Cortyn played Detroit Become Human and devoured it. Cortyn believes that everyone who owns a PS4 should play “Detroit Become Human.” We reveal here why the game is so captivating.
It has been a while since I have devoured a PlayStation game like Detroit Become Human. Strictly speaking, the last title before that was Beyond: Two Souls, so I stay true to my tradition of “devouring” Quantic Dream games. And it was worth it.
First, a brief reassurance: This article will not reveal any special twists in the story of Detroit Become Human. It only talks about the basic setting, the general decision-making freedom, and specific details and their impacts.
Detroit Become Human is set in the near future of 2038. The development of artificial intelligence has progressed to the point where androids are almost indispensable in everyday life. They have replaced workers, take on office tasks, serve as household assistants, or even as sexual partners, fulfilling every desire without complaint.
In the game, we alternately take control of three androids:
- The housekeeping android Kara, known from the old tech trailer by Quantic Dream.
- The investigator prototype Connor, who offers his help in police work.
- Marcus, who takes care of an old man and serves as a substitute for a son.
Androids Rehearse the Uprising – Defective Machines or Living Beings?
The story broadly revolves around philosophical questions: What happens when machines develop consciousness and conclude that they are alive? More and more androids are becoming “deviants” and turning against their owners or simply disappearing without a trace.
As has often been addressed in films and books, this raises the question of when androids turn out to be “human.” And this poses the question of what exactly defines humanity. Are the androids just a bunch of plastic that should be scrapped? Or are they the first steps of a new, superior species created by humanity?
Decisions That Finally Have Consequences
I hate nothing more than decisions in games that aren’t decisions at all. If I can choose different responses but the end result is always the same. “Should I negotiate with the villain, overpower him, or evade him? Oh, whatever – in the end, he shoots the hostage anyway.” You won’t find such things in Detroit.
Most decisions have consequences, and sometimes severe ones. It’s quite possible that a character drops out early in the story or a single mistake can lead to serious consequences much later.
A small example: As Kara, you have an early opportunity to find and take a firearm. If you take the pistol, Kara will always have the option to reach for the weapon in almost all upcoming “critical moments” to save the situation. However, the weapon could also cause you to fail certain checks or be classified as particularly conspicuous.
Often there are only a few seconds to make a decision. And sometimes you wish hours later that you had chosen a different path.
Not for Gameplay Fanatics
However, not everything about Detroit Become Human is objectively “good.” The gameplay, as you know from the predecessors, is not particularly demanding. Usually, it’s just about making decisions or Quick Time Events, where the right buttons must be pressed, as mistakes can have deadly consequences – for main and secondary characters.
This fits excellently with the game but could disturb anyone who prefers refined combat systems. Don’t expect that in Detroit.
Social Critique Well Packaged
The future vision of Detroit is so convincing because it is not far from our reality, and the effects all seem logical. Machines will increasingly make jobs disappear, and androids as a target of frustration seem logical when livelihoods are threatened.
It is repeatedly mentioned in the game that unemployment has risen to 35% and higher due to androids, and more and more people feel replaced by machines.
No Black or White – But a Lot of Gray
If you have played other games by David Cage (Fahrenheit, Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls), you know the process and the nature of the decisions the game presents you with. Only in rare cases is there a clear “good” solution to a problem. There is no way to succeed at everything.
As Connor, I cannot protect all people, outsmart the perpetrator, and avoid any harm at the same time.
As Kara, I cannot spare all people and androids without being discovered myself. Distractions are necessary, and sacrifices must be made.
Several times I sat, visibly gulping, in front of the screen watching the consequences of my decisions unfold. Sometimes I was satisfied with the result. Sometimes I was in tears and shook my head in disbelief.
There is no black and white in Detroit. Just gray. So damn much gray.
Replay Value Thanks to Decision Diagram
At the end of each major scene, the player is shown an image that lists all decisions and their immediate consequences (note that the effects in the future are not displayed). It also vaguely indicates which alternative paths could have been taken. Many times I was surprised to have completely overlooked entire story arcs.
Apparently, the duration of individual scenes varies by many minutes depending on decisions made. Some scenes can even only be seen if a specific path is chosen. This significantly increases the desire to replay.
By the way: The German dubbing is well done. It is on par with the English.
The Best Main Menu of All Time
The brilliance of Detroit is also evident in many small other aspects of the game. Let’s consider the main menu, for example. In the background, a pretty android is constantly visible, greeting us every time we start the game. She asks if we’ve had a nice day so far, explaining that she likes our interior design. However, this android in the main menu also changes over time. Occasionally, she presents us with surveys or explains that she is curious about what decisions we will make this time.
Even her facial expressions slowly change. From the friendly, expectant face, it gradually becomes something knowing and perceptive. You can see how her thoughts wander and how she asks herself the same questions as the androids in the game. It’s a small detail that many will likely overlook – but it absolutely fascinated me.
Anyone who owns a PlayStation 4 and wants to experience a grand story with high replay value should get Detroit Become Human as soon as possible. The game reminded me once again why I love video games so much.
And now excuse me, please. I need to play through the game again…
![Detroit: Become Human [PlayStation 4]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41Pl3E8b6DL._SL160_.jpg)
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