Marlow Briggs Review

Arcade segments are repeatable and serve to further break the game from fighting monotony. You might slide down an incline and dodge rocks or jump over gaps. Turrets can be controlled to shoot down endless waves of helicopters. There are even two top-down shooter sequences that have you flying aircraft and shooting down more helicopters. These micro components are rudimentary, but they do slice up the action segments and are easy to play through.

Some platforming sections are more difficult because of the flawed camera

The biggest mechanical fault with Marlow Briggs is the problematic camera design. The camera is not fixed to Marlow, instead it perches itself at the edge of areas and focuses directly at Marlow. When you move to the corner of the screen, Marlow may vanish behind walls. Enemies positioned between Marlow and the camera are usually not visible, so you have no idea if they are preparing to attack. Fighting huge enemies when they are far from the camera is like trying to hit a piñata while wearing a blindfold. During platforming, the camera regularly adjusts position to make distances harder to judge. Sometimes the camera moves so you cannot even see the platform you need to jump on. Most of the time the camera captures the action, but the other times will have you wishing for a different system.

Presentation qualities are above average for a game in this price range. The engine does a great job when rendering lush environments, although most areas are small. It is only during some of the later scenes, when you glide large distances, can you appreciate the engine and artistic design. The saturation and palette selection is reminiscent of the original Uncharted, although without the texture resolution to match. The game does have standard cut scenes, but it tears away from the norm by using swooping freeze frame montages that convey action without movement. Moments in time are showcased as the camera circles the action, cutting to a new scene each time the camera is obscured. Although some last too long, this simple device provides enough detail to replace cut scenes, feels unique, and tickles your imagination.

Freeze frame montages are actually pretty effective

Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death is not a game without positives, but the experience is forgettable and rarely brings consistent enjoyment. The camera is awkward during combat and a nuisance when jumping across chasms. The action and weapon systems needed further refinement before everything gels together like similar games. Thankfully, the enemy types are varied and the chain is great fun to use when you mix up the combos. Ultimately, Marlow Briggs is a simple arcade adventure that chokes on flaws and lacks a strong feature that would bring it back to life.