As Dusk Falls review: Xbox’s atypical narrative adventure leaves a strong mark

digitaltrends.com:

During the last two gaming generations, developers like Telltale and Quantic Dream redefined the narrative adventure genre, putting less emphasis on point-and-click puzzle-solving. Instead, they focused on making the game like an interactive movie with many player choices that have a direct impact on the game’s narrative. The genre has gone through its trials and tribulations over the last decade, and even Netflix has adapted elements of it for interactive TV shows like Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Xbox Game Studios and Interior Night’s As Dusks Falls finds itself somewhere between Telltale and Quantic Dream’s formula and an interactive movie.

As Dusk Falls isn’t like any other game in the Xbox exclusive lineup thanks to its motion comic-like presentation, but it’s still interactive with frequent dialogue choices and quick time events. Due to its unique presentation and grounded story, As Dusk Falls stands out as a worthwhile and atypical narrative game, even if it doesn’t feel great to play on a controller.

As Dusk Falls is a grounded, gritty crime drama about two struggling families. It’s split into two three-chapter books: Collision and Expansion. In Collision, you’ll mainly take control of Vince, a father on a road trip with his family, and Jay, the youngest of the Holt brothers. After the Holts run Vince’s family off the road, they must stay in a motel. But when the Holts steal from the town of Two Rock’s police chief, they end up at the same motel and hold Vince, his family, and others inside as hostages. Vince is written as a down-on-his-luck everyman, so it’s easy to empathize with him as he tries to keep his family safe, and negotiate with the Holts and Two Rock’s crooked sheriff to take them down.

Those who