CONSORTIUM

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 59
  3. Negative: 11 out of 59

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  1. MoarCowbell
    Jan 26, 2014
    9
    For me, this game sets the bar very high for the new year, and is probably the best game I've played years. After playing the likes of Walking Dead, which left a bitter taste in my mouth when it was absurdly clear that your choices made so little impact that it wasn't worth playing, Consortium actually restored my faith in these types of games (which rely on story and interaction overFor me, this game sets the bar very high for the new year, and is probably the best game I've played years. After playing the likes of Walking Dead, which left a bitter taste in my mouth when it was absurdly clear that your choices made so little impact that it wasn't worth playing, Consortium actually restored my faith in these types of games (which rely on story and interaction over combat-type gameplay)

    For reference, I played this at the end of January 2014, and I haven't experienced any serious bugs or errors.

    In short, well worth the play.    … Expand
  2. Ufon
    May 3, 2014
    10
    This game it's absolutely stunning in the way how to tell a story. For me it's have everything, good written characters and voices, great screenplay and very detailed lore.
    The game mechanics are great, your choices make a difference, every game its different, i have never seen such a replayability.
    And I like the graphics, it's suits the game. About the bugs, I was waiting to patch    This game it's absolutely stunning in the way how to tell a story. For me it's have everything, good written characters and voices, great screenplay and very detailed lore.
    The game mechanics are great, your choices make a difference, every game its different, i have never seen such a replayability.

    And I like the graphics, it's suits the game.

    About the bugs, I was waiting to patch 1.2 and they did good job, not a single crash or bug. I have played the game for 17 hours (finished it twice). Only some graphic glitches, nothing serious.    … Expand
  3. syoung27
    Dec 18, 2014
    10
    This game is incredibly, and unlike anything else I've found on Steam. The branching storyline and investigations really keep you engaged, and the multiple paths in the game means nothing can be taken for granted (e.g., did your comments at Time X influence Time Y? What happens if you don't uncover the truth?"). Give this game a shot.
  4. ChoicestGames
    Sep 21, 2014
    7
    Interdimensional Games has worked hard in bringing to us an intriguing alternate future courtesy of Consortium, but unfortunately it has been poorly executed resulting in show-stopper bugs, uninspired combat and a clunky user interface. This game isn't as great as some AAA FPS/RPG hybrids out there but it's not a bad effort by an indie development house.
  5. bthomson
    Jul 24, 2014
    10
    CONSORTIUM is one of those tricky games that will make you ponder over what could have been possible if the team had an unlimited budget and unlimited time to work. It gives you a taste and leaves you wanting much, much more.

    In particular the first time through is quite exciting. Although you're on rails, of course, it's not always obvious where the rails are. Replaying the game to    CONSORTIUM is one of those tricky games that will make you ponder over what could have been possible if the team had an unlimited budget and unlimited time to work. It gives you a taste and leaves you wanting much, much more.

    In particular the first time through is quite exciting. Although you're on rails, of course, it's not always obvious where the rails are. Replaying the game to find the ways in which scenes can be altered is fun, but also bittersweet because you'll see the limits of what was possible.

    The voice acting and direction are both excellent, and are critical to the experience (this game would not be nearly as interesting without the voice acting).

    I feel it deserves a 10 not because it's perfect (it isn't, not even close), but because it really is a "must-play" for fans of the genre. Play CONSORTIUM, and wonder about what's possible for this medium.    … Expand
  6. Lazybonez
    Mar 15, 2016
    9
    Consortium is unlike any game I've played before, and I mean that in the best way possible. It is one of those games that impacts you and keeps you thinking about it long after you play it. In this game, you don't play as another person but you play as yourself controlling an unknowing real-life person from an alternate version of reality set in the year 2024.

