Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Fascination throws players into a tense, mature-themed adventure where stealth, dialogue choices, and resource management collide. You step into the shoes of an everyman caught in a deadly conspiracy after unknowingly inheriting a sample of a revolutionary aphrodisiac. From the outset, the game balances high-stakes evasion with investigative puzzles, encouraging you to weigh each step carefully—will you hide in plain sight or craft a diversion to sneak past armed guards?

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The core mechanics hinge on a dynamic branching narrative system. Conversations allow you to charm, mislead, or intimidate characters, and your success depends on timing, item usage, and in some cases, your own moral compass. Inventory management also plays a key role: finding or crafting disguises and tools—lockpicks, false credentials, even chemical disguises—can open or close narrative pathways.

Combat is minimal but tense, emphasizing stealth takedowns and strategic avoidance over run-and-gun action. This slow-burn approach heightens suspense as you inch toward your goal, always conscious that revealing the drug sample makes you a prime suspect in the assassination. Optional side quests deepen world-building, offering new intel and potential allies, while failure isn’t punished too harshly—missteps simply reroute your investigation, maintaining momentum without funneling you into a frustrating dead end.

Graphics

Visually, Fascination adopts a gritty, neo-noir aesthetic that underscores its mature themes. Environments range from dimly lit back alleys to opulent corporate penthouses, each rendered with atmospheric lighting and detailed textures that immerse you in a world brimming with danger and intrigue. Subtle weather effects—drizzling rain, fog-shrouded streets—further heighten the mood during critical stealth sequences.

Character models strike a balance between realism and stylized exaggeration. Facial animations capture tension and uncertainty, particularly during high-stakes conversations. Subtle microexpressions—raised eyebrows, shifting eye-lines—bring dialogue encounters to life, making your choices feel weighty. Cutscenes use cinematic camera angles and dynamic lighting changes, providing a polished, film-like quality without sacrificing in-engine performance.

While the game occasionally grapples with minor pop-in texture issues in sprawling outdoor areas, these moments are fleeting and rarely detract from the overall experience. Sound design also complements the visuals: footsteps echo eerily on marble floors, distant sirens wail through ventilation shafts, and a moody electronic score pulses beneath key narrative beats, reinforcing the tension at every turn.

Story

At its heart, Fascination revolves around moral ambiguity and the unintended consequences of scientific innovation. The late businessman’s aphrodisiac formula serves as both MacGuffin and moral catalyst—its potential for misuse teeters on a knife-edge between beneficial therapy and dangerous mind control. As the protagonist, you wrestle with the ethics of using stolen scientific data, forging uneasy alliances while dodging law enforcement and rival syndicates.

Narrative pacing unspools in three acts: discovery, pursuit, and revelation. The first act hooks you with a shocking assassination and frantic escape; the second escalates into a globe-trotting chase to deliver the sample; the final act confronts you with the fallout of your choices, offering multiple endings based on how you’ve handled key relationships and which moral lines you’ve crossed. Branching dialogue options feel meaningful, shaping alliances and altering your final confrontation.

Supporting characters provide emotional depth and stakes beyond the central chase. A rogue chemist haunted by her own experiments, a hardened detective torn between duty and sympathy, and a mysterious fixer whose motives remain opaque—each offers personal side stories that intertwine with the main plot. Their evolving relationships with the protagonist add layers of nuance, making the narrative more than just a cat-and-mouse game.

Overall Experience

Fascination delivers a compelling blend of stealth, intrigue, and mature storytelling that keeps players invested from start to finish. Its deliberate pacing and rich narrative tapestry reward thoughtful play, inviting multiple replays to explore different dialogue branches and endings. While not a heart-pounding action thriller, the game’s tension lies in its cat-and-mouse dance—every whispered conversation and hidden corridor carries weight.

Technically, the game runs smoothly on a range of hardware, though high-end rigs will best appreciate its detailed textures and advanced lighting. Controller and keyboard/mouse setups are both well-supported, and the intuitive UI makes toggling between stealth tools, dialogue logs, and inventory seamless. Tutorials are concise, letting you jump into the thick of the action without wading through excessive hand-holding.

For fans of narrative-driven adventures and mature themes, Fascination offers a unique twist on the spy-thriller genre. It challenges you to navigate moral grey areas while delivering a polished audiovisual package. Whether you’re drawn to its branching storylines, atmospheric world-building, or stealth-oriented gameplay, this game is poised to captivate anyone seeking a sophisticated, adult-oriented gaming experience.

Retro Replay Score

6.6/10