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Review of DeathMask on PlayStation

by Hemal Harris Hemal Harris photo Feb 1996
Cover image of DeathMask on PlayStation
Gamefings Score: 7.5
Platform: PlayStation PlayStation logo
Released: 09 Feb 1996
Genre: Adventure
Developer: Electric Dreams Inc.
Publisher: Mindscape

Introduction

Welcome to the dystopian nightmare that is Neo-City, a place where laundry machines have advanced far beyond their intended purpose and your life is worth about as much as a coffee stain on a police report. In 'DeathMask', also known as 'Angel Devoid: Face of the Enemy', you'll don the face of a notorious criminal and navigate a maze of peril, puzzles, and questionable facial reconstruction decisions. Prepare for an adventure that challenges both your skills and your sanity, but in a delightful, maybe slightly sadistic way.

Gameplay

Nothing says riveting gameplay like wandering around as a character with a face that looks like it's been through a bad plastic surgery episode. In 'DeathMask', you are Jake Hard, a detective who accidentally turned himself into his own nemesis thanks to a mishap that would make the most experienced soap opera writers jealous. Your main tasks involve pointing at things, clicking, and praying you didn't just accidentally grab a 'neon fog of death' in your inventory rather than the much-needed Plasma Pistol. The gameplay has its share of puzzles that will have you scratching your head like it's Thanksgiving and you just found out you have to cook the turkey yourself. Some puzzles require quick decision-making skills, not unlike guessing the right answer on a multiple-choice test where all choices are somewhat related, but one will definitely get you killed if you choose it. You have three attitudes to navigate conversations: intimidating, neutral, and friendly. Navigating these conversations is like playing chess with a group of particularly stubborn cats. Approach the wrong way, and they'll either hiss at you or, you know, try to murder you. The degree of interaction varies, so each encounter could either lead to enlightenment, the revealing of vital game lore, or just the possibility of catching a deadly cool-down from that vending machine that spits out hostile robots. And let's talk about survival: health bars are not just for RPGs anymore! In 'DeathMask', you also have a health bar that reacts to everything from hostile encounters to simply brushing up against a slightly breezy fan. Lose all three health points, and it's game over. Your cause of death might be inspired by real-life tragic accidents (maybe vent fans are a bit too risky for the average detective) or be due to the unyielding forces of the city streamlining its population.

Graphics

In a time when graphics were often no better than tofu on a hot grill, 'DeathMask' opted for the alchemy of live-action actors and pre-rendered backgrounds. It's like staring at your weird uncle's home movies while trying to navigate a first-person horror game. The environments are dark, moody, and dripping with a sense of distrust and foreboding, reminiscent of a cyberpunk artist's fever dream - or what happens when you forget to turn off the lights in your basement. The visual aesthetic is a potent blend of neon lights and utter gloom, which the developers ust about perfected. You can almost smell the despair wafting from your screen. However, expect the grainy quality that comes with real-video components; much like how grandma's banana bread looked tasty but might also kill a house plant if left out. Since 'DeathMask' aims for speeds that would impress even speed-racers, expect a mix of high-octane sequences and slowed-down dialogues that give you time to play a drinking game if you're that way inclined. Graphic balances are so tumultuous it feels like you're playing a romantic comedy while being chased by a psychotic ex - one minute you're there, and the other, you might be dead, like your last houseplant.

Conclusion

'DeathMask' is a challenge, and if you think wandering through Neo-City is a walk in the park, let me introduce you to the local death merchants who will make sure you feel like a freshly logged-out Windows 95 screen whenever they catch you. But if you're up for a blend of visual storytelling and guessing games designed to keep you on your toes, then go ahead and strap on that mask. Just remember, it's a wild ride filled with puzzles, perplexity, and the kind of hilariously questionable decisions that feel just right at 2 AM with a pizza in one hand and a controller in the other. Grab your PlayStation, sharpen that mouse pointer, and dive into the beautifully crafted chaos that is 'DeathMask.' It's a delightful mess, and it just might make you question the choices that led you here - both in the game and in life.

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