Game Review:Hurricane Katrina-Tempest in Crecent City
From unthinkMedia
Direct Link: http://tempestincrescentcity.ning.com/game
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Game Summary
Hurricane Katrina:Tempest in Crecent City based as a 3rd person perspective game. In the game you avatar/token is a young girl named Vivica who in search of her mother who has been missing since the hurricane Katrina. Along her way in search of her mother she is able to speak with local residents who offer snippits of information that either inform her about what transpired during the hurricane, or how she could go about finding her mother. She is also able to Help local residents along the way to gain "Hero Points".
Goal
In the beginning of the game you are supplied your goal, of finding your mother. The means of accomplishing your goal is also communicated in the beginning of the game and reinforced throughout. In the end of level one you meet a reporter that offers to help you and states "I can help you get around the city to find your mom if you can interview residents for me..." At this point the player has no doubt that there is connection between communication with residents and finding achieving her goal of find her mother.
Obstacles
In each level Vivica has until nightfall to complete her task. The game is also filled with debris that you must navigate through in order to keep your health up. This offers a challenge, and forces the player to be more aware of their surroundings.
Game Tension
The game has a sense of tension builds through out the game. For example in level 2 the flood gates breach and you are forced to walk through water to complete your task. In level 3 two another levels of complexity are introduce. You can now not only speak to residents, and be a good samaritan but the reporter hands you a hemmer which you could use to save trapped residents. This is only further complicated by another level obstacles, which includes water that is over your head and the ability to swim around debris. This make it more difficult to navigate the level in the allowed amount of time.
Conclusion
I feel this game was very effective in capturing my attention and translating knowledge in a fun and indirect way. It kept me guessing what could possibly happen next, and although an animated depiction of the results of Hurricane Katrina, the emotional connection with my avatar and the residents of New Orlean were very real. Throughout the game play meaningful play is achieved my setting goals, there is also a sense of choice in the more difficult boards which force the player to make decision on weather they should talk to resident or save trapped resident. So the player's time management is essential in order to successfully complete each board.
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