80
This dialogue based RPG has fallen into the trap of its own ambition. One can only hope that the potential next installment might be able to avoid it. [Issue #239]
35
An overly ambitious, tedious, shockingly short game.
60
In a horrendous package, Consortium hurts your feelings, and dresses you in a futuristic uniform, in which you'll feel the impact of your decisions, so you'll get to know slightly different stories. In any case, prepare for many uncomfortable compromises.
4
The technical state of look of the game is too bad for me to really enjoy, also if you are not a bad sci-fi fan, you wont enjoy it.
10
As a first chapter to a larger story this game is just about perfect. "Murder on the Deus Ex Express" played out in real time. Game is short. Around 4 hrs. However, you'll play through it at least 3 times. Requires multiple play-throughs before you have a hope of solving it. If you love a game that makes you think instead of fight then this is a game for you. If you ever tried to play Deus Ex using conversation and stealth instead of just killing everything, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try. However, if you think CoD:Ghosts was good, then stay away from this one - you're not smart enough to enjoy it.
9
Consortium is unlike any game I've played before, and I mean that in the best way possible. It is one of those games that impacts you and keeps you thinking about it long after you play it. In this game, you don't play as another person but you play as yourself controlling an unknowing real-life person from an alternate version of reality set in the year 2024. It's a story-driven sci-fi rpg with fps elements. How the story unfolds is dependent on how you choose to play. The game is very similar to the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Mass Effect's (to name the big ones) take on plot progression by interacting with NPCs through a conversation tree. The conversation tree is the core game mechanic and it is done really well. Fully voiced conversations have many possible choices and feels very natural. The voice acting is great and the character development is superb. The graphics are very cartooney and I honestly think the shadow textures are some of the worst I've seen, ever. Performance isn't where it should be, either. Despite these issues, Consortium is still one of the most immersive games I have played in a long time. That says a lot. I was very impressed at how encompassing the world is and the backstory is super fleshed-out. The shooting mechanics are also sub-par. I only had to use my weapon once in my story, but your story will most definitely be different and you may choose to use your weapon more. Don't get this game if you are looking for a shooter, that isn't what this game is about. The story is pretty short in length, but rich with substance and a high replayabilty value. All-around I have really enjoyed this game. The story is captivating and impactful. I want to give it 10/10 but I have to take off something for the gun mechanics and performance issues. For what this game set out to do, I think has gone beyond. I really hope the sequel gets funded because I really want to finish the story.
CONSORTIUM
Released On:
Jan 8, 2014
Metascore
Mixed or Average
66
User score
Mixed or Average
7.1
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
29% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
57% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
14% Negative
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
Apr 7, 2014
80
This dialogue based RPG has fallen into the trap of its own ambition. One can only hope that the potential next installment might be able to avoid it. [Issue #239]
Jan 27, 2014
80
Consortium is an ingeniously subversive gem, containing enough backstory to fill a Triple-A trilogy while focusing exclusively on an airship crew in distress. The execution is a little clunky at times, but Consortium still has the charm and depth to encourage multiple playthroughs as we wait for the sequel.
User score
Mixed or Average
55% Positive
34 Ratings
34 Ratings
24% Mixed
15 Ratings
15 Ratings
21% Negative
13 Ratings
13 Ratings
May 3, 2016
10
As a first chapter to a larger story this game is just about perfect. "Murder on the Deus Ex Express" played out in real time. Game is short. Around 4 hrs. However, you'll play through it at least 3 times. Requires multiple play-throughs before you have a hope of solving it. If you love a game that makes you think instead of fight then this is a game for you. If you ever tried to play Deus Ex using conversation and stealth instead of just killing everything, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try. However, if you think CoD:Ghosts was good, then stay away from this one - you're not smart enough to enjoy it.
Dec 18, 2014
10
This game is incredibly, and unlike anything else I've found on Steam. The branching storyline and investigations really keep you engaged, and the multiple paths in the game means nothing can be taken for granted (e.g., did your comments at Time X influence Time Y? What happens if you don't uncover the truth?"). Give this game a shot.
Jan 26, 2014
72
As great as it would be to hold up Consortium as the next great evolution of adventure/RPG, it's not, though it is a valiant attempt that deserves praise.
Feb 17, 2014
60
In a horrendous package, Consortium hurts your feelings, and dresses you in a futuristic uniform, in which you'll feel the impact of your decisions, so you'll get to know slightly different stories. In any case, prepare for many uncomfortable compromises.
Jul 24, 2014
10
CONSORTIUM is one of those tricky games that will make you ponder over what could have been possible if the team had an unlimited budget and unlimited time to work. It gives you a taste and leaves you wanting much, much more. In particular the first time through is quite exciting. Although you're on rails, of course, it's not always obvious where the rails are. Replaying the game to find the ways in which scenes can be altered is fun, but also bittersweet because you'll see the limits of what was possible. The voice acting and direction are both excellent, and are critical to the experience (this game would not be nearly as interesting without the voice acting). I feel it deserves a 10 not because it's perfect (it isn't, not even close), but because it really is a "must-play" for fans of the genre. Play CONSORTIUM, and wonder about what's possible for this medium.
Sep 21, 2014
7
Interdimensional Games has worked hard in bringing to us an intriguing alternate future courtesy of Consortium, but unfortunately it has been poorly executed resulting in show-stopper bugs, uninspired combat and a clunky user interface. This game isn't as great as some AAA FPS/RPG hybrids out there but it's not a bad effort by an indie development house.
Jan 8, 2015
6
Potentially interesting. Too bad it's riddled with bugs, like disappearing subtitles (and in a story-driven game it's something extremely bad) and the savegames get deleted if you had an older version and patch it. And those aren't tolerable flaws. Also, the game raises lots of questions and don't answer them... they will *eventually* be answered in a potential sequel. I think there is a gem hidden beneath the bugs, but it's too hard to find and I can't recommend a game so buggy and unpolished.
Nov 14, 2019
4
The technical state of look of the game is too bad for me to really enjoy, also if you are not a bad sci-fi fan, you wont enjoy it.
Feb 1, 2016
4
A sci fi RPG. Thought the game sounded interesting, but it's not, this game is boring as it's just wandering around a ship talking to everyone and hardly knowing what you're doing. A game with a tiny bit of action and a lot of endless talking. It would be wrong to class it as a fps as there is hardly any shooting. The graphics are basic looking and sometimes a bit buggy and weird as NPC eyes seem to look in weird direction or clip and there doesn't seem to be much gameplay unless you are prepared to continually reload saves to see the different paths you can take. And relaoding is very slow. The game is also buggy, I went back in the cabin and am now stuck in there, can't get out. The door was open but acted like an invisible barrier, no matter how many times I opened and closed the door. Had to reload a previous save. Also characters speech timing is terrible making it hard hard to hear what anyone is saying as you'll be talking to one character and then some other character will come speak at the same time and over each other, I had the knight, Wade and rook 25 all speaking at the same time, making it a garbled mess. The game is confusing at times. I don't know where Iam going or where something is. And not sure what to do sometimes with mission objectives. I ended up confronted with a traitor and not being able to harm the person in anyway and just die. The game is also very short, only taking 3 to 4 hours.(thank god) The game is medicore and boring as well as buggy.
SummaryTaking place entirely on board a massive futuristic aircraft, CONSORTIUM is a first person science-fiction role-playing experience unlike any other. The story begins in our world - the "real world" - where we here at Interdimensional Games have developed a satellite (iDGi-1) capable of opening a digital rift through time and space.
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date:Jan 8, 2014
Developer:
Publisher:
