Review ‘Headliner: NoviNews’ (Switch)

Game: Headliner: NoviNews
Genre: Adventure, Education, RPG, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam)
Developer/Publisher: Unbound Creations
Age Rating: EU 16+|Teen (US)
Price: $13.99 / £11.99 / €13,57
Release Date: 5th September 2019

Thanks to Unbound Creations for providing us with a review code

Insert Intense Intro Music Here

What if you were the one in charge of everything people see and hear? What if, by the single stab of a stamp, you could control the masses, start protests, even incite riots? In Headliner: NoviNews, all of these responsibilities fall to you; you take on the role of the Headliner, and you are tasked with approving or rejecting the articles that come across your desk every day. Essentially, controlling what people see and hear at all times.

Do not take this obligation lightly, as you will watch every single thing you do immediately affect the populace; not only the nameless masses, but your coworkers, boss, friends, and even your brother.

Headliner: Novinews is a ruthless game, success in one way easily guarantees failure in another. And this aspect is one of the things I love about it; it really grinds home the fact that the world we live in isn’t ponies and rainbows, and that actions have consequences.

Headliner-NoviNews LadiesGamers

Choice and Consequence

These consequences of your choices are immediate and tangible. This game is all about instant results; and once you have put something out into the ether, it is extremely difficult to take it back. It really shines a light on the role the media plays in our own everyday lives!

Not only does this game have fun and interesting gameplay and story, but I think it is a great experience and story for people – gamers and non-gamers alike (and if I could have my way, all politicians and media personnel) – to play just to attempt to achieve a perspective on the impact of the information sent out and consumed on a daily basis.

Real life questions everyone should ask, like: where am I getting my information from? How trustworthy is this? How could this media I am ingesting right now have been affected by the writer’s own personal opinions and biases?

Headliner-NoviNews LadiesGamers

GAH! I know I am making this review sound so dark and serious, but it’s true! I think it’s very important for us as a society to be informed, and to see ALL of the sides of an argument before jumping to conclusions. This game is the perfect example of how easy it is for the media to control us! We can be people! Not sheeple!

Ahhh, okay, I’ll end the rant, for now…

Respect Factor Level Up

First thing I absolutely LOVED about this game was that on the little character creation screen you can choose for your character to be male, female, or non-binary. Things like that instantly up my respect factor.

The game consists of two varieties of gameplay: the time when you’re at your desk reading through the daily articles and choosing which to approve and which to reject, and then your walk home from work every day. While you’re walking home from work there will be various people and places to interact with where you will then engage in a conversation with an individual. For example, your brother Justin. The way you treat these people will also determine your relationship with them, and what trajectory their lives take.

Headliner-NoviNews LadiesGamers

Basically EVERY choice you make has an affect on the world and the people in it! Ahh! Like REAL LIFE! SO GOOD!

Controls couldn’t be simpler: joystick (or D-pad) to move left and right, and the A & B button to accept/reject.

Art and Sound

The artwork is suited to the game for sure. It’s dark, and always raining, the colours give the game a serious dystopian feel; after all we are in a dystopian future. The music is an equal partner in the creation of this atmosphere.

The 2D drawings of the characters when you are talking to them are very well done, evocative of my favourite visual novels. The style of the ‘walking-home’ art is that of a cube-like blocky character walking past a 2D backdrop of buildings and shops. I think this aesthetic really works, and the somewhat creepy look of the geometrical character models adds to the whole messed-up-dystopia vibe.

Headliner-NoviNews LadiesGamers

The Little Niggles

I only really had one little niggle with this game, and it is the responsiveness of the text selection. I found, when in conversation with other characters, that it would seem to take a long time for the option to select what I want to say to even come up, and then it would sometimes take a few firm presses of down on my D-pad or Joystick to get the text-selector-highlight area to move down to what I wanted to select. I don’t know if that’s because of the port to the Switch? It’s such a VERY tiny thing though, and it didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of how I was creating this story.

Endings Galore! And You’ll Want To See More!

I not only enjoyed this game immensely, but I think it is an important interactive story that I wish could reach more people. Every person who reads the news should play this game just to add a bit more skepticism to their media consumption. All politicians and journalists should play it as well.

There is so much replayability in this game, as it boasts many multiple endings. Not only endings for your character, but the lives and outcomes of your coworker, brother, and friends are changed and affected by your choices and actions.

Headliner-NoviNews LadiesGamers

As well, after playing through the game once, you will unlock a new police officer character – and a whole new story line – to play. I don’t wanna say any spoilers so I’ll just leave it at that, but on my multiple playthroughs, I appreciated the added content and even MORE endings to see.

All in all, I would highly recommend this game; you really can’t go wrong with a game this good at this price. It’s a lesson for humanity wrapped up in a piece of interactive art. Basically, it’s good art.

I like it a lot!
I like it a lot!

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