Gemini Rue Review

The future is a very bleak place in indie adventure game, Gemini Rue. Clearly taking inspiration from some sci-fi greats such as Blade Runner, as well as a plethora of film noir, the game tells the story from two different perspectives. One part of the adventure follows a time-travelling assassin, Azriel Odin, as he attempts to find his missing brother, while the other part tracks an amnesiac man called Delta-Six, as he finds himself trapped in a hospital with no clue as to what exactly happened to him. And, of course, their fates overlap in a twisting narrative that will stick in one's mind for a while to come.

At its most basic, Gemini Rue is an adventure game full of the need to tap on items and combine them in some way. Really, though, it's interactive fiction. The puzzles are hardly taxing, although I did find them interesting. Using more than just a combination of items, players have a communicator that ensures they can contact characters, as well as check their notes and conduct a form of research. It's a small yet attractive feature, that gives players a sense of control far beyond simply offering up a list of objectives. In typical adventure gaming style, players have a choice of icons to determine how to interact with others, including the ability to look, use, talk or kick.

There are shooting sequences, too. These involve dropping into cover before leaning out to fire off a few rounds and repeating the process once more. This works quite well, through a series of virtual buttons, with even the possibility of inflicting a headshot. For the most part, it's down to timing but it breaks up the action nicely. While it is possible to die during these sequences, as well as other timed puzzles, a regular auto save function means this never becomes frustrating.

Ultimately, though, it's the strength of the story and the characterizations that will keep players progressing. Such a great story means that it doesn't matter that the puzzles are simple to figure out, as this is noir storytelling at some of its finest.