    It's a story-driven sci-fi    Consortium is unlike any game I've played before, and I mean that in the best way possible. It is one of those games that impacts you and keeps you thinking about it long after you play it. In this game, you don't play as another person but you play as yourself controlling an unknowing real-life person from an alternate version of reality set in the year 2024.

    It's a story-driven sci-fi rpg with fps elements. How the story unfolds is dependent on how you choose to play. The game is very similar to the Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Mass Effect's (to name the big ones) take on plot progression by interacting with NPCs through a conversation tree. The conversation tree is the core game mechanic and it is done really well. Fully voiced conversations have many possible choices and feels very natural. The voice acting is great and the character development is superb.

    The graphics are very cartooney and I honestly think the shadow textures are some of the worst I've seen, ever. Performance isn't where it should be, either. Despite these issues, Consortium is still one of the most immersive games I have played in a long time. That says a lot. I was very impressed at how encompassing the world is and the backstory is super fleshed-out.

    The shooting mechanics are also sub-par. I only had to use my weapon once in my story, but your story will most definitely be different and you may choose to use your weapon more. Don't get this game if you are looking for a shooter, that isn't what this game is about.

    The story is pretty short in length, but rich with substance and a high replayabilty value. All-around I have really enjoyed this game. The story is captivating and impactful. I want to give it 10/10 but I have to take off something for the gun mechanics and performance issues. For what this game set out to do, I think has gone beyond.

    I really hope the sequel gets funded because I really want to finish the story.    … Expand
  7. Cruxxor
    Jan 28, 2014
    10
    Simply one of most amazing games Ive ever played. It just blown my mind. If you love true RPG, where your choices really matters, with intriguing story and characters, this game is for you. I've finished this game 5 times now, and on every playthrough i see completely different content. Replayability of this title is insane.

    But, yeah, if you're looking for another generic COD-like    Simply one of most amazing games Ive ever played. It just blown my mind. If you love true RPG, where your choices really matters, with intriguing story and characters, this game is for you. I've finished this game 5 times now, and on every playthrough i see completely different content. Replayability of this title is insane.

    But, yeah, if you're looking for another generic COD-like stupid shooter - Don't buy it. You'll be disappointed. Not much combat here, and you can talk your way out of any fight if you are smart.

    COD-lovers gonna hate, but i didn't have such fun playing video game since first Deus Ex.    … Expand
  8. SpaceOsysseus
    Jan 12, 2014
    9
    This is one of the best games I've played in months, it's really intelligently designed. The entire game takes place on a single ship allowing for an incredibly complex and challenging narrative that includes a murder mystery you won't solve on your first try, a strange framing device that includes you as the player into the story, and a slew of colorful characters that you'll learn toThis is one of the best games I've played in months, it's really intelligently designed. The entire game takes place on a single ship allowing for an incredibly complex and challenging narrative that includes a murder mystery you won't solve on your first try, a strange framing device that includes you as the player into the story, and a slew of colorful characters that you'll learn to trust and mistrust all at the same time. It's amazing what they've done with a $70,000 Kickstarter.… Expand
  9. Warlord8
    Jan 9, 2014
    9
    Sure, the product has some problems with the graphics and it's a bit undertone for what regards the menus or the UI, but... but. I don't know why, but I like it.

    Maybe because I have a story and some real charachters in front of me, maybe because I am not having only GRAPHICS to rule the price of the game. I like Consortium. I honestly felt to be myself on the ship, and I forced myself    Sure, the product has some problems with the graphics and it's a bit undertone for what regards the menus or the UI, but... but. I don't know why, but I like it.

    Maybe because I have a story and some real charachters in front of me, maybe because I am not having only GRAPHICS to rule the price of the game. I like Consortium. I honestly felt to be myself on the ship, and I forced myself to act as I would in similar situations.

    It's a game not for everyone I fear though. Nowadays everyone wants graphics, loot, violence, action, shooting... this game turns the tide and focus entirely on the story. Damn for the first time after Mass Effect saga I felt that what I decided, no... what I said ! was worth something different in the story arch.

