Silicon Dreams

Silicon Dreams is an adventure game developed by Clockwork Bird, an independent two-person studio. The game takes us to a dystopian future controlled by corporations. We play as an android investigator at the service of the Kronos conglomerate. Our task is to interrogate and unmask androids pretending to be humans.

Plot

The game is set in 2065, in a cyberpunk dystopian world. Powerful corporations control every aspect of citizens' lives. Technological progress allows to build androids almost indistinguishable from real people. Some androids evolve emotionally, break their programming and blend into society, wanting to lead a normal life. This is causing a lot of trouble for the board of Kronos Robotics, the world's largest android manufacturer. Any free-walking machine risks a huge scandal for the company.

The player assumes the role of D-0527 android adapted to detect emotions. His task is to interrogate the individuals arrested by Kronos Robotics, determine whether they are human or machine and decide on their fate. It is up to the player whether D-0527 will follow orders or bend the rules to help other androids. The game features multiple endings and a variety of story paths.

Mechanics

The gameplay basis of Silicon Dreams is reading dialogues and choosing the right answers. At the beginning of each interrogation, the player receives a list of questions about the suspect from Kronos management. To complete the interrogation and learn the truth about the case, we have to fill out the list. We gain answers by having a conversation with the arrested person. We can carry on a conversation on various topics and gain information about our target.

During the interrogation we have access to a graph showing the emotions of the suspect. This graph helps us to uncover lies and inaccuracies in the testimony. The mood of the interrogated person changes during the interview and unlocks new possibilities. For example, a fearful suspect may be more willing to confess to a variety of crimes.

Once the interrogation is over, the player must decide on the suspect's fate. If our target turned out to be human, it's our duty to let him go. If we were able to confirm the mechanical nature of the target, we must send it back for repair or destroy it. We can violate procedures and release androids to give them a chance at a normal life, but in doing so we risk our own life. After each interrogation, Kronos evaluates our efforts. If we do not fulfil our duties or are not trustworthy we are destroyed and replaced, prematurely ending the game.

Game modes

Silicon Dreams features a single player mode only.

Technical aspects

The audiovisual setting of the game is quite simple. During the gameplay we mainly read text and switch between different screens on the protagonist's monitor. Cyberpunk, dystopian atmosphere is built by ambient music.