Mia and the Dragon Princess, from Dead Pixel Productions and Wales Interactive, is an interesting take on the concept of interactive storytelling through full motion video. The game offers a mix of live-action scenes, martial arts, and decision-based gameplay to create an immersive experience. The plot revolves around Mia, a barmaid who takes in a mysterious woman on the run from dangerous thugs. The choices you make as Mia have an impact on the outcome of the story, and the game offers 10 different endings, which gives it some degree of replayability.
One of the most significant positives of the game is its live-action sequences. The game features excellent performances from the cast, including Paul McGann and MyAnna Buring, which adds to the immersion of the story. The fight scenes are well choreographed, and the martial arts sequences are impressive, thanks to the contributions of Dita Tantang and Aaron Gassor. The overall production value is decent, and it feels like you’re watching a movie – though the action scenes aren’t of the Marvel variety but rather more like a low budget production that’s geared more towards a niche audience.
The way the game handles interactivity is worth mentioning, as it’s a little different from other FMV titles that are more conversation-centric. A real-time attribute tracking system keeps track of your choices and influences the story as you progress. The choices you make have a real impact on the outcome of the story, and it’s interesting to see how different decisions lead to different endings. This aspect of the game makes it highly replayable, and you’ll want to go back and see how different choices play out.
However, the interactivity is also has its issues. While the choices you make have an impact on the story, the game doesn’t always make it clear what the consequences of those choices will be. Sometimes it’s not immediately obvious how a decision will affect the story, and it can be frustrating to make a choice only to find out later that it led to an unwanted outcome. This is something that’s not uncommon in the FMV genre, but seems to happen more frequently in Mia and the Dragon Princess.
We also had some issues with the pacing of the game, because while the live-action sequences are fun, there are times when they drag on a little too long – so at times you’re watching more than you are engaged with the gameplay. The martial arts scenes, while impressive, can also be a little repetitive, and you’ll find yourself seeing similar moves over and over.
Overall, Mia and the Dragon Princess is an enjoyable experience that offers a unique take on interactive storytelling. The game’s production values, excellent performances, and real-time attribute tracking make it an engaging and immersive experience. However, the lack of clarity around the consequences of choices, the pacing issues, and the repetitive martial arts sequences hold it back from being as good as some of Wales Interactive’s other FMV titles. If you’re a fan of interactive storytelling and/or martial arts movies, then Mia and the Dragon Princess is worth checking out – it’s pretty unique within its subgenre of gaming.
Score: 6.4/10
Press Play Media 