Masq
Masq, a game by Alteraction is an Interactive Story where you the character decide what happens. There are multiple paths you can take and it is one of the finest indie games I have had the joy to play. Right now I will recommend anyone and everyone to go to the Alteraction site and download this game.
I first found out about Masq thanks to an article in PC Gamer UK by Tom Francis that appeared last year and is still a leading feature on the PC Gamer website. After first reading about it I played it straight away and I loved it.
The game contains, according to the developers over 3000 different scenes with hundreds of branching story paths and many many endings. When I first played the game I played through it numerous times and every time gave me a different ending. It provided me with different challenges every time I played it and evoked different emotional responses from me.
The game plays out in 2D with colour used to highlight special aspects of the game. You get a variety of options throughout the scene relevant to each scene, and doing nothing at all is an option. Every option you take has a bearing on how the game plays later on, some have a great impact while others only have a minimal impact.
The story is rich and deep and shows that the story of a game can be much more important that flashy graphics and special effects. Masq really is a shining example to developers that to get the player involved and to invest emotionally in a game it needs a good story, and the sheer number of options available to the player ensure you will play time and time again.
You play the game as the owner of Masq, a clothes brand, you are married and from there on the choice is yours on what you do. You can try and get Masq to appear on TV, attempt to find out if your wife is cheating on you, make a new family and much more. The options are really quite fantastic.
It may be relatively short lived, but you will go back and play time and time again.
Masq, a truly great game.
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