Thanks to the pandemic, any mention of an online quiz and we all run to the hills, screaming “no!” Here, though, you’ve got no choice, given one of your fellow contestant is a murderer. In Wales Interactive’s newest FMV game, Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus?, you are Abby (played by Abigail Hardingham) as she tries to prevent the death of, yes, uncle Marcus (Andy Buckley), and uncover his killer by attending her frosty family’s online quiz.
While it’s a short game, you’re unlikely to solve the murder the first time. Luckily, the game allows you to retain information from previous attempts, allowing you to make better choices the second time round. That doesn’t make it any easier, mind: it’s up to you to figure out which paths to take and retake.
FMVs are notoriously difficult to create, relying on good acting and well-written dialogue rather than clean graphics or smooth controls. Does Who Pressed Mute… do this? Mostly. It’s a challenging game, requiring your attention through play. A number of the characters are acted well, Abby in particular, but some of their personalities do come across as cookie-cutter copies of classic archetypes. The story isn’t particularly groundbreaking, although that isn’t the game’s fault per se – it’s a murder mystery. Everything has been done.
All in all, Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus? isn’t the most inventive title out there, but still a fun, challenging little game to play when you have a few minutes spare.
Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus? (Wales Interactive)
Price: £9.99/£8.99. Info: here
words GWIL WILLIAMS
Discover how our brand new learning experience is giving young people in Wales the skills they need to get ahead.