PlayStation 2

Lifeline

No matter how impressive the technology is, gamers are going to be split on Lifeline. The voice control mechanic is incredibly unique, which will certainly earn it a devoted following. However, the novelty of the game may not appeal to everyone, which will most likely incur some vocal hatred. It’s not for everyone, but Lifeline is one of the most creative and daring games in ages. Everything about it was built around the voice control mechanic, which results in some truly fresh and satisfying gaming. However, there were also many times during the quest where I longed to take direct control of Rio’s actions. The frustration level of this title is pretty high, as voice recognition misunderstanding leads to a lot of fatal mistakes. But I’m willing to overlook that, as Lifeline is a completely unique gaming experience, and that’s not something I get to say very often.

I'd have to honestly say that LifeLine comes as something of a surprise. I went into the experience with the thought that it was going to be pure novelty but walked away with the feeling that what I had just played was quite amusing and highly innovative. As I said earlier, the technology isn't quite up to snuff, leaving you to issue commands that make the experience far less personal in nature, and there are times where you will simply be frustrated due to the fact that you simply can't communicate your needs, but the product really manages to be a pleasant experience overall.

What is Konami? According to their website, Konami is defined as being “committed to leading the way toward the future of entertainment. Our mission is to continue innovating, continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and technology, and continue building some of the best games and entertainment products in the world.” And boy do they live up to their mission statement, from DDR (who would have expected a dancing game to garner so much hype) to Karaoke Revolution and finally their newest limit breaker, Lifeline.

Operator: Hello. I am known as the "Operator." Welcome to my analysis of Konami's latest gaming endeavor, known as LifeLine. LifeLine is the first-ever voice activated action/adventure game where YOU get to command a very attractive young woman named Rio with your voice -- who's mine as well as will be your assistant in this matter.

Ah, text based adventure gaming. No sprites, no polygons, no sound. Some may gasp and shudder that I’m describing a videogame at all. These games were rich in graphical detail, but only through the written word, in classics such as “Zork,” “Adventure” and “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” The player interacted with the game by reading descriptions of the environment and characters (like a book, imagine that) and typing in simple verb noun commands, like, “Go West” (some more advanced games understood simple sentences like, “Open the bag on the table.”)

There are some companies out there these days that are trying really hard to become innovative in the face of genre's that don't seem to evolve or get much better. And it's generally because of an oversaturating of games in it. First-Person Shooters come to mind. But there is a rebirth now of that third-person action/adventure style game that is beginning to take place. Games such as Broken Sword, Syberia, and others have begin to creep back into the video game fold. They are akin to the horror games like Resident Evil and such, but without the horror part. Go with me on this one, I promise it makes sense.

Video game players often yell at their television screen, but in Konami’s latest title, it’s mandatory. “LifeLine” is the first video game to be controlled almost exclusively with voice-activated commands. A USB headset microphone (sold separately) is required to play.

Originally created by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. internally in Japan, Lifeline, the North American name for the Japanese game Operator's Side, is a unique, innovative and yet exasperating game that delivers equal amounts of pleasure and pain.

If you like movies like Panic Room, or ever wanted to remotely control someone from monitors in a room, then this game has you written all over it. If you're an adventure fan who likes a little innovation and decent story, then you must pick this up as well. If you generally speak in strange tongues, mumble, or talk in slang, you may want to consider a rental at best. Just remember, while the title supports most USB headsets, it does not provide one. If you own the original SOCOM, or if you play Madden online or even Karaoke Revolution, you should already have this necessary tool. You cannot play the game without it, which in the end, is the games appealing point and charm.

I think LifeLine could have been a far more successful game if the headset control had been an option rather than a requirement. Having direct control over Rio and her environment would have made this game easier to play, but without the voice input the game would have quickly been revealed for the simplistic adventure that it really is.

LifeLine represents an ambitious undertaking, but the experience is undermined by unreliable technology and some poor game design.

Fãs dos velhos adventures podem querer experimentar essa curiosa variação do gênero. Quem procura por algo mais parecido com "Resident Evil", porém, deve evitar o game.

"The green bottle," I say, hoping that she'll get the hint. It's been a long time since we've shared a bottle of wine.

To recap: imagine playing the most uninspired, atmosphere-free Resident Evil clone that could exist. (I haven't even mentioned the graphics so basic they look like they'd almost be possible on the original PlayStation, and a cheesy story that borders on ridiculously laughable at times.) Then instead of using a control pad, you must verbally tell your brain-free character exactly what to do every step of the way. This is what Lifeline is like. Rather than bringing all-new perspective to a genre that's running out of steam, Lifeline squanders its potential with unbelievably derivative content and a plodding, cumbersome interface. I still think the basic concept has merit, but it'll take more than one brilliant idea to salvage something saddled with so many bad choices.

The concept is both interesting and irresistibly sci-fi: a survival/horror-type title in which you use voice-recognition technology to guide the main character through the game by barking orders and giving commands. LifeLine has a lot of merit as a technology demonstration, but as a game, it?s a bit like talking to a wall.

Text adventures have a long and storied history that is still being written today. Games like Zork and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy wove a convincing, interactive world around the player through words alone. However, their reliance on words for input was also their fundamental flaw. Players had to guess the precise words that the game parser could understand, which led to many wasted minutes of frustrating thesaurus diving. Luckily, that's all in the past ... or so I thought.