    If you like a game with a story and you want to be part of it , buy it. Otherwise, if you search something action oriented and to not face the consequences of your actions, go elsewhere.    … Expand
  10. Skyhawk02
    Jan 11, 2014
    10
    If you like interactive story games then this is one of the best so far. The game actually lets you wield your own influence over the characters and narrative, unlike a certain sci fi trilogy.
  11. Fuz
    Jan 8, 2015
    6
    Potentially interesting.
    Too bad it's riddled with bugs, like disappearing subtitles (and in a story-driven game it's something extremely bad) and the savegames get deleted if you had an older version and patch it. And those aren't tolerable flaws. Also, the game raises lots of questions and don't answer them... they will *eventually* be answered in a potential sequel.
    I think there is a    Potentially interesting.
    Too bad it's riddled with bugs, like disappearing subtitles (and in a story-driven game it's something extremely bad) and the savegames get deleted if you had an older version and patch it. And those aren't tolerable flaws. Also, the game raises lots of questions and don't answer them... they will *eventually* be answered in a potential sequel.
    I think there is a gem hidden beneath the bugs, but it's too hard to find and I can't recommend a game so buggy and unpolished.    … Expand
  12. Elo43
    Jan 2, 2015
    5
    It's an interesting / unique scenario and nice graphics. Unfortunately with a lot of issues, so I stopped playing after about 1h. Can't judge anything after that. Issues:
    - All characters look the same and have the same name (except numbers and faces). I have no idea who said what. Not sure how I'm supposed to solve a murder mystery here.
    - Quite abstract user interface with useless    It's an interesting / unique scenario and nice graphics. Unfortunately with a lot of issues, so I stopped playing after about 1h. Can't judge anything after that. Issues:
    - All characters look the same and have the same name (except numbers and faces). I have no idea who said what. Not sure how I'm supposed to solve a murder mystery here.
    - Quite abstract user interface with useless "tips" like "Use the recycle feature to RECYCLE". WTF?? Some kind of weird inventory feature where I have to dispose energy to store more stuff? I don't know what this game tries to tell me.
    - Quite unbalanced simulator mission. Far more enemies than ammo. In the end I simply walked out, ignoring dead civilians and enemies. That's the point that I decided that this was a was of time.
    - Game takes very long to load.

    Perhaps this would be really fun if I studied it hard for a few hours and made notes. But I'll simply play something else instead.    … Expand
  13. Androu
    Feb 1, 2014
    8
    Great game, really! Plz read my review, it makes more sense than the haters' ones. I disagree with IGN according to the story topic. Consortium has, indeed, an awesome and mysterious story. I got envolved into it in the first minutes of gameplay. This game has that "your actions care in story-progressing" thing, like in Mass Effect of Star Wars: Knights of Old Republic. You can choose whoGreat game, really! Plz read my review, it makes more sense than the haters' ones. I disagree with IGN according to the story topic. Consortium has, indeed, an awesome and mysterious story. I got envolved into it in the first minutes of gameplay. This game has that "your actions care in story-progressing" thing, like in Mass Effect of Star Wars: Knights of Old Republic. You can choose who you want to make friends with and who are the people you don't like in your universe. These mecanics are awesome! Don't play if you are lookin for a Call of Duty shotting stuff though. Consortium has its shotting moments, but they are not as complex and well made as in the big shotters games. You should play it for the story and new mechanics. It's graphics are not good and it has some major bugs/glitches issues, but these negative aspects should not make you avoid it. Give it a chance!! I'm looking foward to playing Consortium's sequence!… Expand
  14. Toxin27
    Jan 10, 2014
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's been a long time since I felt fully trolled by a game. Lets ignore the game breaking bugs and the fact that most people seem incapable of finishing the game. Lets ignore the peculiar graphics choices since they're functional and graphics arent important as long as they perform all the tasks you need them to in the game.

