Breakout 13
- January 8, 2023
- ALT Lab
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Breakout 13" is a FMV game following a teen sent to a correctional institute for internet addiction, based on a real-life figure advocating for electrotherapy. The game features a branching narrative, QTE, scene exploration, clue gathering, and multiple endings. Explore the institute, uncover the truth, and protect your friends in this two-part game with unique gameplay elements. Will you overcome the odds and expose the villain's power?
Reviews
- The game features a gripping story that reflects real-life issues, making it emotionally impactful and thought-provoking.
- The production quality is high, with well-executed cinematography, acting, and engaging gameplay mechanics that enhance the interactive experience.
- Players appreciate the variety of choices and branching paths, which contribute to a sense of agency and replayability in the narrative.
- The game is only half of the complete story, requiring players to purchase additional DLC to access the full narrative, which many find frustrating.
- Some players feel that the choices they make do not significantly impact the overall story, leading to a sense of linearity despite the illusion of choice.
- There are complaints about technical issues, such as bugs and translation errors, which detract from the overall experience.
- story174 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Breakout 13" is a gripping narrative inspired by real events, focusing on a teenage boy's harrowing experience in a reform school after being expelled for excessive gaming. Players appreciate the engaging plot and character development, though many express frustration over the illusion of choice, as decisions often lead to similar outcomes, and the necessity of purchasing DLC to access the complete story. Overall, while the storytelling is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some feel it is undermined by gameplay mechanics that limit player agency.
“I really prefer the ones with a captivating story like this, with quick time events, exploration, and lots of decisions to make.”
“The story here is of course heavily inspired by real events and characters, fairly recent events at that - it quickly piqued my interest.”
“I love the storytelling, I love the interactive movie concept, I love the endings, the paths; it's just a very gripping story and the fact that it's based on true events was very touching and made this feel even more real.”
“To get the full story, you have to buy a DLC!”
“The story feels less like a story to be engaged in on its merits, and more like a trap to engage the player so they’ll shell out extra money to see how everything ends.”
“I forced myself to play through to chapter four, but at this point really none of your decisions matter; all of the branching storylines come back to the exact same point as if you had made no decisions at all.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of relationship-building mechanics and decision-making that influences character interactions, though some players find it overly simplistic or flawed. While the core mechanics are straightforward and enjoyable, with elements like point-and-click sections and collectibles, the overall execution can feel bloated or disjointed. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the focus on storytelling and the variety of paths available, making for an engaging experience.
“Awesome story and gameplay.”
“The gameplay mainly consists of you making choices for the main character and has some point-and-click sections that are decent. There are multiple story paths that can alter the whole game, which is very fun, and if you want to redo a scene, it's not hard at all with its storyboard.”
“+ very cool gameplay mechanics; compared with other FMV games, the gameplay mechanics in this game are simpler, which is a good thing so we players can keep focus on the story rather than spend a lot of time finding items, solving puzzles, or randomly clicking to find and interact with objects.”
“What results is a mess of odd gameplay mechanics, a needlessly bloated plot, and mishmashed character development.”
“The game’s very core mechanic of building relationships and earning trust can be purchased.”
“And this part of the gameplay is an absolute joke.”
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and suitability to various situations, with many players expressing a desire for the full soundtrack to enjoy it outside of gameplay. While some reviews noted a lack of music in certain areas, the overall sentiment highlights the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the game's engaging story and atmosphere.
“The music is really nice, and it's a shame not being able to listen to it repeatedly.”
“Great FMV game with an engaging story, interesting characters, good music, and a good choice system.”
“One of the biggest parts of the game for me was the soundtrack; the music chosen for each situation was spot on and had me searching the internet far and wide to find the songs.”
“I love in a terrible way that they had English dubs mixed in, country/rock music, and absolutely horrible storytelling.”
“Little to no music.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with many players criticizing the introduction of microtransactions and a pay-to-win model in a narrative adventure. While some microtransactions are deemed non-intrusive and not essential to gameplay, others feel they detract from the overall experience, particularly when they encourage players to engage in voting mechanics unrelated to the story. Overall, the presence of in-game purchases has sparked disappointment among users, especially in comparison to other titles that do not employ such models.
“Despite some exaggerated overacting and unwelcome in-game purchases, Breakout 13 is definitely an enjoyable experience that has been enhanced significantly with its decent localization in contrast with many other Chinese titles.”
“So there is not a roadblock but they are nudging you toward the microtransactions.”
“It includes microtransactions in the form of voting on who the best or worst character is, purely for fun I guess and completely separate from the game and the story.”
“The most insulting element of this game, though, might be that it introduced microtransactions and pay-to-win into a narrative adventure.”
“Warning: ending only with DLC and microtransactions.”
“So there is not a roadblock, but they are nudging you toward the microtransactions.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players found the emotional aspect of the game to be unexpectedly powerful, particularly towards the end, evoking genuine feelings and reflections. The gripping storytelling, interactive movie format, and true events behind the narrative contributed to a deeply touching experience, making it an emotional roller coaster for many. Overall, the game left a lasting impact on its audience.
“It was a lot more powerful than I anticipated, and especially toward the end of the game - it actually made me a little emotional.”
“I love the storytelling, I love the interactive movie concept, I love the endings, the paths; it's just a very gripping story, and the fact that it's based on true events was very touching and made this feel even more real.”
“Overall, Breakout 13 was an amazing experience that sent me on an emotional roller coaster.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed perspective on replayability; while some players find the game offers infinite replayability, others feel that not every game needs to be revisited multiple times, similar to a one-time movie experience.
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Overall, it's a great game worth the price. Not every game needs to be replayable; just like with movies, sometimes one watch is all you need to get the experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as unintentional and often comes off as silly or over-the-top, leading players to laugh at the absurdity rather than with the intended comedic elements. This disconnect may detract from the overall experience for some, as it contrasts with the expected lightheartedness of childhood activities.
“I enjoy FMV games, but mostly in the sense that they are silly and over the top, and I'm usually laughing at them rather than with them.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has a generally stable performance with very few glitches, but users have reported issues with a buggy ending that prevents achieving a good conclusion. It is recommended to wait for a full release to avoid these stability problems.
“The buggy ending prevents me from achieving a good conclusion.”
“Other than that, it's a pretty good game with a decent story and very few glitches, but I would recommend waiting until it's fully released before buying.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered unimportant by users, suggesting that gameplay takes precedence over visual quality.
“The graphics are outdated and lack detail.”
“The visual style feels bland and uninspired.”
“The character models look low-quality and poorly designed.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being inconsistent and poorly executed, contributing to an overall disjointed experience alongside convoluted gameplay mechanics and an overly complex plot.
“What results is a mess of odd gameplay mechanics, a needlessly bloated plot, and mishmashed character development.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game's interactive storytelling is hindered by inconsistent actor performances, a common challenge in such narratives due to the difficulty in smoothly transitioning between choices.
“The optimization of the game is severely lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that hindered my progress, making the overall experience frustrating and unenjoyable.”
“The loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of the game and tests my patience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious, noting that while most paths are easy to unlock, a few can be confusing and challenging, making the overall experience feel laborious at times.
“It can be a bit tedious and sometimes difficult to get every single path unlocked. Most of them are easy, but there were 2 or 3 that were a bit confusing.”
