Imagine this: you are trapped in a time loop of only 12 minutes, forced to watch yourself fall into a terrible ending over and over again. Unless, you can accidentally find the right chain of action and finally set yourself free. This is the interesting nightmare attraction of the game “12 Minutes”, an interactive thriller that we have been excitedly looking forward to for more than 5 years.
In “12 Minutes,” you play an unnamed character who returns to your apartment after a seemingly ordinary day of work. After enjoying a romantic evening with his wife, things suddenly fell into chaos. A certain man claimed to be a policeman, forced to break into your house, and handcuffed you. After making the seemingly absurd accusation that your wife murdered her own father, the man jumped on you and strangled you severely. This is a scene you have to experience over and over again, and unless you change your behavior in this non-stop loop night and finally figure out how to break the loop, the nightmare will not stop.
The gameplay here is a classic point-and-click style. You are encouraged to think outside the frame and try every possible way. The operation of the game is purely carried out using a bird’s-eye view. Using items in your inventory only requires you to click and drag them to the target or character you want to use them. It’s as simple as that. You are confined to your tiny apartment (if you let the cycle restart), you have to use different obtainable items and a series of dialogue options. Endless trials are carried out in each cycle of 12 minutes.
After using the knife I found on the kitchen counter to rush to the invaders and failed countless times, I was forced to mix the methods. I decided to use the pills I found in the bathroom and put them in my wife’s drink so that she would lose consciousness when the intruder arrived. This allows me to question him directly (he usually chokes you to death without hesitation) so that I can better understand his identity and motives for the murder. Nevertheless, as predicted, this round is over. I panted and woke up in a cold sweat, but I learned some important clues that could bring me closer to the truth. This is how it feels when the next round of “12 Minutes” is launched. Success feels like impossible, but you are always slowly getting closer.
I don’t want to reveal too much, but I have to say that the narrative keeps me in shock, and a huge blockbuster is dropped at me, followed by another. Just when I thought the mystery surrounding me was finally slowly unfolding, the game opened the curtain of another revelation, and once again I was puzzled by King Kong. Another thing that the game does well is to make you sympathize with the protagonist, because you and him embark on this journey together, continue to follow the same cycle, but can’t feel that you are closer to the truth. Every time he starts a ghost hit a wall or curses against the air, you will feel the same, because you and him have experienced it all at the same time.
The golden star dubbing lineup composed of Daisy Ridley (playing your wife), James McAvoy (protagonist) and Willem Dafoe (invader) runs through the entire game and brings outstanding performances. Surprisingly, they can express through dubbing. With so many emotions, considering that there is no expression on the character’s face. This also proves how well-written the game is, and the evolving narrative can remain so fascinating, where there are only three central characters who talk over and over again.
Although I found that careful thinking about how to change the next practice can add extra color to the gameplay, but I must admit that the nature of trial and error here is not suitable for everyone. Although you can speed up the repetitive dialogue and make time move forward by standing in the closet, you still only see the same four walls and a series of core events unfolding again and again. There is no guidance here. If you find that your thinking hits the wall, you will not receive any prompts. Instead, your only option is to sit down and really examine the unfolding series of events, which can be frustrating when the answer does not appear immediately.
“12 Minutes” is the most unabashedly dark and engaging narrative-driven game I have played in recent years. The narrative is full of twists and turns, and the talented All-Star dubbing lineup helps make the characters feel humane and credible. I also found its minimalist design impressive because it prompted me to exhaust all possible options and carefully consider each situation. Even so, I don’t think its repeated experimental nature can appeal to everyone, and some of the puzzles may feel a little too mysterious and obscure.
