Late Shift

The Late Shift is an experience definitely worth checking out, as the FMV style makes the wide variety of decisions and dilemmas more fun and interesting to sift through. If you’re seeking to blend the world of live-action film and video games, this is a great game to watch and play.

Late Shift succeeds on its own terms by knowing exactly what it is and executing on its goals. It’s a tight, movie-length, choose-your-own-adventure that doesn’t let ill-fitting puzzle elements slow it down or dampen the tension it creates so well. While player agency is limited to the core branching system, its scale eclipses other FMV productions and, although it’s resolutely on-rails, it’s a far more seamless and satisfying 'interactive entertainment' experience as a result.

The acting is fantastic throughout, and the set-up, whilst not too original, is still engaging enough to hold attention. The lack of fast-forward to skip through already viewed scenes is a downfall, though, and some glitches experienced during review in terms of the number of endings recorded hold this back slightly, but otherwise this is a highly enjoyable interactive experience.

You can't fault Late Shift too much for what it is. I'd have liked to see a few more decisions on the table for a more hands-on role as the director, but given all the scenes that were filmed, it's impressive seeing all this bundled on a small screen you can take on the go.

Late Shift is the latest example of just how far the FMV genre has come since the days of the Sega CD: the production values are insanely impressive, the narrative is interesting and the acting is strong. There are also incentives to revisit the game, making it a deeper experience than other options on the eShop. Players looking for a more hands-on experience will likely want to steer clear, but fans of the FMV genre will find that Late Shift sets a new standard.