Quantum Break (2016 Video Game) User Reviews

4.5 Stars out of 5 Stars

[ajneeago96 · 9/10 · 3 April 2022]

Before playing this game, I've never played anything quite like it. In this game, you experience reality as it's fragmenting. Using your characters abilities, you're able to use this fragmented world to your advantage, with some really spectacular action scenes. The game is so cinematic; so damn cinematic in fact that after every act, you get to watch a live-action episode based off the decisions you've made. So unique in that aspect, as before, I've never seen this episode feature in a game. It makes the story even more engaging, and shows this story from multiple angles. In all, this was a very memorable single player campaign. Felt like I was playing an interactive miniseries; that's how cinematic it was. Definitely give it a try if engaging single player games are your thing, and if you dig stories dealing with quantum reality and time distortion.

EDIT: I played this game a couple years ago with an understanding that this was probably was of the coolest and unique games I've played at the time and coming out of it thinking I just experienced one of my new favorite games. Fast-forward to 2022, I seen it was on gamepass, and with certain achievements I have yet to get, and me not remembering most of the story, I decided to replay this quantum mind****. First things first, the gameplay is still super cool and easy to master. Playing on hard, I felt like it wasn't ever too hard, but that may because I kept up on my upgrades. I loved time sprinting around unsuspecting fools and getting 3 headshots in quick succession, or breaking time around them and blasting 30 gunshots into the back of a heavy soldiers' head.

The story is one of the best aspects of the game, making truly one of the most cinematic games I've ever played. Plus all of the hidden stuff in the game adds to the immersion. After each act, you get to make a decision that shapes the rest of the game, for better or for worse.

Experiencing the TV episodes after each act was again refreshing, choosing the decisions I haven't chose before. This playthrough, I made the PR choices which made Serene and Monarch blame all of the "terrorist" acts on Jack Joyce. There's even cool things you can find in-game called "quantum ripples" that add small Easter eggs to the episodes that was sometimes kinda funny. Coming back to the side stuff, there's some that are really funny, specifically the Timestabber screenplay.

In all, the game was loads of fun once again. This time around though, I ended up completing the game 100%. Clocked in at 38 hours, (this includes my first playthrough back in 2017 and my 2022 playthrough) the game isn't super long, but finding all of the secret stuff like chronons might be a challenge.

enjoying Windows version in 2020

[Turanic · 9/10 · 2 April 2020]

If it wasn't for 2020 quarantine, I probably would never give a shot this gem and that would be a poor decision... It's been a while since I've seen a good story driven action game on PC... In fact there were very few decent sci fi action games in the past 5 years at all.. So yes with best video card on the market this game performs ok and the story is amazing... Although it's not the best graphics of 2020, it's still pretty good 4 years later, the gameplay is a joy although completely linear, the story isn't though...

It gets an 8 for effort

[Mcduff3601 · 8/10 · 25 January 2021]

You can tell how hard the developers were working to make this an intensely story rich game. A lot of effort was put into the look, sound, level design and lots of top notch voice acting. I have never seen a game with a tv show embedded in it like this one.

BUT....

Where Alan Wake succeeds I feel like this game fails. They took the same cludgy controls from Alan Wake and copied them into this game. I found myself at times trying to keep my character from getting to close to an edge and falling or not quite being able to jump up to a ledge because I was slightly misaligned to it. Where I could overlook this in Alan Wake for some reason I couldn't in this game, maybe because it was like Alan Wake was your first chance learn from those mistakes.

Don't get me wrong, Alan Wake is one of my all time favorite games and this one is definitely on my to replay again down the road. I just wish the game mechanics matched the ambition of the storytelling.

An EXCELLENT time travel narrative

[The_paranoid_android · 10/10 · 6 May 2016]

I love time traveling stories. I love time traveling narratives that actually work with the genre for tension building, expectations, mystery, wonder, and character development. Quantum Break has that by the boat load. The actual question of whether or not time traveling itself could ever be free of a 'closed-loop' is something I found intoxicating in the minute discussions of predestination and free will.

