1979 Revolution: Black Friday

 PC
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 81
  3. Negative: 13 out of 81

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  1. attaboy85
    May 9, 2016
    10
    Best game I've played all year! Truth is I have no association with Iran or Revolution... or prior knowledge... and I was sucked right into the action, characters and overall vibe of that world. Can't wait to play more from this team -- I'm really hoping there will be a follow up. Atta...
  2. aralath
    Aug 16, 2018
    8
    Watched from a walkthrough video. Story is compelling and quite interesting and make me want to investigate further.
  3. L123
    Apr 29, 2016
    9
    I'm a converted fan of 1979! I was really hesitant about playing the game beforehand. I had preconceived notions about the development team trying to push an agenda, but literally within the first few scenes all of those ideas were gone

    1979 isn't trying to BE anything, it's just telling a story. The interpretation of the game is completely up to the player. You get a chance to    I'm a converted fan of 1979! I was really hesitant about playing the game beforehand. I had preconceived notions about the development team trying to push an agenda, but literally within the first few scenes all of those ideas were gone

    1979 isn't trying to BE anything, it's just telling a story. The interpretation of the game is completely up to the player. You get a chance to experience being on the streets, hearing people debate about what THEY think is the best way, and you get attached to the characters!!!!! The storytelling was amazing, the actors performances were incredible.

    Def give 1979 a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised!    … Expand
  4. ehsanelite
    May 14, 2016
    10
    As an iranian i can confirm that the story is pretty much true, we throw one scumbag out, but got hundreds of them in return, pretty good game, it made me sad
  5. PaulusHook
    May 17, 2016
    10
    It was about time for a game of this caliber to be released. I remember seeing something about it on Fast Company back in 2013. It caught my attention because it was a married couple creating it and I thought that was pretty cool. Anyways - back to the game:

    I very much enjoyed playing it. I'm looking forward to a sequel (if the team decides to make one, of course). It was great getting    It was about time for a game of this caliber to be released. I remember seeing something about it on Fast Company back in 2013. It caught my attention because it was a married couple creating it and I thought that was pretty cool. Anyways - back to the game:

    I very much enjoyed playing it. I'm looking forward to a sequel (if the team decides to make one, of course). It was great getting to know the different characters (really liked the main character's parents - not featured much but reminded me of my parents) and I was pleasantly surprised at some of the most important decisions - I have to admit, I had to take a break here and there because I was actually trying to analyze/predict the outcomes. I've played many of the telltale-esque games out there and I have to say, this game's story and attention to details in a historical thriller really surpassed my expectations - usually you see the historical accuracy being compromised but 1979 did the period justice.

    I don't review content that often but iNK is an indie studio and I know they can use the support from pleased customers. So I'm happy to do that here.

    I hope if you're reading this, it helps you make up your mind in getting the game and supporting a new genre which I think it's going to be a superb addition to the gaming industry.

    Cheers!    … Expand
  6. KriKri
    Apr 13, 2016
    10
    I stumbled upon this game and am shocked by how much I loved it. I felt like I was living inside a Homeland Episode. Not only did I feel like I was thrown into a totally new world (Iran in the late 70s) but I was making choices -- where I had to make quick decisions on things that really mattered. The fact that the whole story is set in real events just makes the whole experience thatI stumbled upon this game and am shocked by how much I loved it. I felt like I was living inside a Homeland Episode. Not only did I feel like I was thrown into a totally new world (Iran in the late 70s) but I was making choices -- where I had to make quick decisions on things that really mattered. The fact that the whole story is set in real events just makes the whole experience that much more awesome!!! Am recommending it to all my friends. Thanks 1979!… Expand
  7. DelleAlpi
    Apr 9, 2016
    9
    As someone who study history professionally, I sometimes do not like some mainstream historical games that are eurocentric and politicized. Out of curiosity, I purchased this game the moment it came out because the topic always fancinates me. Before playing it, I thought this game is more or less going to be another game preaching you how bad Khomeini was and how he "stole" the revolution.As someone who study history professionally, I sometimes do not like some mainstream historical games that are eurocentric and politicized. Out of curiosity, I purchased this game the moment it came out because the topic always fancinates me. Before playing it, I thought this game is more or less going to be another game preaching you how bad Khomeini was and how he "stole" the revolution. However and fortuantely, I was completely wrong.

