GAME REVIEW | A Unique Crew Crafts a Stunning "Alters" Narrative
You’re on a distant planet. All of your crew mates are dead, but you need more help to escape from this dire situation. And you have a few days to get off, or risk losing it all. Thankfully, with the aid of a magical material, you can create new crew mates from your own DNA. But having just more yous around just won’t cut it; you’ve got to adjust their destiny. Thus begins the tale of The Alters, the latest game from 11 bit studios (This War of Mine).
The concept of The Alters is very much out of left field. Players take control of Jan Dolski, the remaining crew member of a massive planetary base. With everyone else dead, Jan must create new life with Rapidium, a newly discovered element that allows him to bring new variations of himself to life. Using the base’s quantum computer, Jan then alters the lives of his clones, thereby giving them new jobs such as mechanic, miner, doctor, or even botanist.
But your new crew mates don’t exactly get along with you at first. And who can blame them? Jan Dolski had a hard life, with many people breaking his trust, be it friends, coworkers, or even family. Not even the threat of a painful death can get Jan’s clones motivated enough to jump into working. As a result, Jan’s got to use a very old technique to get everyone on the same page: talking it out.
Pep talks. Sharing life stories. Eating the meal your mom used to make. These are just some of the things Jan has to do in The Alters to keep the crew levelheaded. This isn’t just a game about surviving on a mysterious planet; it’s about dealing with the speed bumps life has placed on Jan’s pathways. All of it leads to some impressive back stories and epiphanies, which aid in the characters growing and becoming far stronger both physically and mentally.
Of course, finding the perfect camaraderie with your clones is only part of The Alters. There’s also the most important part: escaping. To do that, you’ll need the right clones, the right tools, and a good use of your time. Mess up along the way, and the writing will be on the wall. Hence why there may be times where you’ll have to go back to an older save file and redo a section or two. Yes, it can be frustrating (hell, I had to redo the Prologue a couple of times before I got it right!), but it does lead to some rewarding situations.
Getting off the planet is the task of the company that hired you: AllyCorp. At first, these figures are mysterious until you manage to get one clone up and at ‘em. There, you’ll deal with the boss Maxwell, space traffic controller Lucas, and even Jan’s ex-wife Lena. Not only are they in charge of the rescue plan, but they also give you some ideas on how to survive until their arrival. But as the game goes on, Jan is quickly reminded that Big Corp sometimes doesn’t have the people’s best interests on their mind.
What’s most important to AllyCorp is the Rapidium. So while Jan’s waiting, he and his clones are tasked with getting more while keeping the base running. Not only does Jan have to mine the important stuff, but he also needs to keep supplies well-stocked, the right tools made, and even do a little remodeling on the base itself. After all, how are the clones supposed to rest comfortably if there’s only one bed between everyone?
There’s also the danger that you’ll face in The Alters. While there are no vicious monsters waiting to pounce on Jan, there’s an invisible threat waiting to kill him and the clones: radiation. Every day, the team will have to be back in the base by 20:00, or risk being poisoned. On top of that, there’s the morale aspect that will keep the team afloat, something that often will get rocked either by Jan’s poor choice of words or even from a dumb idea from AllyCorp.
It’s impressive witnessing the amount of layers 11 bit studios have placed within The Alters. The gameplay is complex, but is simple enough to figure out after a couple of tries. Its narrative is deep, and it takes the clone trope to new levels of creativity. Most impressive is Jan’s voice actor Alex Jordan, who brings forth so many different personalities and characteristics in all of the clones showcased.
Since there’s only a maximum amount of clones one can make in a single play-through, replaying The Alters is certainly a must. On top of that, there are multiple endings to discover, with every choice made leading to one of them. Some will be good, others bad, but all of them lead to something truly interesting involving Jan and AllyCorp.
PROS:
- Great story
- Terrific voice acting
- Strong gameplay and survival mechanics
CONS:
- Redoing days are something of a requirement
FINAL THOUGHTS:
11 bit studios delivers a memorable survival game with The Alters. While it can be a tough play at times, Jan’s quest to survive on a mysterious planet will have players in awe of its character development and storytelling. It may be a daunting quest to take on, but The Alters is one game that will have you wanting to keep on cloning and confronting life’s biggest traumas.
FINAL GRADE:
Promotional consideration provided by 11 bit studios. Reviewed on the PC via Steam.