This game is all about focusing on using the mechanics, presentation, and even the audio design for the sake of the narrative. A great cast of characters with damn good writing and motivations only cement the painful contemplations of what time travel and "the end of time" mean for each and every single one of them.

The very fact that you can influence the story arc in particularly meaningful ways for the world and characters is something absolutely fantastic and MUST be commended for the hard working people at Remedy. The cast is a wonderfully diverse and strongly acted group of characters who really make the ensemble dynamic work. Shawn Ashmore, Courtney Hope, Aidan Gillen, Dominic Monaghan, Lance Reddick, and everyone in the production is fantastic and memorable. There are so many pieces of character, lore, and world building alongside such attention to detail that I can't help but be impressed and amazed by the developers work.

As a narrative guy, I applaud Remedy for making a game that really pushes great narrative storytelling in video games, and wanted to express that feeling.

Revolutionary

[thomasjay-2201 · 8/10 · 8 August 2018]

Fantastically well crafted with stunning graphics and visual elements 'Quantum Break' is a joy to play. There's downsides such as poor enemies and to an extent minimal control information but on the whole the mechanics of the gameplay are pretty solid. An Xbox one exclusive grande this isn't enough of a 'killer app' to justify the purchase of the system but it's worth taking some form of interest in with a brilliant story which always seems to feel grounded despite dealing with a relatively high concept subject matter. Relying fairly heavily on the choices made as Paul Serene (Aidan Gillen) the unfolding story is told in such minute yet astounding detail and is seriously impressive as you change the world that being created through a rather sin mole mechanic of Option A or Option B, seeming a gimmick they truly do have impact and can alter how you play and what's available to the gameplay function as opposed to a merely cosmetic image. On the whole greatly detailed and entertaining I highly recommend watching a play through or picking it up yourself

One of the best games I have played

[anirudhkasthuri · 10/10 · 15 June 2021]

10/10 for story 7/10 for gameplay 7/10 for graphics.

Realistic Mechanics/Physiques and masterpiecial jaw-dropping storylines

[fatemarajshahi · 10/10 · 24 January 2021]

Nothing to say something. Really mind-blowing, action-packed blockbuster. Awesome!!!

A spectacle shooter

[residentgrigo · 7/10 · 14 May 2016]

Remedy's Max Payne games are still a high point for the genre and they have been on a slight decline ever since. Quantum Break is better than Alan Wake's: American Nightmare but they again put production values over everything else. I would have preferred less motion blur during the calmer segments and a reduced grain filer but the audiovisual quality of the game can't be denied. The same goes for most of the set-pieces but the game reuses a lot of locations and thus feels a bit "small". The shooting and enemy variety could have been better as i was just going through the motions despite finishing the game on hard. The game ultimately stands and fall with the narrative / presentation and it is as expensive as it is forgettable. I had fun following along but predicted every plot point and don't expect to remember much, despite the high amount of flavor text. The branching paths have no real effect on the game and the packed in 4 TV episodes left me cold for the most part. The .hack series did the same trick over a decade ago with the slightly forgettable companion OVAs but these at least had production values. I can 100% recommend the game for the spectacle of it all but hope for less formula and tighter gameplay for the developer's next offering. 7,5/10

Great story

[santiagogarcia1970 · 10/10 · 6 February 2021]

Great project that if it had been multiplatform would have had much more impact. Hollywood casting, time travel, what more could you ask for?

I played it and ended up on Game Pass and bought it to have it.

Control is the same but instead of time travel with paranormal energy. Even the protection systems in control are like the ones in this game, but of course control is multiplatform. sad but true.

Quantum Break

[Lefteris-Anagnostopoulos · 7/10 · 28 February 2021]

I recommend this game but not as your first Remedy experience. Start with Max Payne and then take it from there. You 'll see that by the end you 'll need to play Quantum Break!

