Info about Telling Lies:

Official game description:
_**A Video Game About Private Conversations**_  
**Telling Lies** is the new video game from Sam Barlow, creator of Her Story and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. An investigative thriller game with non-linear storytelling, **Telling Lies** revolves around a cache of secretly recorded video conversations. It stars **Logan Marshall-Green**, **Alexandra Shipp**, **Kerry Bishé** and **Angela Sarafyan**.  
How does it work?
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**Telling Lies** sits you in front of an anonymous laptop loaded with a stolen NSA database full of footage. The footage covers two years in the intimate lives of four people whose stories are linked by a shocking incident. Explore the database by typing search terms, watch the clips where those words are spoken and piece together your story.  
Unlike anything you've played before, **Telling Lies** is an intimate and intense experience. A game where you decide the truth.

Release date: Aug 23, 2019

Categories: Interactive Fiction, Investigative Gameplay, Non-linear Narrative, FMV (Full-Motion Video), Dialogue-based Puzzle Solving, Choice-based Narrative, Mystery


- 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:
- Exceptional acting and performances (weight 0.42): Players consistently praised the high-quality acting, particularly noting standout performances by recognizable actors and the overall immersive delivery. This significantly enhanced the narrative experience and realism.
- Engaging and immersive gameplay (weight 0.36): The gameplay loop, particularly the detective-style mechanics and interactive narrative, was frequently described as addictive and engaging. Players appreciated the twists, suspense, and replayability.
- Well-executed Korean localization (weight 0.28): The Korean language support, including search functionality and translation, was noted as well-implemented, with only minor flaws. This expanded the game's accessibility and immersion for Korean-speaking players.
- Interesting and ambitious concept (weight 0.13): The game's premise and unique approach to interactive fiction were frequently highlighted as innovative and thought-provoking. Players appreciated the modern themes and psychological engagement.

Common complaints:
- Excessive video filler and silence (weight 0.97): Videos contain long stretches of silence, minimal action, or irrelevant content, making them feel padded and boring. Players note that over half of video time is spent on filler, reducing engagement.
- Poor video navigation controls (weight 0.92): Players consistently report frustration with the lack of basic video controls, such as a timeline scrubber, 'jump to start' button, or practical rewind/fast-forward mechanics. This disrupts immersion and makes rewatching content tedious.
- Tedious and repetitive gameplay (weight 0.64): The core gameplay loop is criticized for being slow, repetitive, and overly long. Players spend excessive time rewinding videos or navigating disjointed content, making the experience feel like a chore.
- Unengaging and clichéd story (weight 0.56): The narrative is criticized for being predictable, shallow, and lacking twists or complexity. Players compare it unfavorably to the developer’s previous work (e.g., *Her Story*), calling it clichéd and uninteresting.
- Unsatisfying endings (weight 0.34): The game’s endings are described as abrupt, nonsensical, or tonally jarring, with no clear payoff or replayability. Players feel the story lacks cohesion and fails to deliver a satisfying conclusion.
- One-sided conversations split poorly (weight 0.3): Conversations are split into separate videos for each participant, leading to long silences and redundant content. Players cannot synchronize or view both sides simultaneously, breaking immersion.
- Lack of clear objectives (weight 0.22): Players report feeling lost due to unclear goals, open-ended structure, and lack of guidance. The game’s pacing and narrative density are criticized for making progress feel aimless.
- Broken achievements and UI bugs (weight 0.08): Technical issues, such as achievements not unlocking or time-tracking bugs, detract from the experience. The UI is also criticized for being unintuitive and poorly designed.