    The developer claims the plot is based on a real story. The protagonist, Reza, is from a wealthy family. He studied abroad in Germany. When he came back to Iran, he almost came across the ongoing revolution by accident. Iran was not it once was anymore. After seeing what he saw, he decided to participate in it. Whereas, his involvement troubled him with countless dillemmas, compelling him to pick sides. On one hand there is his brother, on the other are his friends and cousin. You choices affect how the game progresses.

    This game excites the hell out of me. Walking on the street, you feel as if you are living through the revolution yourself. Seeing people protesting and suffering, you are compelled to feel sympathetic towards them. The political figures in this game are entirely real. When I was the graffiti of Khomeini on the street, I was like "Oh my God!" and my heart was beating so fast.

    Yes, historical figures matter. But history is, in fact, made possible by the little people. This game does not pick a political side nor try to preach you liberal democracy. Instead, it tells you the paradox and contradiction existed in the revolution, making the choices hard to make. Ideal is idealistic because it is not reality. The moment when you threw the stone, it changed you forever. Is violence necessary? Is family more important than ideal? Is life more important than freedom? Would you sacrifice the 1/3 for the other 2/3? You are the one to answer these questions that we are still unable to answer today.

    I feel I can relate to this game so much. I also come from a wealthy family. My parents also lived through a different revolution. I am also idealistic yet realistic. My ideal betrays my spectum but I feel it is right. My reality does not allow me to follow my ideal if I were to keep my status. I believe in democracy yet I see authoritarianism as a highly efficient system. I love my family yet I want to pursue my ideal.

    I think we all are the same. We are all contradictory. What a game!    … Expand
  8. luksonije
    Apr 23, 2016
    5
    The game looks like Taletale game. So, we seen it before.

    It is definitely not for me. The story is about Iran and Islam, and that is not my favorite subject.
    Christ is my Lord and that is it...
  9. SuperkenGaming
    Jul 31, 2018
    4
    1979 Revolution: Black Friday
    A telltale Game that actually runs well
    1979 Revolution is 2 hour a choose your own adventure game in the style of telltale game... it actually runs better than any telltale game ever has.. But it’s nowhere near close to being any good. This game tells the story of a photographer during the Iranian revolution that started in the summer of 1978. The game    1979 Revolution: Black Friday
    A telltale Game that actually runs well
    1979 Revolution is 2 hour a choose your own adventure game in the style of telltale game...
    it actually runs better than any telltale game ever has.. But it’s nowhere near close to being any good.
    This game tells the story of a photographer during the Iranian revolution that started in the summer of 1978. The game starts out by telling you that its base on real stories, real people, and real events…
    The story has its fair share of twists and turns, but it’s just not ever good…
    There’s a decent cast of characters here…. But aside from your main character, there’s not nearly enough time to develop them to make decisions in this game as impactful as they should be…
    By the end of the game I really had no idea who’s side I was on, but the game makes you choose…
    You also have to make a choice out of nowhere towards the middle of the game of who betrayed the group and you have little to no information, connection, or time spent with these characters to even make an educated guess..
    All of these moments if huge decision making is what makes this game a little enjoyable, I just wish I spent more time with the characters I have to make decisions for, because I ultimately ended up feeling like I was just going through the motions of a poorly delivered story...
    The choices here during dialog is handled poorly as well..
    You have little to no time to think, you have to react to statements and situations almost instantly which I don’t have a problem with... but the developers made the mistake of make you point the analog stick in the direction of your choice and then press x to choose it…
    And I feel like this is the slowest possible way to handle decision making in a game, and with such a short timer this lead to too many moments of my character not saying anything.
    I really hope this game can be patched with choices being tied to separate action buttons like they are in the telltale games to make for a more smooth experience…
    Though either way I feel like dialog choices don’t do much to shape the world around you... it really just comes down to decisions of passiveness or aggression during key moments of the story that can change things even little..
    Outside of choosing dialog there are brief moments of walking around and interacting with the world a little...
    This is where the game does what I feel is the coolest part, there are moments for you to take pictures and after doing so the real picture from the real life event shows up on the side, and I felt this really brought life into this game.. it helped immerse me into this world that on its own has a rough time doing…
    Overall 1979 Revolution Black Friday just isn’t an interesting or enjoyable game…
    it’s a disappointment from start to finish…
    It functions.. It runs smoothly... but that’s about it...
    you’re not missing out on anything by skipping it...
    I give 1979 Revolution: Black Friday
    a 4.5/10    … Expand
  10. aditya1101
    Feb 28, 2020
    7
    Really amazing game - despite the lower production value, I really felt the authenticity in this game and it was a really cool snapshot into the 1979 revolution in Iran.
  11. Kianoosh06
    Aug 16, 2019
    0
    This story is so much lye and bad game ever. Dont buy this game............
  12. PublicNuisance
    Jan 20, 2022
    7
    1979 does some things very well and others not so much. It does a great job of presenting a relatively unbiased portrait of history, at least my research couldn’t find many holes. The QTE game play works well for the most part aside from one section. For all but one part you are having to pick options while on a timer but for that other part you must be patient and wait for the right1979 does some things very well and others not so much. It does a great job of presenting a relatively unbiased portrait of history, at least my research couldn’t find many holes. The QTE game play works well for the most part aside from one section. For all but one part you are having to pick options while on a timer but for that other part you must be patient and wait for the right moment. Not a huge issue but the game conditions you to act one way only to swap it on you for one section which made it annoying for me. The game also did a great job of explaining people; events and culture for those who may not be familiar with Iran or much of it’s history. You are placed at various points of history as a photographer and the photos you take populate a menu going into detail about them. I thought the voice acting was fairly strong overall and enjoyed the dialogue choices. I will say that there was at least one faux choice early on. You can choose to not repeat your captor’s name to him but if you choose not to more than a couple times he kills you. While realistic it also made me have to redo the whole part which was annoying. It could have been just as good as a cut scene rather than a faux choice. The graphics weren’t bad but also not mind blowing. Everything from object detail to clothing to faces to buildings were serviceable but not fantastic. My main gripe was with the end part. The game ends very abruptly with little in the way of closure to the story. It just didn’t feel right. There were also other types of game play such as having to work on injured NPC’s. Having to remove glass; shrapnel and then bandage them. It was a nice way to break up the QTE’s and dialogue choices but was also clunky and looked crude. The gentleman whose wound I bandaged probably should have died from my poor quality work.