As a game though (besides some extraordinary set pieces) it's pretty average and the story won't blow your mind. The strongest part of the game (for my money) are Acts 4 & 5.

As for the TV show parts of the game, I liked that they did it, but they were just mediocre and dragged the story a bit.

7/10.

Amazing Game

[itsanas · 10/10 · 27 September 2020]

I Loved this game. It was Perfect in every way. Great Story, Great Graphics, Great Environment and Great Combat. TV Show was also good for me I watched all of it to the end though some people disliked that. I wish there could be a sequel to this game. This game is Brilliant.

Could be Better

[vinothdharma · 6/10 · 22 April 2016]

As we all Know, this is based on game designed for Xbox one. The Response of this game is moderate apart from the graphics work, which is really awesome, kudos to "Remedy Entertainment". The Previous products of remedy entertainment such as Max Payne, Agents of Storm are my favorite ones.

Coming to the show, the negative aspect that I think is its lagging a proper introduction about the Quantum Break but in the game they briefly narrate it and easy to understand. In order to watch the show we have to play the game. So for non-gamers it's a bit of a setback.

I have seen four episodes of Quantum Break and as per my view it is good, I actually thought Patrick Heusinger (Liam Burke in the series)is the Hero of the Sitcom but in game Shawn Ashmore (Jack Joyce) is the Hero.

Disappointed in Remedy

[amadeuseisenberg · 3/10 · 27 July 2019]

The combat is really boring. And you can't blind fire from cover or shoot without pulling the trigger to aim first even! What!

Xbox's Xbox One Era Masterpiece

[cchenders40 · 10/10 · 22 January 2023]

This game gets ignored in conversations of console exclusives. This game is a MASTERPIECE. If you love complex time travel stories this game is for you. If you like cinematic games this game is for you. If you like strong narratives this game is for you. If you like EXCELLENT third person shooting with unique twists (time manipulation) you will love this game. Here are my positives.

• 3rd Person Shooting Mechanics. The only way to describe it "it's cool." You feel like James Bond who can freeze time, stop bullets, and teleport. It's sick and feels so good. When you get all the abilities down you can dominate even on hard.

• Enemy variety is really good.

• The story is great and complex.

• Great achievement design for the game.

• the game is very replayable because at the end of each act you have to make a moral decision that changes how the next act plays out.

• Good villain with strong motivations.

• still looks good graphically.

• the time fracture set pieces are INSANE and have no rival in triple A development.

• Great cast of characters with some of my favorite actors from the cinema!

Negatives

• some frame drops on series S.

• some bad check points. You're never having to repeat king segments of the game or anything they just are awakened sometimes?

An underrated game that needs a sequel

[PenetratorGod · 8/10 · 23 October 2023]

The fictional Riverpoint University in the United States is conducting research into the possibility of time travel. During one of the experiments, an accident occurs, causing a series of inexplicable oddities as the world around us begins to slowly and gradually disintegrate. In addition, three scientists: Jack Joyce, Beth Wilder and Paul Serene, are endowed with supernatural abilities that allow them to control space-time. While the two of them strongly believe in the possibility of fixing the world, Serene, convinced of the inevitability of the impending catastrophe, tries to use the damaged spacetime and Jack's abilities to fulfill his own goals.

The story of Quantum Break is very similar to the television series. The events depicted in the game are supported by live movie scenes with real actors. While the game follows the actions of good heroes like Jack and Beth, the movie scenes focus exclusively on the game's main villain Paul Serene and his company Monarch. Thanks to this way of narration, we learn many aspects of the same story, shown from two different points of view during the game. In addition, both in the game and in the movie scenes, we, the players, have to make important decisions that will be reflected in the subsequent flow of the game.

