Quantic Dream‘s Detroit: Become Human was released on PC this month thanks to a partnership with Epic Games. This gave me a chance to finally check the game out since I skipped playing it on the PS4 when it released in 2018.

The game was great featuring an investing story line, consequences for all of your choices and dialogue trees. I was excited to flip back and forth between the three characters to help build towards the full story. While I enjoyed it, I have very strong feelings on how they treated Kara and many of the female characters throughout the story. Be warned that you are heading into spoiler territory from here on out!

Show Us the World Doesn’t Like Androids

It is safe to say that in the future timeline of Detroit: Become Human, the world (and what feels like almost everyone in Detroit) does not like androids. We are introduced to this in Jesse’s first chapter where you are able to witness people protesting against androids. However, you can also choose to ignore this as well and continue on to your mission. However, throughout Kara’s entire story it is front and center. I felt like almost every chapter with her, the idea that someone doesn’t like androids was being shoved down my throat. In fact I can only think of one chapter were Kara and Alice aren’t in danger.

In her introduction chapter when she arrives home with Todd, he spends the entire time verbally abusing Kara while you are doing choirs. Then the next time we see her is the infamous stormy night were she can either stand aside while a grown man beats his daughter or fight back. Now I am not great at quick time events, but it seemed like even when I was doing well, Kara still took much a beating before finally finding a way to escape.

This whole little story trope got old rather quick and left me frustrated in her chapters. She never seemed to gain the strength to fight back on her own unlike Markus who practically crawled out of hell. Even when it seems like she is about to really get her chance while trying to escape Zlatko’s house, she is saved by Luther who even joins them as a way to protect her and Alice. In almost every chapter for Kara, we are reminded over and over that the world doesn’t like androids at the expense of abusing her.

Your Choices Affect The Overall Story…Kind Of

I think what I really missed with Kara’s story line was how much the choices you make can affect the others. With all of the hype around this mechanic in Detroit: Become Human I really thought this was going to be over the top. Now Connor and Markus don’t have a lot that work together in the beginning, but towards the end they really come together. While you can see Kara in later chapters, like in Jericho or running from Connor, her choices do not do much for the overall story.

This can really be seen in the fact that Kara is able to die in her second chapter. If at anytime you lose to Todd in the house or even outside he will break Kara. Unlike Connor who comes back every time he dies, once Kara is dead she is gone and her entire story just disappears. While I understand this can happen to Markus to, it isn’t possible till about halfway through the game and his death sets off a chain of events within Jericho and the rebellion. It makes me feel like Kara’s story line is more of a throwaway while the other two are the more impactful.

Could They Have Done Better?

After a full play through of Detroit: Become Human and going back and replaying different chapters, I sure feel like they could have done a better job. Most of the female characters are left to simple tropes or a way to remind the player just how bad it is for androids by abusing them emotionally and physically. A missed quick time event or not knowing where to hide could end up with Kara dying while Markus has an ability to calculate his actions saving him almost every time. More could have been done for Kara and the other females in the game, I just feel like the ball was dropped on this one.

Detroit: Become Human is available to play now on PC through Epic Games Store and on PS4.

RELATED: GGA Game Review: Make Your Choice in Detroit: Become Human

This article was originally published 12/26/20