Summary
Universe Has No Favorites, an upcoming dark sci-fi adventure game, might be a good fit for fans ofCyberpunk 2077andStarfieldwho are looking for something different. The text-based game is set in a mystery-laden world filled with the high-tech, low-life tropes present inCyberpunk 2077, while offering the galaxy-faring adventure and sense of scale ofStarfield.
Although manygames have adopted the cyberpunk aestheticand thematic framework in recent years, it’s worth remembering that the genre was birthed in the medium of literature. Seminal works like William Gibson’sNeuromancerlaid the foundation for the visual and atmospheric staples that can be found in just about every cyberpunk movie, video game, or TV show today. It could also be argued that even earlier works, such as Alduous Huxley’sBrave New World, provided the thematic soil for stories tackling humanity’s relationship to technology, and how this relationship could lead to existential conundrums and major class inequity.Universe Has No Favoritescould serve as a return to form for the cyberpunk genre, paying homage to its roots.
Universe Has No Favorites Could Be a Breath of Fresh Air for Cyberpunk Fans
The Presentation of Universe Has No Favorites Is Unique
Games likeCyberpunk 2077andStarfieldare sprawling and filled with detail, presenting players with high-fidelity, fully-realized worlds that can be traversed in a number of different ways, and at their leisure. Moving from these technologically advanced games to a text-based point-and-click adventure might seem like a step backwards to some, but the existence of one type of game need not preclude the existence of the other; there are still strengths unique to text-based experiences.
It should be noted thatUniverse Has No Favoritesdeveloper DSI Softworks has been transparent about the game’s “AI assisted” illustrations, as well as the AI used for its English dub. AI is a controversial topic in the gaming community, so this might be a mark againstUniverse Has No Favorites, for some.
A game likeCyberpunk2077lives and dies by its narrativeand worldbuilding elements, even if gameplay is a key part of the overall package as well. Oftentimes, the most memorable parts of these science-fiction RPGs are the stories that they tell, especially if the player feels like they had a direct hand in shaping them via strong RPG elements. Next-gen visuals and game design can supplement these narratives and even enhance them in many ways, but a game that strips these elements back, while still incorporating interactivity, could be a unique experience, especially in the modern gaming market, which is perhaps too concerned with advanced graphics and ‘gamey’ features.
Universe Has No Favorites Seems to Understand What Makes Sci-Fi Work
Starfield’s massive worldandCyberpunk’s gritty, street-level stories both use science-fiction conventions to capture the imagination, showing players detailed and enthralling worlds featuring a compelling central mystery or question.Universe Has No Favoritesdoes the same thing, with players assuming the role of a memory-wiped man named Yax who awakens aboard a space prison with undefined implants in his brain. This unique setting, based on the little information available about the game, seems rich with intriguing, disturbing, and creative details, and the core mystery regarding Yax’s backstory and the implants in his head has the potential to drive the plot forward in an interesting way.
It may not have theHollywood talent ofCyberpunk 2077or the dizzying scope ofStarfield, butUniverse Has No Favoritesdoes promise to provide an engaging and rich story that stimulates the mind. For players who loveCyberpunk 2077andStarfield, but also enjoy using their imagination to enhance gaming experiences,Universe Has No Favoritesmay be a game to keep an eye on.
Cyberpunk 2077
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 is an open-world action-adventure from the creators of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, CD Projekt Red.Set in Night City, a megalopolis obsessed with power, glamour and body modification, you play as V, a mercenary outlaw going after a one-of-a-kind implant that is the key to immortality.Upgraded with next-gen in mind and featuring free additional content, customize your character and playstyle as you take on jobs, build a reputation, and unlock upgrades.The relationships you forge and the choices you make will shape the story and the world around you. Legends are made here. What will yours be?
