As video games have evolved, we have seen that there has been an increasing approach to the film industry, and today, many video games can be compared without disheveled to many movies. What makes the games different from the movies is that “interactivity” that they provide to the user, something that in the cinema is very difficult to achieve. And for this reason, the opportunity to live for ourselves a story on a par with the best that we can enjoy in the cinema is something priceless.
Few filmmakers have given us stories as intriguing as those of the master of suspense: Alfred Hitchcock. Among his works, there are classic works such as “The Birds”, “Rear Window” or “Psychosis”. But one of the ones that most marked a generation of filmmakers and that, in a certain way, Pendulo Studios has wanted to replicate in its game, is «Vertigo». And now, sit down, and we will begin to break down each aspect of the work of Pendulo Studios and its relationship with Hitchcock’s film, in this alfred hitchcock vertigo review.
A missed opportunity to bring Hitchcock’s great masterpiece to our midst
When we learned that Pendulo Studio (creators of the great Blacksad Under The Skin) were going to dare with one of the most beloved films in the history of cinema, we were all very happy for the Madrid studio. Having shown great talent with his previous adaptation of the Blacksad comics, we all hoped that this title would be an improvement in many aspects… Something that has not been entirely like that.
While Hitchcock’s work talked about impossible love and sick obsession with a specific person, the title of Pendulo Studios has few brushstrokes of the cinematographic work, like the vertigo that our protagonist, Ed Miller, has due to a traumatic event. Yes, it is true that the work plays very well with its plot, unraveling the fabric little by little while we solve the “puzzle” that is the history of Vertigo. But it’s a shame that the Madrid studio didn’t take much more from Hitchcock’s film, as it could have been very, very interesting…
Three characters merge into a single story full of mysteries, death and secrets
The above words do not mean that Pendulo’s work in the plot has not been more than remarkable, because without a doubt it is the strongest part of the work. While at first it seems that we only control Ed Miller, the “supposed” protagonist of this story, later we realize that there are two more people who will be key to discovering the end of the story: Dr. Julia Lomas and Sheriff Reyes, who will have their moment to show off in this convoluted story.
The way in which the puzzle network is resolved, thanks to the use of flashbacks and visits to different locations, make the title somewhat more varied in terms of situations, although it does development is often slow and tedious, because of lengthy conversations without meaning or purpose. But for lovers of thrillers and dramas… This is, without a doubt, a title to keep an eye on, yes or yes.
A gameplay and a technical section that does not accompany its great plot
In many ways, Hitchcock’s cinematographic oeuvre was groundbreaking at the time of its release, and it still means a lot to hundreds of authors today. Obviously we shouldn’t ask Pendulo Studio for levels of “innovation” at the level of the film, but we have been surprised to the bad how “classic” they have been in their design. Quicktime events without any difficulty, a control that leaves much to be desired, choices that are useless, since the story is already pre-established from the beginning… It seems that we are watching an 8/9 hour movie instead of playing a videogame.
And the technical section simply does not honor the story, since it falls far behind what we would need to “believe” the characters much more. If that in the aspect of dubbing into Spanish, the actors do it perfectly, leaving authentic acting jewels. But that great work is, many times, brought to the ground by very rigid facial animations and very poor performance on many occasions. It’s a shame that, with the great job they did on Blacksad, they seem to have taken a few steps back on this title.
With all this, Alred Hitchcock Vertigo is very enjoyable
Pendulo Studios title feels like a huge missed opportunity, having been able to make a literal adaptation of the film to video games, or on the other hand, use some aspects of Hitchcock’s work much better than others for the title. Vertigo is a long title for what is expected of a totally narrative title, without many frills in the playable and technical sections, but it is surprising, and not a little, in presenting us with a convoluted and powerful story, along with a more than notable cast of characters.
For users who are interested in acquiring Pendulo’s work, they will be pleased to know that there is the possibility of buying the physical edition of the game, since Meridiem will be in charge of distributing these physical editions, which you can buy at their own official website. To close this analysis, it only remains to say that lovers of cinema, and thrillers (and above all, of the stories told by the master of suspense), is a highly recommended game. Now it’s your turn to enter by yourself and find all the secrets that this work hides (even a great wink related to Alfred Hitchcock himself) and put an end to Ed Miller’s torment and his vertigo attacks.