberpunk-noir New York setting (weight 0.12): The game is set in a dystopian, cyberpunk-noir version of New York City in 2329. Key elements include advanced technology like flying cars and consciousness transfer, contrasted with a gritty, retro aesthetic inspired by 'Blade Runner' and 'Altered Carbon'. Immortality is achieved through a subscription-based service, creating a stark divide between the wealthy and the poor.
- Short story with multiple endings (weight 0.04): The game's story is relatively short, with playthroughs ranging from 2 to 8 hours. Player choices impact the ending, with multiple endings available. Some reviewers felt the intriguing setting could have been explored more extensively.
- Inconsistent world-building and writing (weight 0.01): While the game's premise is interesting, some reviewers found that certain aspects of the world's setting didn't make sense within the established utilitarian dystopia. The game's writing quality was also noted to vary, with some high points but also inconsistencies.
- Detective Karra: haunted, alcoholic protagonist (weight 0.01): Players control James Karra, a 120-year-old detective haunted by his past. He grapples with alcoholism and depression while investigating a serial killer targeting the city's elite. His character is influenced by classic film noir detectives.
- Localization and English accessibility issues (weight 0.01): The game features fan-made Czech localization and official Chinese subtitles. However, some reviewers noted that the English used in the game was not easily accessible, suggesting potential issues with the quality of the English translation or writing.
- Bodies auctioned for unpaid subscriptions (weight 0.01): The game explores a dark social commentary where those who cannot afford the subscription for new bodies have their consciousness stored, and their bodies are auctioned off. This mechanic highlights the themes of wealth disparity and the commodification of life within the game's world.
- Linear, graphically intensive experience (weight 0.01): Some reviewers felt the game was very linear and resembled a movie experience due to its force-fed narrative. Additionally, the game's visuals were described as graphically intensive and overloaded, which could be a positive or negative depending on player preference and system capabilities.

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