14 DAY TRIAL // As soon as my character steps into the yard, someone’s ready to challenge him. I just made a little bit of money by expertly ironing out two sets of prison clothes and I even found the strength to eat the free food at lunch to save some more. Now a big crocodile seems very interested in taking half of my stash away from me.
It’s my first day in prison, so maybe keeping a low profile is the best idea. But many movies have taught me a newcomer needs to stand his ground to establish that no one should try to take advantage of him. So I decide to fight and discover that a piece of lumber I previously picked up makes for a good weapon.
The turn-based drawl is over pretty quick and I manage to win by dodging at the right time and using the wood to club my opponent over the head repeatedly. Now it’s time to roam the yard, see what gangs control which areas, try to charm a leader and find ways to make more money and improve my prison life as much as possible.
Back to the Dawn is developed by Metal Head Games, with publishing in the hands of Spiral Up Games. I played a preview on the PC. This is a noir story starring a journalist thrown in prison for breaking a major story.
Gamers will be able to put their own spin on the reporter and his abilities before dark forces conspire to get him arrested. Once inside, they will discover how hard it is even to contact one’s own lawyer and how dangerous jail life is. The game might star animals but its portrayal of prison is a pretty dark one and the ultimate goal of breaking out seems hard to achieve.
The first challenge is getting the 100 bucks needed to place a phone call to a lawyer. Other inmates frown on working in the laundry room but the timed ironing mini-game isn’t that hard and results in decent pay. A day in prison is broken up into segments and players have to manage their time resource and their limited inventory to search locations, talk to other characters, and decide which resources they will collect and how to use them.
There are a lot of other inmates to interact with, as well as guards and other professionals. Befriending them reveals more about their own narratives and how they might help in planning an escape. Others will be hostile and will issue challenges that can lead to turn-based combat.
Back to the Dawn allows players to approach situations in a variety of ways, based on their reporter’s build and their play style. I played a tough guy who’s always ready to get into scraps. But I could see how less violence and more charm could have served me better.
Back to the Dawn uses a retro adventure game look that’s suited to its narrative. All the animal characters look good and there are plenty of small details in the environments. The game is not voiced but the soundtrack works hard to immerse players in the universe.
Conclusion
Exploration and the various mini-games also fit in with the theme but I worry a little about the variety. Back to the Dawn nails the atmosphere and, as long as it can continue to offer strong story moments, I look forward to planning a prison break and exposing the dark forces that framed a righteous reporter.
A preview key was provided by the publisher