Gameplay feedback:
- FMV-based detective gameplay (weight 0.54): The game revolves around Full Motion Video (FMV) mechanics, where players watch and analyze 170+ video clips to piece together a narrative. Keyword searches and detective-style investigation are core to the experience, drawing comparisons to titles like 'Her Story.'
- Keyword-driven video search (weight 0.45): Players use keywords to search through a database of video clips, uncovering plot details and connections. This system is central to gameplay but requires careful attention to subtitles and metadata for effective navigation.
- Manual video rewinding issues (weight 0.41): Videos start mid-clip and lack a 'return to start' button, making rewinding slow and cumbersome. Players must manually rewind second-by-second, which is critiqued as tedious and disruptive to immersion.
- Fragmented one-sided conversations (weight 0.29): Conversations are split into separate video clips (e.g., one per character), forcing players to manually piece together dialogue. This design creates long silences and requires rewinding or finding paired clips for context.
- Variable video lengths and pacing (weight 0.28): Video clips range from 15 seconds to 10 minutes, with some featuring long silences or pauses. Players can skip or focus on specific parts, but the lack of consistent pacing may disrupt immersion.
- Non-linear storytelling with multiple endings (weight 0.24): The narrative is non-linear, featuring ambiguous elements, twists, and multiple endings based on player choices or viewed content. The story unfolds through interconnected character timelines and requires puzzle-solving to connect fragments.
- Rewind/fast-forward mechanics (weight 0.16): Limited rewind and fast-forward functionality exists, though it is often critiqued as awkward or insufficient. Mods can enhance this feature, allowing quicker navigation to clip start/end points.
- In-game note-taking and tagging tools (weight 0.15): Players can use an in-game notepad, tagging system, and bookmarks to track keywords, events, and progress. These tools are essential for organizing fragmented information and solving the mystery.
- Solitaire minigame as filler (weight 0.11): The game includes a Solitaire minigame, critiqued as redundant or filler content. While it may offer a break from investigation, it is not integrated meaningfully into the core narrative or gameplay.
- Skype-based narrative device (weight 0.09): The story is delivered through fragmented, one-sided Skype or video call recordings. This device creates a unique but disjointed narrative style, requiring players to infer missing context.

Performance notes:
- Game runs smoothly with minor glitches (weight 0.04): The majority of players experienced smooth gameplay with only minor, non-game-breaking glitches. This indicates a generally stable performance with room for minor improvements.
- Achievements system malfunctioning (weight 0.03): Several players reported that the achievements feature does not work as intended, which may impact long-term engagement and completionist goals.
- Navigation issues on dual screens (weight 0.02): Some users encountered navigation failures when using the game on dual-screen setups, suggesting compatibility issues with multi-monitor configurations.
- No custom resolution support (weight 0.02): Players noted the absence of custom resolution settings, limiting flexibility for users with non-standard display setups or preferences.
- Windowed mode fixes Chinese input (weight 0.02): Users found that switching to windowed mode resolves issues with Chinese input methods, indicating a potential workaround for localization-related problems.

Recommendations:
- Avoid if impatient or price-sensitive (weight 0.27): The game is repeatedly advised against for players unwilling to endure a slow start, high price, or technical flaws. Strong warnings are given to avoid wasting time or money.
- Best for FMV/detective fans on sale (weight 0.25): The game is frequently recommended for fans of FMV (full-motion video) games, detective work, or Sam Barlow's catalog, but almost always with the caveat that it’s only worth buying on sale or at a discounted price.
- Mixed but leaning positive recommendations (weight 0.23): The majority of feedback recommends the game despite its flaws, particularly for fans of narrative-driven or story-rich experiences. However, a notable minority explicitly advises against playing it in its current state.
- Prefer predecessor 'Her Story' (weight 0.19): Many players suggest 'Her Story' or 'Immortality' as superior alternatives, often recommending them over this game due to shorter length or fewer issues. This reflects a strong preference for the developer's earlier work.
- Niche appeal for completionists (weight 0.1): The game is primarily recommended for FMV genre enthusiasts, collectors, or completionists, rather than a broader audience. This limits its mainstream appeal but solidifies its cult following.
- Alternative media suggested (weight 0.06): Some players recommend watching edited YouTube videos or other films/shows (e.g., 'Tick, Tick... Boom!') instead of playing the game, citing a better emotional or time-efficient experience.
- Enhanced by co-op or tools (weight 0.05): Players suggest using external tools (e.g., pen/paper, bookmarks) or playing with a friend to improve immersion, theory discussion, and navigation, highlighting the game’s collaborative potential.
- Usability improvements needed (weight 0.02): Frequent requests for better usability features (e.g., playbar, replay functionality, progress tracking) indicate frustration with the game’s current interface and accessibility.
- Replayability for multiple endings (weight 0.02): The game’s replay value is noted due to hidden videos and multiple endings, appealing to players who enjoy uncovering all content or exploring different narrative paths.

