Game Review: Virginia (Xbox One)

An interactive story, or as it’s better known ‘a walking simulator’, Virginia’s strength lies in its fantastic movie like soundtrack and its initially gripping story. I say initially because for 2/3 of the game, you won’t be able to turn away but the game drops the ball hard for a disappointing, confusing and unsatisfactory final third.

Developed by Variable State and published by 505 Games, the game follows FBI special agent, Anne Tarver. A recent gradate, her first case is to investigate the disappearance of a teenage boy in Virginia.

Anne is paired with the more experienced Maria Halperin but also instructed by her superiors to keep an eye on her. Across the game the two agents trust in each other and the FBI itself will be tested. Until its unnecessary and abrupt left turn into supernatural.

Through the eyes of Anne Tarver, Virginia is played via the first-person perspective. When we say this is more like a movie than a game, we mean it. Actual gameplay is very limited with minor interactions with characters, items or locations. Occasionally you’ll have a bit more free movement but these are often in small confined areas and you’ll still be looking for something to interact with to move the story forward.

If we were rating the game on gameplay alone, it wouldn’t be getting a high score. However, like all ‘walking simulators’, Virginia is all about its story and it does tell a really compelling one. Trust, corruption, right and wrong…it’s very interesting and well told in an awesome cinematic way. Enhanced by a fantastic score by Lyndon Holland.

Then just as we reach what seems to be its finale it just goes off the rails in the most spectacular way. You can read comments by the creators who talk about leaving the story open for the player to decide what happened and that is fine. Why the supernatural elements though? Not needed at all, and so very disappointing as the investment felt up to this point just disappears.

It’s a shame as the interactive movie style of the game works really well. Cinematic cuts and scenes moving along in a way that keeps things fresh and a little frantic. The art style looks good and that there isn’t a single line of dialogue spoken. Yet it conveys so much information is really impressive.

As a game within the ‘walking simulator’ category, Virginia is one of the better ones. It could have been one of the best if it wasn’t for the supernatural turn in the final third. If you’ve never liked the whole ‘interactive story’ type of game, this isn’t going to change that. However, the effort put in is commendable.