The Last Time is a point-and-click adventure game in the pixelated style of yesteryear. In fact, the gameplay is very reminiscent of the classics. Which is always a plus in my book, but I’m also an old school player and I love the retro look a fair number of crowdfunded games are pumping out these days. With that said, if you want state of the art graphics and full voice over with smooth cinematics this one isn’t for you.
If you’re still reading this and haven’t already run off screaming like a maniac then congratulations. You’re awesome. Now that I’ve got that out my system let’s take a look at the demo itself. It starts out with Jack and his partner Darren just chatting away in their squad car without a care in the world. After all, they’ve never really had a case that was eventful before. Until now, that is. Hell, the first third-to-half of The Last Time‘s demo is just the two of them talking. At least you get to know a bit about the two men and steer the conversation the way you want to.
After getting a call to investigate an attempted robbery the two head on down to the address the dispatcher provided. And the house is empty. Even the person living there seems to be gone. Or so they think. While Darren stays in the entryway to dust for fingerprints and such our intrepid constable heads on up to the second floor only to be greeted by a grisly sight. Sitting there in a pool of blood, with a bullet hole straight to the forehead, is the owner of the house. Obviously dead and with the suicide (or is it murder?) weapon lieing right next to him.
As he heads on down to tell his partner what he’s seen, Jack is face-to-face with the burglar. Holding Darren hostage, he’s got the upper hand. Even trying to calm the man down leads to an altercation which leaves Jack traumatized by the event and his partner presumed dead. It’s not revealed what happened to him during the demo as it quickly pans to the present day as an older Jack sits comfortably in a retirement home, spending his last days away from the nastiness that police life can bring.
And so ends the demo for The Last Time. It’s very short but does give good reason as to why our protagonist decided to leave the force and leads up to where he’s being taken next. Little is really shown beyond the story leading up to the main game but what is shown is a rather tragic one. And one that I look forward to unraveling once the game gets finished.
