1979 REVOLUTION: BLACK FRIDAY

It’s not about getting cut-price TVs

Undoubtedly influenced by Telltale’s popular narrative adventures, 1979 Revolution allows you to experience and leave your mark on the protests aimed at overthrowing the Iranian monarchy. You step into the shoes of Reza Shirazi, a photojournalist who returns to Tehran just as the events in his home country pick up speed. Reza gets roped into a conflict that’s completely new to him, making him the perfect vessel for players unfamiliar with Iran’s history. You pick up interesting facts about Iranian culture, too, either through conversation, or by studying magazines, letters and Reza’s own photographs. 1

The photographs are an important element. While taking them amounts to nothing more than finding your motive and pressing q at the right time, they’re evidence used to both further and hinder the revolution’s progress.

You don’t take the role of a protest leader like in Detroit: Become Human, but you are asked to decide for or against violence, or to mediate during conversations. There are also QTEs and similar mechanics sprinkled in to increase the tension. Unfortunately 1979 Revolution isn’t a good-looking game, which leads to many high-stakes scenes looking involuntarily funny. This, as well as serious drops in the frame rate and a sometimesclunky camera are the biggest drawbacks to an otherwise great experience.

To make a game based on real events can be difficult, but thanks to the nuanced writing2 it becomes clear that in such a conflict, there is no black and white. It’s an earnest attempt at tackling real events, teaching you about a foreign culture in the process. Malindy Hetfeld

FOOTNOTES1 You can compare in-game snaps to real pictures of the protests taken by photojournalist Michel Setboun. 2 The music and voice acting, all by American-Iranian artists, are great, too.

FORMAT PS4 ETA OUT NOW PUB INK STORIES DEV INK STORIES, N-FUSION INTERACTIVE