Lifeline > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

43 of 49 found this review helpful

Text Adventure at its best

PostedMarch 18, 2017

Valdy

fromWhere Pixies meet...

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game is not for those players who have no patience, and just want to rush through a game.

Many years ago, I used to play a lot of text adventure games, and most of them didn't come with images. Those games weren't as easy to get through as HOGs or even M3 and TM games. You had to put your thinking cap on in order to get ahead. And this game is very similar.

You are contacted by Taylor ...Show more

This game is not for those players who have no patience, and just want to rush through a game.

Many years ago, I used to play a lot of text adventure games, and most of them didn't come with images. Those games weren't as easy to get through as HOGs or even M3 and TM games. You had to put your thinking cap on in order to get ahead. And this game is very similar.

You are contacted by Taylor (he or she, take your pick) who has crashlanded on an unknown planet, and he needs your help to survive.

He asks you where to go next, what to do next, and other things. And your correct answers sometimes depend on a life or death situation for Taylor.

If Taylor happens to die, for example, you are taken back to an earlier stage of the game, from where you can continue. That option only appears after the first time you give Taylor a death sentence.
At the same time another option opens: Turn Fast Mode On, and you will see a Rabbit next to it. This mode is for players who have been playing this game for a while, and don't want to go in normal mode through the game again after having to restart it from an earlier stage, but can rash through those earlier parts.

And yes, there are waiting times with this game. Taylor goes exploring things, doing things, sleeping through the night, etc. And at those times, Taylor is "busy", as it then will tell you on the screen. Depending on what he is doing when he is busy, he can be offline from a couple of minutes to hours. You can leave the game running, and when he is back, you will hear a sound to that effect. Or you can shut down the game, and open it sometimes later to see if he has come back to you.
And there is no need to worry that Taylor will go ahead and do other things while you are not in the game. He will wait for you to come back on, before continuing.

I love this game. I am a big fan of old-school RPGs and Text Adventures, and this game is just what I have been waiting for. Show less

I recommend this game!

+37points

43of 49voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes43No6

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

18 of 18 found this review helpful

All Imagination - It Rocks!

PostedMarch 19, 2017

Carolg01

fromChesapeake, VA

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Incredible Dracula III: Family Secret

(13)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Okay.... so no graphics, no audio... Just a black screen with white text, and a smart aleck student on the other end... on another planet, in some solar system. By himself, all other shipmates are dead, not much found yet in food and water rations, no real shelter other than one near the afterburner and it has some slight radiation. And you are the only one that can help him... run internets ...Show more

Okay.... so no graphics, no audio... Just a black screen with white text, and a smart aleck student on the other end... on another planet, in some solar system. By himself, all other shipmates are dead, not much found yet in food and water rations, no real shelter other than one near the afterburner and it has some slight radiation. And you are the only one that can help him... run internets searches, give him your opinion on next steps, and maybe get him killed. Fortunately, if you made stupid decisions on his behalf, you get another chance.

I LOVE THIS GAME. It is gripping from the beginning (somewhat in the style of the old text games like "The Leather Goddess of Phoebus), only you don't tell him to "look down" "look left", etc. You read his situation and then make a decision which he will mock you for of course (but so far I haven't killed him).

The only thing that took a little getting used to is it is supposed to be "real time", so if he tells you he will get back with you in an hour, it will probably be around an hour. That just means you can multitask.

If you don't mind *not* being spoon fed graphics and music, and want to use your imagination for a while, this game will suit you perfectly. It has me, and I am a long way from being finished. But... I haven't killed him yet. Enjoy! Show less

I recommend this game!

+18points

18of 18voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes18No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

