Immortality Review

I found out what happened to Marissa Marcel, but I still want more.

I’ve always loved FMV video games. One of my favourite game series of all time is still Tex Murphy (if you couldn’t tell by all the photos on my website featuring Under a Killing Moon posters in my office). When I heard about Her Story on a podcast years ago, a game where you search a database of live-action clips, I bought it instantly.

This was my first introduction to writer/director Sam Barlow. Since Her Story, I’ve played everything I could get my hands on, including Telling Lies. The second Immortality dropped on Xbox Game Pass, I downloaded it and began playing. It’s one of the few games I’ve ever 100% completed, and I’m still not ready to let go.

Gone Girl

Immortality asks “what happened to Marissa Marcel?”

Your first question might be “who is Marissa Marcel?” She’s a fictional actress who starred in three movies over three decades that were never released. The answer to what happened to Marissa Marcel lies within the hundreds of hours of movie clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and press junkets from these unreleased films. 

That’s where you come in.

You’ll need to search through the footage and click on objects, people, or symbols in a scene to unlock new clips. None of it is in chronological order. I was watching a clip from Marissa’s first film Ambrosio and noticed a necklace. Once I clicked on it, I was suddenly halfway through a clip for her final movie Two of Everything. I could rewind, fast forward, or choose new things to click on.

Clickbait

Immortality doesn’t give you a map, mission markers, or a quest log. There is a short tutorial on how to use the viewfinder, and then you’re on your own. I spent hours clicking on various things on the screen trying to unlock new clips and progress the story.

This can get monotonous. You’re not guaranteed to unlock new clips every time you click on something. Sometimes you end up in a different part of a scene you’ve already watched. Other times you might go down a rabbit hole and uncover secrets relating to side characters. 

There is also a dark twist I’m not going to spoil. Once that moment hits, it opens a whole new layer of discovery. I was several beers in when I uncovered it and wondered if I was seeing things. I wasn’t.

Keeping It Real

One thing that didn’t surprise me is the performances. The FMV games from the 90s had a reputation for over-the-top performances, but I’ve never found that to be the case with Sam Barlow’s titles. Immortality might be his best work to date.

A lot of the credit goes to Manon Gage, who plays Marissa Marcel. I was captivated by every scene she was in, which is most of them. She’s supported by an incredible ensemble cast who keep you hooked for the entire game. The performances are one of the reasons why I wanted to unlock every clip.

Star Power

Another reason why I wanted to keep digging was so I could peel back every layer of the story. Immortality starts out innocent enough as you begin your search for Marissa Marcel. As you meet new characters and uncover darker secrets, you quickly discover there is more to the story than a missing actress.

Immortality explores some of the darker sides of the film industry and plays with the themes around identity, obsession, and the cost of fame. As these themes emerged, I got distracted from the primary goal and wanted to learn more about side characters like John, the stagehand who goes on to direct two films starring Marissa, or Amy Archer, who co-starred in Marissa’s final film. Sam Barlow manages to build a three-dimensional world spanning decades that’s compelling and full of secrets I wanted to uncover.

Final Destination

I understand that not everyone will be as enthusiastic about finding out what happened to Marissa Marcel. You might get sick of ending up in the same scene from Ambrosio or Two of Everything. As a video editor, scrubbing through footage is my least favourite part of the job. At least it feels rewarding in Immortality when you discover a new secret.

One of the criticisms of Her Story and Telling Lies was the lack of a definitive ending. I can confidently say there is one in Immortality. The meaning of it doesn’t hit you over the head with an overexplanation. You’ll need to have paid attention throughout the game to understand what it means. There is also a bonus scene if you unlock every clip.

Roll Credits

Immortality sits alongside Tex Murphy, Metal Gear Solid, and Silent Hill (which Sam Barlow also worked on) as one of my favourite games. Despite accessing every clip and watching every scene, I still get an itch to start over from scratch.

It’s not for everyone. The gameplay is simplistic and doesn’t evolve as the story plays out. Unlike most games, the goal is not to get better or level up as you put in more hours. It’s to wrap your head around the story and find out what happened to Marissa Marcel and the rest of the characters in this world. If you put the time in, you’ll get one of the most unforgettable experiences in gaming.

Immortality is available now on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.