Late Shift
Developer(s)CtrlMovie
Publisher(s)Wales Interactive
Director(s)Tobias Weber
Producer(s)
  • Baptiste Planche
  • Kurban Kassam
Writer(s)
  • Tobias Weber
  • Michael R. Johnson
Composer(s)Cyril Boehler
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
  • Windows, macOS, PS4, Xbox One
    • WW: 18 April 2017
  • Switch
    • WW: 26 April 2018[1]
Genre(s)Adventure, interactive movie
Mode(s)Single-player

Late Shift is an interactive FMV video game written and directed by Tobias Weber. The participation film technology behind the title was developed by CtrlMovie. The title was screened at many international film festivals, including The New York Film Festival, Raindance Film Festival, and the Festival du nouveau cinéma.

Gameplay

Late Shift is presented much like a regular movie. During the film, the player is able to make choices on behalf of the protagonist. The presentation doesn't pause during the decision-making process, so viewers must react in real-time. There are 180 choice points in the feature-film, and the user interaction influences characters and the events of the game and lead the story to one of seven different endings.

Plot

The playable character and main protagonist is Matt Thompson, a college student who works as a parking lot attendant. One night, Matt finds himself embroiled in London's criminal underworld when he is forced to work with a group of armed robbers. He ends up befriending, possibly romantically, one of the members of the group; a young woman named May-Ling. The player's choices influence the events of the game and can lead to a variety of different endings resulting in different fates for Matt and May-Ling.

Cast

Reception

Late Shift received "very positive" reviews on Steam,[10] 72/100 points according to review aggregator Metacritic.[2][3][4][5] The Sunday Times named it "the most important film of the year",[11] The Guardian called it "a digital experience to look out for[12]". The film won many awards, including a BAFTA Cymru Award[13] (Best Game), "Best Mobile/Tablet" and "Most Creative and Original" at Game Connection Development Awards[14] and "Best Narrative" at BIG Festival Brazil.[15] Further it was nominated for an IMG Award,[16] for "Visual Design" and "Action and Adventure Game" at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards 2017,[17] and for "Writing or Narrative Design" and "Gameplay Innovation" at the 2018 Develop Awards.[18]

Apart from the majority of positive reactions there were also a few critical voices. Vice deemed it an "intriguing failure".[19] Eurogamer noted the game's continuity errors.[20]

References

  1. ^ Reseigh-Lincoln, Dom (16 April 2018). "Cho[o]se Your Own Adventure And Solve The Case As Late Shift Arrives On Switch This Month". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 7 January 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Late Shift for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Late Shift for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Late Shift for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 7 March 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Late Shift for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  6. ^ Valdez, Nick (18 April 2017). "Late Shift for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  7. ^ Gwaltney, Javy (27 April 2017). "Late Shift Review - Riding The Rails". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. ^ Lane, Gavin (3 May 2018). "Late Shift Review (Switch eShop)". NintendoLife. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  9. ^ Olivo, Matthew (26 April 2018). "Late Shift Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Late Shift on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  11. ^ Dean, Jonathan (18 December 2016). "Will cinema grow up next year?". The Sunday Times. ISSN 0956-1382. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  12. ^ Gwynne, Kate (12 October 2016). "Read it and bleep: is virtual reality the future of storytelling?". the Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 May 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  13. ^ "Winners of the 2018 British Academy Cymru Awards". www.bafta.org. 14 October 2018. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  14. ^ "Game Connection Europe 2016 - Development Awards". Game Connection. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Nominated & Awarded Games of 2016". BIG Festival (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Late Shift - International Mobile Gaming Awards". International Mobile Gaming Awards. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
  17. ^ "2017 Winners". The Independent Game Developers' Association. 2 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  18. ^ MCV staff (21 May 2018). "Announcing the Develop Awards 2018 nominations shortlist". MCV. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  19. ^ Diver, Mike (19 April 2017). "'Late Shift' Is an Intriguing Failure of an FMV 'Game'". Vice. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  20. ^ Parkin, Simon (24 April 2017). "Late Shift review". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2018.

External links

Categories