Quantum Break is, first of all, a dynamic third-person action game where, besides shooting, the important thing is to pass the next levels and use your abilities not only to fight, but also to repair the world. This aspect of the gameplay is significantly diversified thanks to the constant change of our environment after the damage of space-time, numerous anomalies in which objects, structures or buildings disappear or crumble before our eyes. This means that during the game we don't just follow the predetermined path and sometimes we may have to look for alternative solutions and paths to the destination.

Traveling and fighting in an ever-changing environment is accelerated thanks to supernatural abilities resulting from the failed scientific experiment. During the game, for example, we can speed up or slow down the passage of time, or create a special protective shield around Jack. While each of the abilities in question are important to use together constantly during the fight against various enemies and obstacles, the key to success is to use them judiciously in battles, as your powers need a certain amount of time to regenerate. The whole process requires not only great skill, but also the ability to tactically plan your movement.

Quantum Break's graphics are of high quality for its time. They were also developed using an engine called Northlight, which allows for realistic rendering of facial expressions. In addition, the authors took care not to distract us with an overly complex interface during the game. The interface is extremely minimalistic, with only a few icons indicating the powers available. Quantum Break also features more or less well-known actors from the world of cinema. The cast includes Shawn Ashmore, Aidan Gillen and Dominic Monaghan. Quantum Break offers 13 hours of gameplay.

I enjoy the ambition: it doesn't really come together well though

[Pepe-arbiter · 6/10 · 22 November 2020]

As a big fan of Alan Wake, I was really excited for Quantum Break. I also was hooked by the premise involving time travel and how that could be used in the games combat. The premise of mixing together a tv and a video game I always found to be not that innovative, basically it just is live action cutscenes that go on for like thirty minutes in between missions, cheap looking ones too sadly. The combat itself is fun as hell and the game is gorgeous visually, it's a fun game to play, but the story is kinda lackluster and it's resolutions are not very satisfying. It's a fun game but it's nowhere near on the level one would expect from an accomplished developer like Remedy.

Amazing story, mediocre gameplay

[heath-jeffrey · 7/10 · 5 April 2022]

5 or 6 for gameplay. 8 or 9 for the atmosphere, the story, the acting.

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I actually feel like this is a *must play* game, because it's the story is amazing and the gameplay is so cleverly integrated into that. Having actual TV-style episodes in between 'acts' also helps really suck you into the story and blur the TV and gaming worlds together. Unique, special, and highly recommended for that reason.

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That said, there are a number of factors that make the actual gameplay pretty mediocre. The main ones being because they prevent you from doing what the rest of the game seems to be all about.

1) There are a variety of story-building collectibles spread throughout the levels. The variety really helps make the game - not just 'books' like most games do, but a mix of written materials, 3D time renders of past events, video clips on TV or computer screens, drawings and charts, graffiti, and radio/audio clips. Impressive work that makes you really want to find it all.

So, it's a shame then that you often get locked into a strolling mode that makes it a slow and frustrating experience. When most of the game varies between brisk walk and jog, why slow it down unnecessarily in certain areas!

And many of the secrets rely on use of a special time vision. So, you end constantly walking around rooms clicking the vision button again and again, with no effect 95% of the time, just so you don't miss the 5% of the time it's important for not missing something.

2) There's an interactive story element that it makes a big deal out of. But you soon discover it means little - you can affect a character's decision, but the events going on around that character end up having the same ultimate result anyway. The equivalent (made up, to avoid a spoiler) of having a character shoot someone, but another person knocks the gun out of their hands anyway.

3) The part that makes both combat and character 'levelling' really interesting, is the unlocking and upgrading of time abilities. It is *so* cool using a small but cleverly different set of time based abilities to help you mid combat.

But then, half the game involves enemies or areas that negate those abilities in different ways. If it was a reply occasional thing, it would add to variety (eg. Of 'bosses'). But it's so frequent it starts to feel like, "Why even give us the abilities if you're just going to take them away?!"