15 of 17 found this review helpful

~~~EXCELLENT STORY ADVENTURE FOR PHONE NOW ON PC/LAPTOP~~~

PostedMarch 19, 2017

skullfun

fromTennessee

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Like so many in today’s workaday world, I find myself absorbed in my phone on this morning’s commute to work. Keeping up with the latest videogame news, half-reading the status updates of my friends on Facebook — oh! Taylor is messaging me on Lifeline. He’s wondering whether or not he should spend the night sleeping next to the warmth of a potentially radioactive generator, or tough it out in the ...Show more

Like so many in today’s workaday world, I find myself absorbed in my phone on this morning’s commute to work. Keeping up with the latest videogame news, half-reading the status updates of my friends on Facebook — oh! Taylor is messaging me on Lifeline. He’s wondering whether or not he should spend the night sleeping next to the warmth of a potentially radioactive generator, or tough it out in the middle of a hostile, frigid dessert. Quickly, I close my open tabs and running applications; I had better take this. LOL. No, my friend isn’t the world’s most irresponsible camper, but rather, the protagonist in 3 Minute Games’ innovative sci-fi text adventure Lifeline. Spanning three real-time days, the game tasks you with guiding the survivor of a futuristic crash landing to safety as he navigates the challenges of staying alive on the surface of an unfamiliar planet. Not a wholly unique setup in this genre, perhaps, but thanks to nuanced writing and a genuinely novel mechanical hook, Lifeline manages to feel like a window into a living, breathing world. You see, the key differentiator between Lifeline and any other text adventure is 3 Minute Games’ bold decision to introduce a semblance of true-to-life time passage to the proceedings. From initial contact until you discover one of Taylor’s several possible fates, everything happens in somewhat “live” fashion. Through one of two possible text prompts, you can guide the story in multiple different directions, at a pace that is out of your control. Advise Taylor to take a nap or settle down for the night? Expect to hear back from him several hours later. Caution him against cutting through the middle of a large crater by instead navigating the perimeter? The ensuing trek will have him MIA for measurably more time. While at first blush I was worried that this would prove to be a frustrating gimmick, the reality is much more fulfilling. By isolating interactions to sparing moments throughout the day, Lifeline infuses your normal grind with a palpable sense of adventure and consequence. During my play-through, it’s not an exaggeration to say that I woke up nervous about what might have happened to Taylor, or paused in mid-conversation with colleagues to check on the outcome of a decision I had made on his behalf. I’ve played many games that I find engrossing, but Lifeline may be one of the first that changed the way I thought about my daily routine, which leapt off the screen and became a part of my lived experience. This is due in no small part to writer Dave Justus’ excellent script, which bolsters the clever design by presenting in Taylor a truly engrossing character. Perhaps unavoidably, there are some moments of clunky exposition that flesh out Lifeline’s backstory, but that practice never extends to Taylor himself. Deftly interspersing sarcastic asides with moments of downbeat introspection and nervous rambling, Justus crafts a flawed but endearing protagonist who can both annoy you and earn your sympathy in the span of one conversation. In other words: the pitch perfect representation of a young adult out of his depth and looking for help. Without broaching any spoilers at all, it suffices to say that the overall narrative is filled with enough tension and surprise to keep you engaged, but Lifeline’s ultimate feat is the way that it will have you genuinely caring about Taylor. Lifeline is a game that rises to the challenge of an overcrowded genre and even more stuffed app ecosystem. The game’s drip-feed of content – would-be fertile ground for predatory in-app payments – is used instead as an innovative way transform your relationship with the technology that sits at the center of your life. Meanwhile, a tightly written story full of branching paths serves as a vehicle to test the boundaries of what mobile games can do, and challenge you to invest yourself in the fate of someone you’ve never met, stranded millions of miles away. Someone who also happens to be made of ones and zeroes. Amazing! Show less

I recommend this game!

+13points

15of 17voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes15No2

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

10 of 13 found this review helpful

Awesome Text Game

PostedMarch 18, 2017

bubbyc

fromCharlotte,NC

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Strategy, Time Management

Current Favorite:

Jewel Match Royale Collector's Edition

(41)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Saw this as an app, so excited it's on PC now. Haven't completely finished it but am loving it so far. Yes you have to have patience but that's the beauty. It's a very different kind of game which is what I love about Big Fish because they continue to offer outside the box games.

I recommend this game!

+7points

10of 13voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes10No3

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

5 of 5 found this review helpful

Play It ON a phone or Tablet

PostedJanuary 19, 2018

megwoman25

fromNorthern California

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management, Word

Current Favorite:

Graven: The Purple Moon Prophecy

(102)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I played this game on my iPhone and I absolutely LOVED it. On a PC I am not sure how much I would have though. What made it fun on a phone was the notifications. You help Taylor by giving him advice, he goes on to do tasks and then he is "busy". On a phone you are not going to be playing this game 24/7 like on a computer so you close the game, Taylor does his tasks and then sometime later ...Show more

I played this game on my iPhone and I absolutely LOVED it. On a PC I am not sure how much I would have though. What made it fun on a phone was the notifications. You help Taylor by giving him advice, he goes on to do tasks and then he is "busy". On a phone you are not going to be playing this game 24/7 like on a computer so you close the game, Taylor does his tasks and then sometime later sometimes a few minutes, other times hours, a message will be sent to you to let you know Taylor is back and the game continues again.

