"Directive 8020" alludes to: Death in Space
In "Directive 8020", a crew of astronauts fights an alien. Supermassive Games' title focuses on interactive decisions rather than action.
(Image: Supermassive Games)
“Alien”, “The Expanse”, “Galaxy of Terror” – it's always “hands off” unknown alien species. And yet, humans never learn. Horror specialists Supermassive Games are using this cliché, not telling stories about serial killers in the American hinterland like in “The Quarry”, but relocating their peculiar mix of action-adventure and interactive film to space.
Judgement Day
Since the survival horror drama “Until Dawn”, the British development studio Supermassive Games has been considered an expert in dark interactive films. In addition to excursions into the puzzle-platformer genre with “Little Nightmares 3”, the Brits have nurtured their “Dark Pictures Anthology”, which always dedicates itself to a specific horror genre. With “Directive 8020”, fans can now expect a dark trip into SF horror in the fifth installment, inspired by films like “Alien” or “The Thing”.
The starting situation in “Directive 8020” is grim. Earth is dying, and a final mission to the distant planet Tau Ceti is meant to secure the future. But when the crew arrives in orbit, everything is different than expected. A meteorite has severely damaged the ship and brought a guest. Instead of worrying about humanity's future, the crew is now fighting for survival. But is it worth it at any cost?
„Directive 8020“ angespielt (5 Bilder)
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)Supermassive plays on the entire genre keyboard. Players alternately control individual crew members from a third-person perspective. Lights flicker in sparsely lit rooms, narrow ventilation shafts become death traps, and somewhere in the dark corridors, there's a flash and a rumble. Genre fans will immediately be reminded of the Nostromo from “Alien” or, upon seeing the alien, of the Protomolecule from “The Expanse”. Sci-fi horror as fans love it, which ultimately offers a surprising story twist.
There isn't a big action fireworks display with lots of shooting. Well-trained thumbs are not required from players. The development studio stages an interactive film where fans mostly watch, press a button at the right moment, and thus decide the outcome of the story and the fate of their characters. Almost anything can happen, from a happy ending to the greatest possible catastrophe. A bit of QTE action, some stealth moments, and a few puzzles provide variety.
Playing with Narrative Conventions
The appeal of this adventure lies less in the gameplay challenge and more in the play with the story and the creepy atmosphere. Similar to “Detroit: Become Human”, players can rewind the story at so-called "Turning Points" to make different decisions. This can change the entire gaming experience. Important characters die as early as the first of eight chapters, while others face different fates due to their decisions and must confront the consequences.
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Depending on the decisions, a good or bad story develops. Not every story path had the same level of tension during our playthroughs, and not every fate resonated emotionally with us. Some characters simply lack the backstory for that. Nevertheless, the escape from an unknown alien is intense and suspenseful. Especially when players choose the “Survival” mode, where they have no rewind option.
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Despite the limited gameplay options, this provides many exciting moments within the approximately eight-hour playtime. We sneak past monstrous enemies, have to reroute power lines, and find paths through shafts. The Supermassive team always comes up with a few twists to drive the story forward: traitors within their own ranks, a trip to an alien planet, or a shuttle running out of “fuel”. In the end, there's a shocking revelation – and the crew must deal with the consequences of the titular “Directive 8020”.
Conclusion
In “Directive 8020”, almost every game decision is decisive and influences the crew's fates and the outcome of the plot. Experimenting with the "Turning Points" in particular ensures a high replay value. The philosophical ending about responsibility, sacrifice, and humanity has become interesting.
But as good as the story and atmosphere are – sometimes we would have wished for a bit more interaction. Sometimes minutes pass in a cutscene before we can finally press a button again. It doesn't help when we have to hide from an alien or solve a few simple puzzles. “Directive 8020” is a game for fans who prefer to enjoy a thrilling story over hectic action-packed shooting.
“The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020” will be released on May 12th for Windows, PS5, and Xbox Series. It costs approx. €50. USK rating 18. We played the Windows version for our review.
(mki)
