Do you have what it takes to save the life of another through the choices presented to you? Will you make the right choice and lead them through the newborn apocalyptic world? Or will you send them straight into a grisly fate? In Saving Mikey, it is entirely up to you on how the story turns out. Will you be a savior or the grim reaper?
You play as an unknown character in a world that has recently been subjected to the “Lyssa” virus. The virus causes those who are infected to display a very aggressive and deadly version of what is thought to be a hybrid of rabies. Those suffering late stages have been dubbed “growlers” due to their more animalistic vocalizations and behaviors. Almost all technology-based ways of communication are down due to the lines being overloaded. The only possible way of communication is through a phone application that picks up signals coming in from the infected area. This area is known as the “Zone”. At first, there are a few signals coming in and going out until you are finally connected with a 9-year-old boy named Mikey. You learn that Mikey has been separated from his grandpa and is in need of help to guide him to the evac location.
Saving Mikey is a text-based simulation game platform developed for Apple and Android devices. As the story unfolds, you are confronted with choices that you must make in order to proceed in the game. These simple, but sometimes challenging choices can lead you down different pathways. They can also lead to an early end to the story.
The beginning can be moderately tedious to get through. Although, if you wish to bypass all of the reading, the game only forces you to read the very first document. The rest of the documents are optional to read which helps accommodate different players. Including those who enjoy getting every juicy detail and those who are ready to dive right in. The app has a legitimate look and feel of an emergency system. Notifications from the emergency line itself, are well scripted with the font being in red and in all caps. This gives off an authentic feel of it being urgent and important. The app will even lose Mikey’s signal.
Every now and then you will receive pictures from Mikey showing you his surroundings and current situation. The art is like a colorful sketch with charm and sometimes a tad creepy and terrifying. It adds a unique feel to the storytelling. The different pictures had me ranging from “awe” to “oh sh*t!” and even a couple that sent shivers down my spine. It gives a great range of emotions while still reminding you of the danger and impending doom that lurks every corner.
The choices you are presented with will not always give you the outcome you would expect and can truly challenge decision making. You also can’t always trust Mikey’s logic in aiding you to make a choice. If by chance you choose wrong and it ends in Mikey never being heard from again, the game allows you to either start a new game or to continue from a checkpoint that is predetermined. A handy little tool that I also enjoyed was the convenient map. The map shows you the different paths, along with the different things that can be found down the road. Some pathways had farmhouses, towers and various supply stores. It leaves you really torn with which path to take. Also to be found on the map is Mikey’s current location that helps you track your progress through the game.
Although I greatly enjoyed Saving Mikey it does have its drawbacks, at times the text lags and multiple lines come out at once. This, unfortunately, breaks the natural feel and flow of it being a messaging system. However, this could possibly vary depending on your device. Some choices are meaningless since Mikey decides to go against it, although it does make Mikey more human showing he won’t always agree with you.
All in all, Saving Mikey is a well-scripted tale with most choices taking effect of your experiences and outcome. Just shortly after starting Mikey’s journey I found myself pulled in, wanting to know what terror was next to show its gruesome face. It ranges from a bonding journey with this lost boy to very intense and terrifying moments all caused by your choice. There are a couple of drawbacks like glitching text and choices that are pointless, but no game is perfect. Overall Saving Mikey is worth the low price and is a fun thriller text-based story.