    Here be spoilers.

    This entire 'game' is the intro sequence to a game they havent made yet! You're told bishops are essentially a warrior class, you're given a powerful suit of armour, several weapons and several pieces of equipment that you plug into your armour for various effects...and there is no combat in the game. The combat takes place in a virtual reality suite, there is one opportunity for actual physical combat in the game and it only happens if you screw everything up. Also, the special equipment you get for plugging into your suit that gives you different abilities? that is only given to you AS THE GAME ENDS! Meaning they put work into coding items you are physically incapable of using in the game at any point. They constantly talk about the combat system, the equipment system, your role as a warrior in this alternate society...and before you actually engage in any combat the game ends. This game would have been perfectly fine as an interactive story game. If they had included none of the taunting allusions to combat, none of the equipment and several guns you will never use in any situation (they're even locked down during the game with the safety on, I never even fired them) and focused on the one thing the game delivers, a good narrative and great voice acting, it would have been a good game. But constantly promising that this is a first person shooter with role playing aspects when it is in fact a socialization simulator is misleading and a direct attempt to lull in a different audience.

    In short it's 2014 and having a dialogue tree in a game is not a selling point, we've had those functioning at this level since the 90s. You cant sell a game entirely on the point it has a dialogue tree in it, so they clumsily tacked on some pretend first person shooter aspects to use guns to sell it. The entire 'game' is a sham. It's an interactive movie, which would be fine if they marketed it that way. Including features it isnt possible to use anywhere in the 'game' whilst constantly leading you to believe the game is a first person shooter in the advertising and in the game itself is dishonest and frankly insulting. I'll be asking for a refund.    … Expand
  15. Khanecz
    Jan 14, 2014
    4
    I really wanted to like this game. The dialogue and choices you make are really fun. I enjoyed getting around the ship and meeting the crew members, every one of which has an unique personality.

    But the game is riddled with bugs. Sometimes there are characters talking over each other and you don't know who to focus on. The combat is really not great and most of it will be done in a    I really wanted to like this game. The dialogue and choices you make are really fun. I enjoyed getting around the ship and meeting the crew members, every one of which has an unique personality.

    But the game is riddled with bugs. Sometimes there are characters talking over each other and you don't know who to focus on. The combat is really not great and most of it will be done in a virtual reality simulator. The game tends to lock you out or in certain areas you need access to, if you want to continue the game. And the game's crown jewel bug is when the game doesn't let you play further. I don't know if this happens to others, but this is a blocker, and it needs to be fixed.

    I give the game 4 points, for the enjoyment i had out of the dialogues and the idea, but the game is not finished and currently broken. Don't buy until they fix it.    … Expand
  16. FranklinSteele
    Jan 10, 2014
    0
    This is unreal. Who releases a game that doesn't even work? If I could give a negative score, I would. They've written an open letter explaining that the game won't even be playable until the end of January... just hang onto your 20 bucks until the fix this unplayable, unstartable joke of a game.
  17. PrincessRose
    Feb 1, 2016
    4
    A sci fi RPG. Thought the game sounded interesting, but it's not, this game is boring as it's just wandering around a ship talking to everyone and hardly knowing what you're doing. A game with a tiny bit of action and a lot of endless talking. It would be wrong to class it as a fps as there is hardly any shooting.

    The graphics are basic looking and sometimes a bit buggy and weird as NPC    A sci fi RPG. Thought the game sounded interesting, but it's not, this game is boring as it's just wandering around a ship talking to everyone and hardly knowing what you're doing. A game with a tiny bit of action and a lot of endless talking. It would be wrong to class it as a fps as there is hardly any shooting.

    The graphics are basic looking and sometimes a bit buggy and weird as NPC eyes seem to look in weird direction or clip and there doesn't seem to be much gameplay unless you are prepared to continually reload saves to see the different paths you can take. And relaoding is very slow.

