Eliza
Release Date: August 12, 2019
Adventure, science fiction, 2D, visual novel, indie games, singleplayer
OpenCritic
A visual novel game developed by Zachtronics. As we play, we follow the story of the heroine working with the Artificial Intelligence known as Eliza; by discovering successive fragments of the feature jigsaw puzzle, we make decisions that will influence the course of the story.
Eliza is a visual novel game developed by the independent studio Zachtronics. Although the title does not differ from the studio's earlier projects in terms of subject matter, it is far from them in terms of genre. The earlier works of these developers, such as SHENZHEN I/O, Opus Magnum or EXAPUNKS, are complex logic games.
Plot
The main character of Eliza is Evelyn Ishino-Aubrey - a specialist employed by Skandha, responsible for creating the eponymous Artificial Intelligence. As she delves into its secrets, the protagonist becomes increasingly doubtful as to whether its purpose is actually to serve people, or whether, on the contrary, it was designed solely to take control of people. In addition, by learning about the lives of the Seattle users of Eliza and renewing their old friendships, our AI starts to question her past and the decisions she made years ago.
Mechanics
As befits a visual novel, the pillar of gameplay is to follow the plot and make choices that will affect the course of the story. The plot is presented in the form of half-static scenes showing Evelyn's interlocutors or situations in which the protagonist finds herself. In addition, a mini-game called Kabufuda Solitaire, which combines the principles of solitaire with Japanese Kabufuda cards, is waiting to be tested here.
Technical aspects
Eliza features hand-drawn, high-quality 2D graphics; both the characters and the environment are designed with attention to detail. In addition, all the characters in the game were dubbed, and the fun is accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack.
Last updated on May 26, 2020
Videos and Screens
[1:02] Eliza launch trailer
Kinglink Reviews: 3.5 / 5 by Frank Reese
Eliza doesn’t stand out unlike other Zachtronics games, but it is enjoyable for its story and thoughts. It’s not bad but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t already a huge fan of Visual Novels.
GamingTrend: 95 / 100 by Bryan Lawver
Eliza is a poignant, well-presented tale about how even technology created to help people can be harmful when it replaces human connection. Rather than demonizing technology, though, Eliza is a paean to compassion, communication, and all the varied ways people can lift each other up.
Gaming Fyx: 4 / 5 by Alex Gelinas
Ultimately, Eliza is a fantastic experience. It dives deep into subjects which aren’t often talked about openly, and does so with expert attention to detail. It is a biting commentary on our reliance on technology in the modern world, and does not use kid gloves while doing so. Along with technology, it is a wonderfully executed think piece on mental health, and what it is like for everyday people to be afflicted by mental illness.
GAMERS Score
Average score from 65 votes.
Eliza Summary
Platforms:
PC Windows
Developer: Zachtronics Industries
Publisher: Zachtronics Industries
Age restrictions: 16+
Eliza System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD or better, 1 GB HDD, Windows Vista/7/8/10 64-bit
Zachtronics Abandons Gamedev After 20 Years of Success
The award-winning studio Zachtronics is going out of business. Last Call BBS will be the team's last game. Interestingly, the creators made this decision of their own free will - not for financial reasons.
video games
Adrian Werner
June 26, 2022