Warning: In order to discuss Quantum Break’s plot effectively, this review does contain spoilers up until the end of Act 1 and also contains descriptions of late game abilities.
Finnish developer Remedy Entertainment returns with their first console game since 2012’s Alan Wake’s American Nightmare. Originally revealed alongside the Xbox One in 2013, after three years of development and a protagonist change, can Quantum Break live up to expectations? Don’t skip time forward to read my closing paragraph – keep the timeline clear and read about why Quantum Break is one of the most ambitious sci-fi games available on any platform, not just the Xbox One.
Players take the role of Jack Joyce – a late 20s / early 30s everyman who I can’t help but describe as a literal blank slate. Aside from his tangential past connections to important story characters and quick-witted quips that will remind Uncharted fans of Nathan Drake, we really don’t know much about what makes Jack tick at the beginning of the game, and that doesn’t change much throughout the 20+ hour campaign. What sets Jack apart from other game protagonists is the motion capture and voice work from Canadian actor of X-Men fame, Shawn Ashmore. His delivery and facial capture are expressive, and it is really refreshing to hear a male protagonist who lacks the gruff deep voice and tough exterior we see so often in the action / adventure genre. Jack isn’t a trained soldier – he can’t slide into cover and he can’t blind fire from behind a wall, he’s an average person thrust into extraordinary circumstances.
Image credit: Remedy Entertainment / Microsoft Studios
At its core, Quantum Break is an action/adventure game about the ramification of the flow of time breaking down and the response humanity might have if we were given advanced notice of it occurring. This interesting science fiction concept, combined with fluid combat and a SyFy-esque original television program – cut up into 4 Episodes (one at the end of each episode) – makes Quantum Break one of the most ambitious action titles to hit in a number of years. This makes the flow of gameplay in Quantum Break quite predictable: fight your way through various waves of enemies, get to the next in-game plot-building cut-scene, and then watch a 22-minute television episode. This might sound like it would get boring, but to be honest it combines two things that I really love: science fiction with a unique hook, and high-stakes science fiction television that keeps you guessing / theorizing from between episodes.
As I already mentioned, combat in Quantum Break feels fluid and is quite enjoyable, and will satisfy players coming to the game looking for a smooth and adrenaline-packed combat experience. Shooting feels precise, and Jack tends to spray and pray a bit, but there are a number of weapons available, ranging from standard 9mm pistols, automatic pistols, submachine guns like the Mp5, and large machine guns. Oddly enough, there is a distinct lack of scoped weapons, grenades, and other paramilitary gear, given that Jack is taking on a paramilitary organization. For long-time Remedy fans, the gunplay might bring 2001’s Max Payne to mind, although unlike Mr. Payne, Jack doesn’t dive around the stage and perform slow-motion backward maneuvers.
Image credit: Remedy Entertainment / Microsoft Studios
Perhaps the biggest draw for Quantum Break’s combat is Jack Joyce’s unique suite of time-related abilities. Jack’s abilities start out simple enough – the game gives players a few simple abilities to play around with in the opening sections of Act 1. Early sections of the game have you relying solely on your gun, but as the story progresses you unlock more powerful time powers, including Time Stop, which freezes enemies in place, Time Rush, which lets you dash quickly through combat, and Time Blast, which creates a damaging burst of temporal energy. These abilities make combat feel fresh throughout the campaign, and they are well integrated into both the story and the gameplay.
Image credit: Remedy Entertainment / Microsoft Studios
Overall, Quantum Break is an ambitious, entertaining action game with a unique time-manipulation hook, strong performances, and a television show that genuinely adds to the story. It is well worth playing for fans of science fiction and action games alike.
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