Nobody Wants to Die Review
Nobody Wants to Die envisions a future all too familiar to sci-fi enthusiasts: a world where the affluent evade aging by body-hopping, funded by the less fortunate who are sold off to support these ambitions. Within this dystopian setting, the game’s intriguing detective narrative unfolds, following James Karra, a detective grappling with mortality and sanity in his latest body.
The game leans on familiar tropes of conspiracy and madness (naturally, there’s a dead wife), but its stunning cinematic storytelling and innovative detective mechanics elevate it beyond the usual fare.
What truly sets this adventure apart is its meticulous attention to detail and worldbuilding. Before your first investigation begins, you’re immersed in a Blade Runner-esque city of floating cars and neon billboards, depicted as a techno-infused paradise. The visuals are frequently breathtaking, and while visuals alone don’t make a game, they provide "Nobody Wants to Die" with a sense of grandeur that enhances the narrative.
The exceptional voice acting deserves special mention, with actors skillfully narrating the game’s numerous twists. Karra is a particularly well-developed character, thanks to nuanced voice work that gives him a gruff, edgy personality, tinged with the essential hint of sadness.
As the protagonist of a cyberpunk tale, Karra risks becoming a cliché—he’s dependent on drugs to maintain sanity, he’s haunted by a dead wife, and he loves to defy authority. However, a mid-game twist adds depth, keeping him likable and engaging.
While conspiracy is central to "Nobody Wants to Die," as Karra finds himself at a crime scene no one wants solved, the story reveals itself to be far more personal. In one notable cutscene, we learn Karra was once a baseball player who had to abandon his dream after a body change left him without the necessary dexterity and skill. This forced him into a new career to find meaning in his altered life.
This revelation makes Karra a more complex protagonist, deepening the story's darkness. The game poses profound questions: what defines a person without their original body? Can one rebuild after tragedy? More importantly, should humans strive for such longevity?
"Nobody Wants to Die" offers a compelling detective narrative, filled with clues and plot threads that twist tantalizingly out of reach. More crucial, however, is its exploration of identity and memory. In a world where the wealthy pursue the Fountain of Youth through costly treatments and exploitation, the game serves as a sharp critique of immortality and a caution against the pursuit of eternal life.
We aren’t meant to live forever. Life's preciousness lies in its finiteness, and extending it unnaturally should come with consequences. This theme runs parallel in Karra’s personal struggle, as he navigates the oddities of a new body and life.
The first-person perspective allows "Nobody Wants to Die" to delve deeply into concepts of reality and perception. Despite the narrative's linearity and minimal player choice, this lack of interactivity doesn't detract from the story. As a relatively powerless observer, tasked with solving puzzles, guiding Karra, and selecting dialogue options, players are carried through the six-hour narrative, subject to its unfolding horrors.
By the second act, the direction of "Nobody Wants to Die" becomes predictable, but the descent is still thrilling to watch. Like a deer caught in headlights, you can’t look away.
VERDICT
Nobody Wants to Die has elements that could be improved. The narrative sometimes relies too heavily on the obvious, and the dead wife trope is overused. However, it offers a novel exploration of a transhumanist, capitalist future, with strong performances and ideas enriching its shiny, captivating world. It’s a game with significant themes, explored thoroughly as its core investigation progresses.