Análisis from I See Black Clouds

All is not what it seems, and the mind is playing tricks as we see in I Saw Black Clouds

If it is already difficult to analyze conversational adventures where we simply choose the dialogue that interests us the most, everything gets complicated when we talk about interactive films. Wales Interactive, in this case with Ghost Dog Movies, is already an expert in this type of proposal. After reviewing works such as The Bunker, or the most recent, The Complex, it’s now the turn of I Saw Black Clouds . A thriller which exudes ambition for its actors and ideas but which remains halfway between a video game and a feature film.

Tears are not a sign of weakness

First of all, it’s time to think. How should I analyze I saw dark clouds? Like another video game, or should I stick to a more cinematic prism, leaving out playable terms? After thinking about the subject, my conclusion is somewhat ambiguous: like a mixture of the two parts. Wales Interactive titles are not intended to win an Oscar for their performance, or even to innovate under their control. They want it to be a completely different experience. Something revolutionary and that now we will see if with this work he manages to go beyond what has been seen to date.

When I close my eyes I only see dark clouds

On this occasion, the protagonist of the entire film will be Kristina, a young woman who returns to her hometown after learning of her friend’s suicide. A death which leaves several questions unanswered, and which will gradually become clearer thanks to the testimonies of those who knew the deceased. Unfortunately, the more we investigate, the more cloudy and complex everything will appear, reach a point where reality mingles with fiction. In fact, As a psychological thriller there will be times of bewilderment caused by various past traumas that I invite you to meet in person.

While I Saw Black Clouds has professional actresses, the truth is, the production doesn’t quite measure up. Those who are cinephiles will be able to recognize Nicolle O’Neill (Red Sparrow, Beauty and the Beast) as the protagonist, and we will also have other renowned faces such as Rachel Jackson (Outlander). It is not that they are acting badly, on the contrary. But there are other production values ​​that weigh on the end result.

Lights, camera… and action!

The first thing that strikes you as soon as you start this proposition is the image quality. It feels like the game is compressed. That despite the 4K Ultra HD resolution, it doesn’t end up looking good. That, and what the frame rate also does not accompany despite being an interactive movie where little or nothing influences what we do. It’s a strange feeling that’s hard to explain, but it’s latent throughout the adventure.

This problem becomes especially palpable in times with more movement, or in situations where there is a greater influx of characters. Scene changes and transitions are also not implemented well. They are too forced, with sudden changes or little justification. I understand that in the times when we have to choose an answer there is that “forced” stage jump based on our answer, but it also happens in parts of the footage where players are not touching the controller.

Echoes of the past echo in your head

This, yes, the worst without a doubt is the sound. The voices are not synchronized at any time. This is something that has been noticeable from the start, and I’m sure the study knows this and can’t do anything to fix it in the short term. Also, the audio doesn’t do the rest of the sections justice. It sounds bad. Specially when there is a sound that should be louder than normal (the typical fear, or when the protagonist is screaming) which sounds at the same volume as the rest, and more saturated. We continue in the same. In my humble opinion, they wanted to compress the game so much that neither the video nor the audio achieved remarkable quality.

The decision is up to you …

I saw dark clouds contains four endings depending on the actions you take. Actions always marked by two responses which trigger (or not) new scenes. What, in principle, can be rewarding as an interactive film, turns out to be anecdotal in several ways.

Sometimes it doesn’t matter which option you choose. There is a time when you can decide to hide behind a tree or go your way. Well, no matter what you put in there, you’ll end up hiding. Your choice has no clear weight in the scene, and it looks like the player just needs to… do something with the controller every now and then. I find it especially funny to choose between left and right in the middle of a forest, the answer being completely random and trivial.

… and the personality too

The only times I see a little more interaction with your decision-making ability are in the pursuits. In these situations if you have to be more careful and see where to go because choosing the wrong path will lead us to a dead end … and it will mean our death.

At the very least, all of these choices serve to create a record of our character and forge a personality. Indirectly, whatever we choose has a weight in Kristina’s relationship with her friends. Sincerity, courage, morality, tact, and introspection will vary as the adventure (or the movie, I don’t even know what to call it) progresses.

Conclusion of I Saw Black Clouds

Wales Interactive and Ghost Dog Films are back with another interactive film. Despite the fact that they have more and more ambition in their works, this time their proposal does not quite stand out. There are some well-known English actresses, a personality of our protagonist that develops as we progress and up to four different endings … although there are still flaws that obscure the end result.

Compressing I Saw Black Clouds (I want to think this is what it is) should result in lower image resolution and audio quality. Also, as a video game itself, there isn’t much we can do except choose between two options that the game itself gives us. If those choices were compromised, we could still show interest as a player, but most of the time they’re very trivial. As a film, it completes and presents a story that, while starting slowly, gradually gains in interest and pace. But as a game, there are other types of experiences from the same business that are more rewarding.

If you are interested in this interactive film, we remind you that it is available on the Microsoft Official Store priced at $ 12.99.