Erica Reviews
Erica is a novel concept which fails on almost every count, unfortunately, and can't as such be recommended at all.
Erica is a unique undertaking in the FMV world that worked out well and has set new standards for the genre. It brings an engaging story to life with superb acting, and enough interactive choices for the player to make it a cut above the rest in its genre. It does waste time in unnecessary interactions on occasion, but nothing too detrimental to take away from the mystery and intrigue of its narrative.
After spending some time as a PS4 exclusive, Erica has made its way onto PC. As an interactive movie game it excels in combining good cinematography with the interactivity of video games to present a captivating thriller whose ending you can decide. While the genre might not be for everyone, Erica is a high quality movie game that will please anyone who is interested in these types of experiences.
With its intriguing narrative hook, Erica's premise is enough to pique any FMV fan's interest. Sadly, clumsy plotholes and unnecessary choices weigh the game down, and it doesn't quite deliver in the end. It's still entertaining enough if you're looking for a different kind of movie night, though.
This is a game valued accurately – although there isn’t much gameplay itself, who hasn’t paid at least this much just to watch a movie?
ERICA stands as an intriguing example of connecting players with a game through touch controls. It succeeds primarily as a technical feat and less so as a deeply-engrossing video game. If the storyline were given more time to grow then maybe it would have blossomed into something special. As is, it's akin to a murder mystery popcorn flick. There's fun to be had solving the mystery, but not quite enough to create a memorable experience.
action makes it different from its genre but it also confines it within it, specially about interactivity and design. However, despite its low duration and hybrid nature, it's evident the passion in every level (writing, background, actors). A courageous but also riskful experiment.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Short but good live-action thriller about Erica's past and the shocking truth, just with simple story.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Erica might have some problems with the plot and lack of character development, but it delivers a very satisfying, secret-filled interactive experience. The replay factor is high, as we will only have all mysteries solved after several hours of interaction.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Erica offers a very casual take on the adventure game genre with a rather convoluted story, but a great price and solid production values make it a novelty thriller that's worth a look.
Erica is a solid addition to the FMV world, and I'm excited to see if the developer (FlavourWorks) continues with this genre in future games. The acting is solid, the companion app is a delight to use, and the story is intriguing.
Erica is an outstanding production that may jumpstart the interactive live action game genre yet again.
Erica takes us back to an era where FMV was a thing but uses it to provide an engaging and captivating experience, not just to deal with hardware limitations. It’s asking price of $13 AUD is very reasonable considering it can be played multiple times, presenting very different outcomes each playthrough all for less than the cost of a single movie ticket. It’s a game I’m sure I’ll be diving back into but mostly I’m looking forward to seeing what Flavourworks can do with the Touch Video tech next.
Save for the few scenes that don’t gel together and the middle portion of the 'film', Erica is a fantastic experience that will have you gripped across multiple playthroughs. The cast, in particular Holly Earl as our lead Erica Mason, deliver top end performances throughout and the game doesn’t impose too many pointless decisions in order to constantly drive the story forward. All of this is even more impressive when you consider how many different twists and turns you can take with each playthrough.
Erica was a bad game that could have been a decent movie. If you want a proper interactive FMV game experience; grab "Late Shift", "The Infectious Madness of Doctor. Dekker or "The Bunker" is all on steam for roughly the same price but with considerably better interaction. That said if you can find it on sale for around six dollars I'd say it's worth one playthrough.
As a film, Erica is a very engaging thriller, not for the somewhat cliché plot, but for the interactivity that brings a special flavor, since the decisions define the ending that will be shown. It is a pity that only the options at the end of the film really matter for the outcome and that there is no system for revisiting scenes or altering decisions. Still, Erica is an interesting title for anyone who is looking for simple entertainment, but with the participation of the viewer, staying in the middle between a conventional film and a game.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
An effective story, some excellent performances from its cast, and very good production values do much to cover up its minor flaws and, as such, help Erica stand out from the crowd, when it comes to full motion video games. With a nice tight runtime, it’s also a game that doesn’t outstay its welcome. More of this kind of thing, please.
With such an engrossing experience ready to be played right in the palm of your hands, it’s a bite sized tale that only will cost you a two cups of coffee (That’s around about $13 bucks, right?). Erica is highly recommended and essential gaming, for casual and experienced gamers alike, and would definitely be considered one of the best surprises Sony Interactive Studios have presented us this year.
Erica is a great looking, entertaining, well-acted FMV game that shouldn't be missed, especially for the low price of ten dollars.
Even with annoying faults like duplicate choices I quite enjoyed my time going through this interactive thriller. Great cinematography and acting more than makes up for a cliché story and setting. But for a game that focuses on player choice I find the inability to view the choice tree or even custom save very limiting. It's fine for casual walkthroughs but completionist play is unnecessarily tedious.
Review in Czech | Read full review