It wants to be different, that much is clear from the off. From the widescreen presentation of each scene to the smartass split screen cameras, Prophecy sets its agenda with astounding production values. What starts as a seemingly psychotic-homicide (committed by main character and loner Lucas Kane) quickly evolves into a well paced tale, mixing gameplay driven character background studies with ‘innovative’ action sequences.
Not once were we asked if we’d like to “take the shotgun?” or “use the switch?” Your initial goal, it transpires, is to help Lucas prove his innocence. While in the broadest of senses this involves (occasionally clunky) point-and-click style investigation, Prophecy gives you the chance to play through scenes with it’s amazing 'use the sticks to do things' control system. It sounds like a minor point but by being actually able to sweep, open, push, swim and so on, the game becomes much more immersive.
Examples? You wake up on the morning after the murder and you must wash and get ready for work. Acceptance of such day-to-day mediocrity makes it all the more nerve shattering when a policeman knocks at the door, leaving you with only moments to hide the bloody evidence littered around. When was the last time a game threw a curveball like that at you?