Other player notes:
- Improve rewind and playback controls (weight 0.03): Players frequently request enhanced rewind functionality, dual-video playback options, and additional guidance to improve usability. These features would streamline navigation and enhance the overall experience.
- Add subtitles for accessibility (weight 0.03): The absence of subtitles in the game files poses challenges for non-English speakers, limiting accessibility. Including subtitles would make the content more inclusive and user-friendly.
- Moderate occasional erotic content (weight 0.02): Some players noted the presence of occasional erotic content, which may not align with all audiences' expectations. Reviewing and moderating this content could improve appropriateness for broader audiences.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.34): Players experience frustration primarily due to poorly implemented video navigation mechanics, such as tedious manual rewinding, slow fast-forward/rewind speeds, and lack of essential controls (e.g., seek bars, dual-video playback). The game's excessive filler content, long stretches of silence, and unclear objectives exacerbate the issue, making progress feel like a chore.
- Disappointment (weight 0.23): Disappointment stems from the game failing to meet expectations set by its predecessor, *Her Story*, with players citing a weak or clichéd story, unsatisfying endings, and a lack of meaningful content. Poor execution of core mechanics, such as video playback and navigation, further diminishes the experience, leaving players feeling their time was wasted.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players derive satisfaction from the game's engaging narrative, strong acting, and emotional payoff, particularly in the late-game. The unique storytelling approach, character development, and puzzle-like mechanics resonate with those who enjoy unraveling complex plots and uncovering hidden details.
- Boredom (weight 0.06): Boredom arises from repetitive and passive gameplay, including long videos with minimal dialogue, excessive filler content, and one-sided conversations. The lack of engaging narrative hooks or meaningful interaction makes the experience feel tedious and drawn-out.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Enjoyment is driven by the game's gripping story, twisty narrative, and unique conversation mechanics. Players appreciate the character dynamics, strong performances, and the challenge of piecing together fragmented videos, often completing the game in a single sitting.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement is sparked by the game's non-traditional investigative mechanics, such as uncovering clues through keyword searches and piecing together narrative puzzles. The initial anticipation for a new title from the creator of *Her Story* and the thrill of mastering the detective process contribute to this emotion.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Engagement is fueled by the game's addictive gameplay loop, multi-perspective storytelling, and puzzle-like discovery. Players find the non-linear plot and character dynamics compelling, often comparing it favorably to *Her Story* in terms of immersion and intrigue.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the game's well-told narrative, strong acting, and thematic depth, despite its flaws. The complexity of relationships, character writing, and the effort put into production are frequently highlighted as standout elements.
- Curiosity (weight 0.02): Curiosity is piqued by the game's fragmented storytelling, which encourages players to explore branching narratives, uncover hidden details, and piece together the plot. The early-to-mid-game immersion and narrative twists further drive this emotion.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is triggered by disturbing or unlikable content, such as unsettling visuals (e.g., reflections of teeth), creepy side plots, or lazy storytelling. The protagonist's actions and certain narrative choices also contribute to this negative reaction.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Discomfort arises from invasive or unpleasant content, such as videos involving self-gratification, shaky camera work causing seasickness, or the feeling of violating privacy while watching intimate footage.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by inconsistent or exaggerated characters, particularly those perceived as insufferable or boring. Poorly designed interactions and repetitive mechanics also contribute to this emotion.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion stems from the game's lack of clear objectives, guidance, or coherent storytelling. Players struggle to understand the purpose of certain mechanics or the direction of the narrative, leading to disengagement.
- Shock (weight 0.01): Shock is primarily triggered by the game's ending or surprising plot twists, which subvert expectations and leave a lasting impact on players.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is expressed by players who feel they wasted time on the game due to its flaws or who avoided it based on negative reviews, missing out on a potentially enjoyable experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement arises from finding humor in the game's flaws or discovering workarounds for technical issues (e.g., input method problems). Some players enjoy the experience despite its shortcomings.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is felt by players who use mods to improve the game's playback controls or other mechanics, saving the experience from frustration and enhancing overall enjoyment.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise is elicited by unexpected plot twists, reflective screen moments, or the game's impactful ending, which leave players with a memorable and thought-provoking experience.
- Disengagement (weight 0.01): Disengagement occurs due to boring or repetitive mechanics, such as fast-forwarding/rewinding videos or watching one-sided conversations with long silent segments. The lack of meaningful interaction or narrative progression contributes to this emotion.
- Nostalgia (weight 0): Nostalgia is evoked by comparisons to *Her Story*, with players missing the surrealism and unique qualities of the predecessor. The game's similarities and differences to the original title spark reflections on past experiences.}