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Linger in Shadows
PlayStation Network
Not Very Interactive Art
1.5/5 stars
“Linger in Shadows” (“LiS”) was touted as a great experiment on PSN. Instead of a 'game,' “LiS” was dubbed 'interactive art,' and had an appropriately low price tag attached. What this label fails to capture, however, is that “LiS” is a ‘demoscene,' a type of tech demo created by hardware fanatics to push the limits of their system of choice. Most demoscenes are made for ancient hardware that was known for having limited graphical capabilities in its time. So why would Plastic, the group behind “LiS,” decide to make a demoscene on PS3? Probably to push the limits of the most powerful game console ever manufactured.
Presentation
“LiS” has a very weak presentation overall. The graphics are unimpressive and one of the main actors (the dog) shows a significant amount of clipping. The smoke effect is unimpressive as well. There are several actors who are covered in fur, which doesn't look realistic. I have seen much more impressive hair effects elsewhere. Lighting effects are, appropriately to the title, skewed toward the shadowy, making some details hard to see. The backgrounds are blurry and look like something one would find in a late PlayStation 1 or early PlayStation 2 game.
The sound effects are minimal within the actual demoscene. The only interesting use of sound is the fact that the background music is removed and replaced with ghostly whispers when fast forwarding or rewinding. I liked the whispers, as they bolstered the unearthly atmosphere that the demoscene tries to project.
The music used in “LiS” is grating and unpleasant. While the title music is fairly good, the music played throughout the rest of the experience made me want to mute the TV. Much of it is rather loud and unsuited to the on-screen action.
The only real saving grace for “LiS'” presentation is the Hidden Part, which is accessed by clicking both joysticks while on the title screen. The Hidden Part features some interesting fractal and abstract animations which are attractive and interesting to watch. If the entirely of “LiS” had been done in this abstract way, I would have been more inclined to lavish praise upon it as the ‘interactive art' it claims to be. Unfortunately, the Hidden Part is completely non-interactive, which is a sign of a strong case of misplaced priorities on behalf of Plastic's design team.
Story
“LiS” is a nearly-seven-minute clip that features black mist (reminiscent of the smoke monster from the TV series, “Lost”) flying over a ruined cityscape. This mist eventually encounters a flying basset hound and petrifies him. Soon after the dog's demise, a robot tiki mask awakens within one of the buildings, flies out, and shatters his body. The tiki mask and the black mist then get into a fight over a classical statue of a woman on a remote outcropping of rock, which results in the destruction of the camera and loss of the viewer's perspective.
This ‘story' is strange and nonsensical. There are other characters, a panda and a cat, that don't really get involved in the action. The panda doesn't move at all and the cat merely observes the interaction between the mist, dog, and tiki mask. This section of the story is wide-open to interpretation.
The other part of the story is told through the Trophies that can be earned in “LiS.” Each of the Silver Trophies represents a ‘Sigil' and has some flavor text that gives the impression that the ‘story' of “LiS” is about the suppression of chaos.
Gameplay
There are two play options on the title screen for “LiS:” ‘Linger' and ‘Watch.' Linger is the active mode, and the primary way to play the scene. All of the interactive segments are active. Watch is a way to play the scene without having to worry about any of the interactive segments.
The main gameplay in “LiS” is in the form of pausing. By pressing X, the player can pause and unpause the progress of the scene. Pausing at specific places allows the player to perform certain actions, like shaking the SIXAXIS, tilting it, moving the analog sticks, or pressing a button, to break out of the flow of the scene and send a cloud of black mist toward the statue. Each time the player finds one of these interaction points, one of the Sigils is unlocked. This is the primary reason for Linger Mode.
After unlocking all of the Sigils, a second type of gameplay becomes available that is a bit like “Where's Waldo.” The player is given the ability to look at a group of pictures by pressing Square and must locate matching pictures that are hidden throughout the scene. This is the primary reason for Watch mode. Each picture is actually the logo of another demoscene group, and they are hidden in locations that require a lot of delicate camera work to find, which doesn't work particularly well with the SIXAXIS. Unfortunately, finding all of the logos and unlocking 100% of the Trophies gives no reward.
Overall
“Linger in Shadows” is a waste of time and money. For $3.00, I was expecting more than a half-hour's worth of ‘WTF?' moments. Though the demoscene only lasts ~7 minutes, it took me multiple plays to find all of the hidden logos and earn all of the Trophies. I don't recommend “LiS” to anyone. It fails as a game, it fails as art, and it fails as a demoscene. If it was free or came with a dynamic PS3 theme that resembles the Hidden Part, it might be worth the price. As it is, nobody should spend money on it.
Presentation: 2/5
Story: 1/5
Gameplay: 1.5/5
Overall (not an average): 1.5/5
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