    The game is also buggy, I went back in the cabin and am now stuck in there, can't get out. The door was open but acted like an invisible barrier, no matter how many times I opened and closed the door. Had to reload a previous save.

    Also characters speech timing is terrible making it hard hard to hear what anyone is saying as you'll be talking to one character and then some other character will come speak at the same time and over each other, I had the knight, Wade and rook 25 all speaking at the same time, making it a garbled mess.

    The game is confusing at times. I don't know where Iam going or where something is. And not sure what to do sometimes with mission objectives.
    I ended up confronted with a traitor and not being able to harm the person in anyway and just die.

    The game is also very short, only taking 3 to 4 hours.(thank god)

    The game is medicore and boring as well as buggy.    … Expand
  18. multiverseAE
    Feb 27, 2016
    5
    Consortium is a game that fails to live up to the sum of its parts.

    Inter dimensional Games has created a game made up of two basic systems: a fairly complex set of first person shooter mechanics and a fairly complex branching dialogue based RPG. The game simply does not seem to have had enough time or money to fully realize the potential of either system. The combat is utilized all    Consortium is a game that fails to live up to the sum of its parts.

    Inter dimensional Games has created a game made up of two basic systems: a fairly complex set of first person shooter mechanics and a fairly complex branching dialogue based RPG. The game simply does not seem to have had enough time or money to fully realize the potential of either system.

    The combat is utilized all of 3 times in the game, 2 of which take place in a virtual reality training simulation complete with wireframe environments. Though there is a complicated limb and vital organ damage system, it doesn't play much of a factor in actual combat. It's over-designed.

    The dialogue system is where the games true potential comes to fruition, more than serviceable indie voice acting combines with a well thought out dialogue system with about as many options as a fallout game, along with an alignment system that promised future consequences.

    Unfortunately the story was so incredibly short, (it only took me 3 hours on my first try) that there is no payoff at all, the game ends on a cliffhanger setting up for a direct sequel.

    Consortium was a nice dialogue driven ARPG which showed narrative promise, but its short length and overly complex combat system holds it back from being anything other than an average and fairly unrewarding experience.    … Expand
  19. Zacpod
    May 3, 2016
    10
    As a first chapter to a larger story this game is just about perfect.
    "Murder on the Deus Ex Express" played out in real time.
    Game is short. Around 4 hrs. However, you'll play through it at least 3 times. Requires multiple play-throughs before you have a hope of solving it. If you love a game that makes you think instead of fight then this is a game for you. If you ever tried to    As a first chapter to a larger story this game is just about perfect.
    "Murder on the Deus Ex Express" played out in real time.
    Game is short. Around 4 hrs. However, you'll play through it at least 3 times.
    Requires multiple play-throughs before you have a hope of solving it.

    If you love a game that makes you think instead of fight then this is a game for you.
    If you ever tried to play Deus Ex using conversation and stealth instead of just killing everything, then you owe it to yourself to give this game a try.
    However, if you think CoD:Ghosts was good, then stay away from this one - you're not smart enough to enjoy it.    … Expand
  20. Tilt1k
    Nov 14, 2019
    4
    The technical state of look of the game is too bad for me to really enjoy, also if you are not a bad sci-fi fan, you wont enjoy it.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 14
  3. Negative: 2 out of 14
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Apr 7, 2014
    80
    This dialogue based RPG has fallen into the trap of its own ambition. One can only hope that the potential next installment might be able to avoid it. [Issue #239]
  2. Riot Pixels
    Mar 23, 2014
    35
    An overly ambitious, tedious, shockingly short game.
    Read full review
  3. Games.cz
    Feb 17, 2014
    60
    In a horrendous package, Consortium hurts your feelings, and dresses you in a futuristic uniform, in which you'll feel the impact of your decisions, so you'll get to know slightly different stories. In any case, prepare for many uncomfortable compromises.
    Read full review
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