Date Warp is a unique game that is categorized as a visual novel. It’s not really a video game per se, more like an interactive movie much like the recent Heavy Rain for the PS3. As you watch the events unfold in front of you, there are specific moments in the game where you can make decisions and decide what the character should do next.
Date Warp is a “game” that is played very similar to this one and has a very interesting and intriguing story that will hook players the moment they start playing. You take on the role of a young college girl named Janet. She is an innocent girl who is in the middle of her first date with her new boyfriend named Bradley. Things don’t go according to plan on your first date as your car breaks down in the middle of the road in the pouring rain. The couple decide to seek help in the nearest house where they can have fun.
Upon arrival, they are not greeted warmly. This is the first time the player can decide what Janet can do next. You usually have two or three options to choose from as to how Janet should react in the situation she’s gotten herself into. The first option is that you can choose to apologize, or you can require the person who opens the door to let you in since your car broke down and you are drenched.
Although you have options to choose from in Date Warp, you will still have to win the best option that you would like to choose, as this is not the type of game where you can just point and click. This is done like a puzzle. The puzzle has the option you want in the middle of an electronic circuit board. Your goal is to rearrange the wires so the electricity can flow to the option you want Janet to make next. It is not a very difficult task to do and it is the only type of real “game” that players will experience in Date Warp. The rest of the experience consists of reading the dialogue between the characters and trying to immerse yourself in the plot.
Once Janet is inside the house, she realizes that the inhabitants are not as friendly as she thought. Although this is not a classic horror story, it does have a story that could lead to a classic murder investigation. There are five young men living in the mansion and Janet’s boyfriend has a feeling that they are not as friendly as they seem.
I really loved the way the characters developed in Date Warp. Bradley (Janet’s boyfriend), is not the type of person you originally thought. Bradley only pretended to be her boyfriend since he wanted to get closer to this mysterious “mansion” since he suspects that the five young men kidnapped and killed his sister five years ago. From there, it’s up to you (like Janet) to find out the truth and see who’s telling the truth. The decision you will have to make only gets more difficult from there.
Graphically, the anime-style characters are excellently drawn. Not only this, but the story is the real star of the show. If the story and characters were boring, I highly doubt it would be the kind of game players would want to keep playing. The story is as interesting as the one seen in Heavy Rain on PlayStation 3.
Date warp it’s a great visual novel. Although the demo is free, if you want to know what happens, you will have to pay to find out. Not that this is a bad thing, as the story and the game itself should be worth the price of admission.