Three Minutes to Midnight – PAX East Preview
Three Minutes to Midnight is a mystery sci-fi adventure and tells the story of a town with no past that must rely on one girl to save its future. In the PAX East demo the developers explain that the story is actually a vertical slice of content they have cut off for the sake of a demo. Taking place as a side story in Chapter 2, Betty is both the heroine of the game and an easy to like protagonist who has the atypical wit needed for the starring role of a point-and-click adventure game. Three Minutes takes place in a mountain town in New Mexico that is a mix of Twin Peaks meets Disney as its cartoonish art works well as its serious setting skillfully clashes with a fun and creative use of the Point-and-Click genre.
Betty has the look and feel of a 1940’s American Princess, is the daughter of the mayor of the town, and even speaks to animals. In the demo this is introduced by discovering the funniest little raccoon and the woman he antagonizes. Or… the three women in one body, as it were. Pam is both the cook, the manager, and councilor of the suspiciously empty summer camp. The two other personalities living in her head make commentary through her that leaves the impression that not only is this not her first camp, but that her services were so unappreciated that it ended badly for the campers who didn’t treat her well. Each voice changes the face, eye color, and hairstyle of Pam, reinforcing the cartoonish feel of the game.
As you explore the camp looking for keys to the dam for reasons that will be revealed in the other parts of chapter 2… Betty must work with the deranged camp leader in order to procure the key, using nothing but her wits, her ingenuity, and witty banter to solve the issues of the camp. Ranging from a lake monster hunter who’s stuck in the latrine because his outfit is too big, to getting a canoe out of the lake with the kind of skills that would make MacGyver green with envy. There is so much to do, and so much to explore.
Three Minutes to Midnight is ready to reach for the stars, as its Kickstarter is scheduled for this summer.