4) Other than that, combat and character development are just pretty plain.

You don't get to stock up on equipment or choose your favourites - you just pick up whatever enemy weapons happen to be lying around. You can't specialise in any particular way.

There's no levelling up in speed, toughness, accuracy, damage, etc. There's no melee combat. No stealth options. No upgrading guns or equipment.

And the controls are unforgiving with little in the way of aim-support, despite the nature of the game being chaotic and visuals regularly blurred with different time effects.

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In the end, it's miles away from the combat and character/gear development of games like The Division; but also miles away from the great adventure and exploration of games like The Medium or the Myst series.

If only it had picked one approach or the other, or even simply been a TV series...

a pretty average story for a remedy game

[AvionPrince16 · 6/10 · 17 December 2023]

Im kind of disappointed overall and mostly by the story and the plot : i expected much more from it . It really feel dumb and childish and didnt have the interest to make me go forward despite an interesting and mysterious intro but after all that they forced a little bit our interest even if the story get a little bit cliché and lack of interest : im supposed to dive into a story that i dont know any structure and only one person of all that : Paul ? So yeah and it become complicate for nothing with that time story. I found the environnment quite great to explore and find the narrative elements but except that i was pretty disappointed mostly by the story even if i found the gameplay pretty ok and have some interesting gunfights .

Despite the story ,i found the game interesting in the visuals : details ,faces and nice level design but the story get a little bit confused and childish : story of a revenge against Paul because he did something wrong about that time machine and we get to know more in detail what he is seeking for but the whole story feel an excuse to make that power with the time coherent and i really feel that : some dialogues are pretty simple and dont really play with us or our understanding of some events and i found that a little bit under used .

We have some choices and consequences but its a little less dramatic than expected .

Its a good game but way too more focus on gameplay possibilities than a rich ,complex story with some characters with some dialogues that make us think . Good but the story didnt make me want to know all the depth of the story and make me a little bit uninterested even if i enjoyed also to see the motion video with the real actors and stuff : its a nice touch but the story is lacking in my opinion of complexity and depth .

Every company and director you like will make a fuso once in a while

[fh147 · 3/10 · 29 January 2024]

What am I doing playing this this game doesn't compile me at all, that performance they have fine? I wish they were overacting a bit more for this kind of Story they could have needed some more cheese, but what of the gameplay it is okay, it needed punch and it kept annoying me that guns har to few bullets compared to their real life counterpart.

It's weird. I remember watching this trailer and really looking forward to this game and Max Payne and allen wake kept me going all the way through but this one just leave me hanging maybe it's because the main character isn't funny or interesting or anything. He's a week toast of a character.

I like the powers. I wish they were copied from this game and put in something else because how they are put in leaves them lacking. I want for better combat more punchy guns more ammunition better company Arenas . I just want a better f** game with this amazing set of abilities.

I think the story has some interesting turns to it and how it tilted even if I don't think combining a show and a game is a good idea because it makes it feeling legging on both sides. Maybe I want a TV show or maybe I want a game. I don't want both in the same thing.

Every company and director you like will make a fuso once in a while and this is it for remedy entertainment.

Quantum Break is Remedy's experimentation at its best and worst

[phoenix-prjct · 7/10 · 12 January 2024]

Remedy Entertainment and the illustrious Sam Lake are unparalleled when it comes to crafting mind-bending stories dotted with easter eggs. Quantum Break is a surprising little gem that confuses as much as it delights. Beautiful and gripping, it struggles to truly feel like a game.

Quantum Break is fun, thrilling, and a gorgeous experience that plays with hit-or-miss mixes of gameplay and live-action sections. Its fun combat mechanics will keep you entertained but its short length and abrupt, ambiguous ending will leave you a little dissatisfied. As far as I know, Quantum Break isn't a part of the Remedy Connected Universe (yet, anyway), and with Microsoft owning the property, we may never get answers to the many questions left after the credits roll.