Quantic Dream have released a new launch trailer for PS4 exclusive Detroit: Become Human ahead of its release on Thursday. The trailer details the game’s three Android characters, their stories and the world they live in. The science fiction adventure game weaves interactive gameplay with cinematic storytelling, playing similar to modern Telltale Games. However, director David Cage has been doing this since 2005 with Fahrenheit, innovating the interactive cutscene formula into cohesive gameplay. As Quantic Dream is creating a narrative experience like their last games, Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls, the trailer also notes that Detroit: Become Human is their “most branching story ever”. Detroit: Become Human is available exclusively for PlayStation 4 on May 25th, with a playable demo available now.

A PlayStation exclusive worth getting?

Compared to other PlayStation exclusives this year, such as God of War and Spiderman, Detroit: Become Human has had considerably less hype. However, PlayStation owners should be happy with such another strong exclusive title in their console’s library. While Detroit: Become Human is a new IP, it is Quantic Dream’s fourth exclusive for Sony. Fahrenheit for PlayStation 2 and Heavy Rain for PlayStation 3 were critical successes, receiving praise for their narrative focus. While the Ellen Page starring Beyond: Two Souls for the PS3 didn’t fair as well as the previous titles, Quantic appear to have learnt from their mistakes.

In Detroit: Become Human, players will control three androids. Kara, an escapee exploring her new freedom, Marcus, a militant rebel determined to ending android servitude and Connor, a bladerunner like detective on the hunt for deviants. The gameplay is a combination of exploration to solve puzzles and find items, QTE fuelled action sequences and intense dialogue. While the gameplay may seem barebones and minimalist, this enables the cinematic narrative to unfold. How players complete dialogue scenes and action sequences directly impact the story. Unlike a Telltale Game, there is no gameover screen. Characters can be successful, injured or even die, while the game keeps moving forward regardless. This is where the main appeal of these games lie. The cinematic experience is not only entirely narrative driven, but driven by the players actions.