Moreover this isn't just a great game BUT its a great story like choose your own adventure type story. I am a big reader and deciding the fate of the main character was fun for me. I did kill him a couple times and once you go through that part, the game rewinds and you can choose to which part it goes to. You can go all the way back to the beginning or you can go to a part of your choosing. This type of game made me so immersed in the hero Taylor that I felt like I knew him. I wanted to make this disaster easier for him and help him through it. Like there was someone out there that really needed me and only I could help him. I can't remember the last time I had towards of emotional connection towards a game, if ever.

I recommend playing this game on a phone if its possible. I think you will like the game more because that is its intended model. The games makes more sense that way, fitting into the palm of your hand not to mention I would never have paid $6.99 for it. What a rip off! I think its $1.99 on the phone. AND this game became so popular that there are even more games like this to buy. There is a mega-pack you can buy in app store and the ones I have played have been brilliant. Taylor even returns in one and needs more help.

IF you feel gaming has become a bit stagnant (I have) and if you need something new and like to read, I really recommend this game. Show less

I recommend this game!

+5points

5of 5voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes5No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

6 of 7 found this review helpful

Needs a better demo.

PostedMay 15, 2017

LunaNik

fromI still love text adventures.

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle, Strategy, Word

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I'm sure everyone who only played the demo had the same experience I did: a short period interacting with Taylor, followed by a long wait while he traveled, then the demo ended. It's difficult to review a game based on that, and I feel the demo should have been designed to skip or shorten those waiting periods so we'd have a better idea of what the game is like.

However, as you can see, I'm ...Show more

I'm sure everyone who only played the demo had the same experience I did: a short period interacting with Taylor, followed by a long wait while he traveled, then the demo ended. It's difficult to review a game based on that, and I feel the demo should have been designed to skip or shorten those waiting periods so we'd have a better idea of what the game is like.

However, as you can see, I'm giving this game five stars anyway, based solely on the small portion I did get to play. Why? Because Lifeline's story, presentation, and gameplay are creative and out of the box. When I compare that to an infinite pile of cookie cutter HOPAs, Lifeline stands out as innovative game development, and that deserves five stars.

It also deserves my money, so I'm purchasing this. I love text adventures, and have loved them since Zork was released 36 years ago. Lifeline's story already has me curious, and its game universe immersed me without graphics. That's talent. Show less

I recommend this game!

+5points

6of 7voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes6No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

Very Invested in this Character!

PostedMarch 6, 2021

eggofthedead

fromAnchorage, AK

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle, Word

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

It plays out as a conversation between you and a marooned scientist who seeks your comfort and advice on how to stay alive and figure out what happened to her ship and crew. I would be on the edge of my seat waiting to hear back from her - sometimes she'd be gone for hours - to know if she was OK. Such a simple, text-based, game but I was super invested in her well-being!

I recommend this game!

+2points

2of 2voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes2No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

3 of 5 found this review helpful

The first game of this kind I have ever played

PostedApril 6, 2017

Onyx27

fromProvidence RI

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Word

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Right from the beginning I knew that I would like this. It is absorbing and imaginative. I really have no idea how the story is going to turn out. When I was a kid we had books called choose your own adventure, which I liked. But this is the best!

+1point

3of 5voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes3No2

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

4 of 7 found this review helpful

lonely astronaut in a strange satellite

PostedMay 9, 2017

yuruyuru

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Match 3

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

2 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

text game for mobile.
but very exciting game, on PC too!
I miss Taylor.
I just can't wait next adventure!

I recommend this game!

+1point

4of 7voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes4No3

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

Text Gaming At its Best!

PostedApril 12, 2024

caseyduhamel

fromBrilliant game by Dave Justus

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Time Management

Current Favorite:

My Brother Rabbit Collector's Edition

(247)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

How many would rather watch TV than read a book? Your imagination is more frightening than any celluloid monster. I love this game and have actually grown attached to Taylor. I care about him. You have to think and make decisions which effect the entire outcome all via a communication system, OUTSTANDING!!

I recommend this game!

0points

0of 0voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes0No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Browse by Genre:

Browse by Genre:

Lifeline

Reviews

Lifeline

, share your thoughts about this game!

Lifeline

Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted.

Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game!

You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game.

Thanks for submitting the review below.


	, share your thoughts about this game! Lifeline Lifeline is a playable, branching story of survival against all odds! Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted. Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game! You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game. Thanks for submitting the review below.