    I played 1979 on Linux using Wine. It never crashed on me. I did encounter one glitch where I was unable to leave the camera mode which was an issue as I was supposed to help bandage someone. I had to restart the checkpoint and next time it let me leave the camera mode. There was a checkpoint save system which I usually despise but the spacing was done well so it wasn’t much of an issue. There were 3 AA settings; an AF toggle; a v-sync toggle; and 3 other graphics options. Alt-Tab didn’t work. I also would have preferred turning depth of field off rather than just to low. I couldn’t monitor the frame rate but I didn’t feel any lag throughout the game. The upper VRAM usage of 4702 MB also only lasted a minute or two before settling back down to the 1189-1500 MB range.

    Game Engine: Unity
    Disk Space Used: 5.8 GB
    Game Version Played: 2.2.0.3 (GOG)

    Graphics Settings Used: All High except depth of field on low; 8x AA; v-sync and AF on
    GPU Usage: 43-99 %
    VRAM Usage: 1189-4702 MB
    CPU Usage: 9-29 %
    RAM Usage: 2.1-2.3 GB

    Overall 1979 told a good story in an engaging way but fell flat at the end. It is still worth playing though and was enjoyable. I really liked the world building and how the game put you in the middle of history. I finished the game in 2 hours and 8 minutes. The length didn’t bother me but the ending did. I would say the game is worth it’s current price tag of $11.79 CAD.

    My System:

    AMD Ryzen 5 2600X | 16GB DDR4-3000 CL15 | MSI RX 580 8GB Gaming X | Mesa 21.0.3 | Linux Mint 20.3 | Mate 1.26.0 | Kernel 5.4.0-96-generic | Wine 7.0    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

80
#80 Best PC Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Eurogamer Italy
    Sep 4, 2018
    80
    A docu-game where the line between right and wrong is never clear nor defined. 1979 Revolution: Black Friday tells a brief but though story with great emphasis on players choices and moral ambiguity. Outdated graphics limit the game potential, but its story and its characters hit the target.
    Read full review
  2. RPG Fan
    Aug 16, 2016
    75
    A documentary in game form that allows the player to experience historical events authentically in a way no film could.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jun 20, 2016
    60
    Very intriguing documentary about the Iranian revolution, which however lacks in gameplay. But if you want to be entertained and learn something, do not hesitate. [Issue#264]
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