Review: Majestic (part 2)

If I had to nitpick, I might suggest that some of the voice acting in the game could be improved, as some lines seem forced at times. I'd also like to see more ways in which the game could contact the player.. such as text paging, multiple phone numbers, or even voice synthesis (wouldn't it be awesome if the voice mail messages addressed you by name?)

Overall, however, Majestic is, in every sense of the word, ground-breaking, hinting at what game playing might be like in the future: a strange, bizarre mishmash of real-life and fantasy, which you not only "play" in your free time, but an intense experience which follows you in your daily life. It is a stunning, one-of-a-kind game which simply must be played to be believed.

Update (October 1, 2001): I am re-posting this article to update on my new feelings about Majestic. I am no longer playing Majestic. Majestic, which I called the game of the year one month ago, seems so incredibly dumb and stupid now, for reasons you can probably guess. Receiving personal phone calls where characters scream at you or threaten your life seemed cool a month ago. Now -- well.. it just seems scary.

EA suspended gameplay on Majestic for a week following the events of September 11th. Perhaps it was not enough. Personally, I loved the idea of Majestic: the gameplay, the amazing, engrossing plot, how it is refreshingly different.

I still consider Majestic to be the game of the year (so far) on its technical merits alone. But personally, it will be a long, long time before I play it again.

The first episode of Majestic is available online for free here. You must be 18 to play (the game asks for a valid credit card). Subsequent episodes cost $9.95 a month.

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