REVIEW : Backbone (PS5)
The setting for Backbone is a retro-futuristic Vancouver populated by anthropomorphic animals. Publisher Raw Fury and developer EggNut use the dark film noir aesthetic and pixel look. And what could be more fitting for this circumstance than a gripping detective thriller a la Blacksad, full of intrigue, power struggles, corruption, and murder? We took a closer look at the adventure in the test.
Howard Lotor’s most important case
When Mrs Green hires Howard Lotor at his shady office to find and monitor her husband, Jeremy, it’s just another day for him. He should act strangely, wear someone else’s scent, and return home late at night. There were more fascinating missions for the raccoon investigator than spying on an otter man cheating. He has no idea that this is just the start of a bizarre case that will reach the highest levels of society.
Atmospheric pixel look
Backbone’s tale is divided into multiple acts. Howard Lotor wanders through the many parts of a fantastic-looking pixel metropolis in the old side-scroller manner, creating a complex combination of current components and 50s jazz vibes. A parallax effect is achieved in the background thanks to numerous layers, which gives the game visual depth and the right crime thriller atmosphere. As a result, his new Howard case lands in The Bite, the famed nightclub run by polar bear businesswoman Clarissa Bloodworth.
Talk a lot, do little.
In his pursuit for Jeremy Green, Howard Lotor employs his skills as a private investigator. Anyone hoping to explore a post-noir world with the unfettered pursuit of new traces or stealth mechanics based on smell will be disappointed. There are only a few riddles and stealth puzzles in the game. Backbone is almost like a text adventure because one thing is clear: there are a lot of conversations here in English. There is no speech output.
Great story, but not told
What Backbone lacks in playfulness, the plot more than makes up for. Why ‘very good’ only? Despite numerous interactions and answer possibilities, the story stays extremely linear, with no big implications or alternative courses of action. The characters are sympathetic as well, but they are quite stereotypical: Howard, the grumpy raccoon investigator, for example, is aided by Renee, the astute Fuchs journalist. Nonetheless, the story is well-told, riveting, and full of unexpected twists and turns. Even so, it does not feel chosen, as some actions that have already begun are not satisfactorily completed.
The universe is quite complicated: societal structures with their racial class system, dystopian Vancouver with its high wall, behind which dangers and monsters are believed to lurk, and even the religious fiction about the so-called Shepard are all fascinating. Furthermore, these concepts open up a plethora of fresh story possibilities.
A “wtf” rarely comes alone
A few words on the story’s twists and turns, without giving too much away: Of course, it immediately becomes evident that the search for an unfaithful husband is only the beginning. The plot manages to surprise and, in the final third, dares to take an unexpected turn.
