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Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True review

Game: Deja Vu: A Nightmare Comes True
Platform: NES
Genre: Graphic Adventure
Developer: ICOM
AKA: Deja Vu (EU), Deja Vu: Akumu wa Hotouni Yatte Raita (JP)

Reader review by sgreenwell

Date unavailable

Deja Vu is an excellent (mostly) text adventure game, released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 by Kemco. However, it was originally released for computer platforms, such as the PC and Apple. Kemco is the maker of other outstanding text adventures for the NES, including Shadowgate and The Uninvited.

In Deja Vu, you play the role of Ace Harding, private detective. You wake up in a bathroom, remembering nothing of your past, not even your name. To top it all off, you're being framed for a murder case. Your task is to remember your identity and to clear your name.

The story is the strong driving point behind Deja Vu, and it does not disappoint. It plays richly, like an episode of Columbo or another other classic detective show. You slowly piece together information, until the ''action'' reaches a dramatic crescendo at the end.

However, if you're not enthralled by the story of Deja Vu, chances are that you're not going to like the game at all. There's very little action involved in the game. Almost everything in the game is described by words, with one static picture displayed on the screen. You operate everything with a control panel that features commands such as move, hit, look, and many more. This system works very well, but since it's on a turn by turn emphasis, there's little suspense.

Deja Vu itself is quite the little puzzle. The difficulty is not unsolvable, but it's not easy either. It's just about right for the mainstream gamer. Experimentation is the key. If you don't have a creative mind that can think outside the box, you'll have some problems with this game.

Graphically, Deja Vu will not impress anyone. Or, should I say, it HOPEFULLY won't impress anyone. It's kept to extremely basic levels, with plain colors and shades. The sounds are also inadequate. There's about ten midis, which change depending on the situation. The effects are mainly blips and bloops. However, the appeal of Deja Vu is the story, so graphics and sound play a minimal role. If they bug you too much, you can shut off the sound.

If you like games that depend on wit instead of fast and furious action, then check out Deja Vu. You won't be sorry. However, if you're into hardcore action games, keep on looking...

Rating: 9/10

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