The Complex stands out as an interactive adventure game in the FMV style, blending live-action footage with choice-driven narratives set in a sci-fi thriller framework. Players step into a high-stakes scenario where two scientists are trapped in a locked-down lab after a bio-weapon attack on London, racing against time and dwindling air supplies. This setup draws from real-world tensions, focusing on nanocell technology and its implications in a world recovering from chemical threats.
Gameplay
At its core, gameplay revolves around making decisions during key moments in the story, which influence relationships with other characters and shape the overall narrative. These choices are tracked in real time through a relationship system that starts from the beginning and carries through to the end, affecting scenarios and leading to one of eight possible endings. A personality tracking mechanic also monitors your actions across five dimensions: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. This evolves based on interactions, and at the end of each playthrough, you receive a personality score breakdown that reflects how you approached the game.
The experience feels cinematic, with live-action sequences directed in a way that pauses for player input, allowing you to strengthen or weaken bonds with characters like Dr. Amy Tenant and her colleagues. Features such as skip scene options and a pause choices function enhance replayability, especially for those exploring different paths or streaming the game. While the mechanics emphasize narrative branching over action, they create tension through suspenseful dialogues and ethical dilemmas tied to scientific advancements.
Game Modes
The Complex operates as a single-player interactive experience without traditional multiplayer components or distinct competitive modes. Instead, it centers on a narrative-driven mode where players navigate the story through multiple playthroughs to unlock various outcomes and hidden events. This setup encourages repeated sessions to experiment with different choices, revealing how relationship and personality trackers alter the plot.
Unlockable elements, like personality assessments and a special hidden event, add layers to the core mode, rewarding thorough exploration. The game's structure supports audience participation features, making it suitable for live streams where viewers can influence decisions in real time.
Story and Setting
Set in a near-future London reeling from a bio-weapon incident, the plot follows Dr. Amy Tenant, an expert in nanocell technology, as she reunites with an old friend in a secure lab complex hiding dangerous secrets. The narrative explores themes of totalitarianism, scientific ethics, and personal survival, written by a team with credits from acclaimed series. Performances from actors like Michelle Mylett, Kate Dickie, and Al Weaver bring depth to the characters, with guest spots adding variety to the ensemble.
The lab environment serves as a confined, pressure-cooker setting that heightens the thriller elements, with the story unfolding over roughly six hours per playthrough, though shorter runs are possible with skips. Branching paths ensure that each decision ripples outward, creating suspense through interpersonal dynamics and revelations about the attack's origins.
Is It Worth Playing?
For those drawn to choice-based adventures and FMV formats, The Complex offers solid replay value through its eight endings and tracking systems that make each run feel distinct. Player reception has been mostly positive, with 77% of 927 user reviews favoring it, highlighting the engaging story and acting as strengths, though some note the limited interactivity compared to more complex games. Critics have given it a weaker overall rating across 46 reviews, often pointing to pacing issues in the narrative.
The game remains in its original 2020 state without major updates or ongoing seasons, making it a complete package for one-time purchases. It suits fans of suspenseful, story-focused titles who enjoy exploring personality-driven outcomes, but might not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or multiplayer elements. If interactive sci-fi thrillers align with your tastes, it's a worthwhile pick for an evening of decision-making tension.
