The Complex Review – Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

The Complex is a full-motion video game or FMV, in which you play as Dr. Amy Tennant, a doctor who previously saved lives during a civil war set in a fictional Asian nation. Flashforward a couple of years, Dr. Amy Tennant is now working to save more lives through the use of nanocell technology being worked at the laboratory known as the Complex. You will have to make split-second decisions in this Sci-Fi Thriller FMV, but does this game pave the way for the FMV genre? 

STORY

Dr. Amy Tennant tried to save as many lives as she could during her time treating patients affected by the use of a bioweapon in a civil war in the fictional Asian nation of Kindar. Years later, Tennant works for Kensington at The Complex working to develop nanocell technology to help save lives. After a major bio-weapon attack in London, Tennant is tasked with saving the life of the potential bio-weapon terrorist and soon finds herself in a lockdown laboratory with time and air running out. 

The story of The Complex lacks depth whenever it comes to details about how the nano cell technology works and there being a lack of finer details that would help enhance the story, such as the background of each character in the story so there can be a better understanding of their motives. Despite the flaws, I still managed to feel attached to the characters. 

GAMEPLAY

The gameplay of The Complex is fairly simple, you play as Dr. Amy Tennant, and throughout the game, you are to make choices that will later have an impact on your overall playthrough.

Throughout the game, you will, however, find that some choices you made do not really affect what happens in the grand scheme of things. These choices felt like they were oddly placed and were mainly placed to make you feel as if you had more of a choice in things. You will find that the decision-making can be intense as you continue to progress through the game. You will have to make choices quickly as there is a timer counting down and will not allow you to have time to think to consider the consequences. Although, if you are wanting to take a more relaxed and thoughtful approach, you can do this by going to your settings and switching pause choices on. 

Even though there were some choices that did not matter too much, you will feel later on throughout the game that the choices that you made in the past will come back to haunt you. The game has a feature called relationship tracking that, based on the choices that you make, will affect your relationship with characters in the game, and later on your relationships will affect what happens in certain scenarios.

Another feature to consider when playing is personality tracking. Each decision and interaction you choose will affect your character’s personality, and at the end of each playthrough, you will be given a personality score. 

AUDIO

The Complex has very good vocal clarity, but you will find that it is best to be played with subtitles just in case you happen to mishear a word or two. This is because if you happen to mishear something right before you make a decision, you might suffer the repercussions of this later.

The Complex uses background music during certain parts of the game, such as during moments that are supposed to be emotional, intense, and while decision making. You will find that the music is nothing really spectacular or amazing, but rather simplistic that is not meant to distract you from the story. The background music can be found in any other Sci-Fi thriller movie out there. 

VISUALS & PERFORMANCE

The visuals in The Complex are really stunning for a game with a limited budget. Particularly the overlook of London is amazing. Although, since it is a game with a limited budget, you will be able to tell in certain parts of the FMV.

An example would be during the use of special effects in certain parts of the story that a green screen was evidently used. However, if you are not looking specifically for these things, you will think that it feels like any other movie. 

VALUE

The Complex is priced at $12.99 on the US eShop, which makes it a little bit tough to recommend. The price is a little bit too high if you are looking for a game to sink hours in. It can be finished in one sitting, being completed at one hour and twenty minutes.

However, it has a little bit of replayability because it has nine different endings for you to complete, and a skip scene function which allows you to quickly find the endings if you so desire. For this game, if you are interested in playing it, you have to take a different approach. Instead of viewing it as a game, view it as if you were purchasing a ticket to a film. 

---

The Complex Review provided by SwitchWatch.co.uk
Developer: Wales Interactive, Little Jade Productions, Good Gate Media, Little Jade Productions Limited.
Publisher: Wales Interactive
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Price: $12.99, £9.99, €12.99
Game Size: 10.5 GB