Eugene’s life has seen better days. His wife left him, the outlet he took photos for was shut down, and his cafe closed. After all of this, he crashes his car and finds himself in the fantastical realm of the Dusklands. This sets in motion the events of OPUS: Prism Peak. As the fourth entry in the OPUS series, OPUS: Prism Peak is the most ambitious title yet in my eyes. Experience with the previous games is not required, as this is a standalone story. Going in blind may be the best way to experience it.
OPUS: Prism Peak is a Slow, Melancholic Journey
OPUS: Prism Peak is an interactive narrative adventure, and it markets itself as one. Those expecting intricate mechanics and systems may wish to look elsewhere, since story is the focus here. As such, it’s difficult to discuss without a few minor spoilers, so here’s your warning.
OPUS: Prism Peak is largely a tale about the past and the inability to change it. This is why the camera is the game’s central mechanic. In a way, photos are a form of time travel. They allow a glimpse into a moment that has long since passed and decayed.
For certain people, the game’s themes may hit them like an oncoming train. It’s hard to go through life without regrets, and Eugene is a character with lots of them. Connections fade, and there might not be much to look forward to.
OPUS: Prism Peak is an overwhelmingly melancholic experience, to the point where “sad” is likely the most frequent word said in the game. The Dusklands are bright and colorful yet ruined and frozen in time. It’s as though the player is exploring a personal post-apocalyptic reality.
The Other World
The game’s tone is exhausting in a way few other titles are. It’s not quite as oppressive as Silent Hill 2, but don’t let the cheery character designs fool you. Despite its fantastical appearance, Opus: Prism Peak is grounded in its subject matter and can get quite heavy at points.
At times, the game seems a little too stuck in the past, resulting in uneven pacing, but this may be intentional. Players will likely catch on to what’s going on before Eugene does, which can make some of the story seem repetitive.
Regardless, if Eugene’s struggles resonate, Opus: Prism Peak doesn’t fail to engage. Like a good book, there is a compulsion to turn the page. I wanted to know what happened next and gain more knowledge of Eugene’s life.
Even if the destination is easy to guess, the journey is worthwhile. Like taking photos, it challenges the player to see clearly. It’s not difficult to do, but the pieces are laid out as though it were a puzzle.
Capturing the Moment
While other games feature photo modes, OPUS: Prism Peak takes that idea and turns it into an entire game. Those who have used a camera besides a phone may find themselves familiar with the camera Eugene uses. It mostly functions as a normal camera, albeit simplified for ease of use in the game.
Players can adjust the shutter speed and collect various lens filters for more control over how photos turn out. However, it takes a surprising amount of time to unlock manual focus. It’s an option that would’ve been nice to have earlier in the game.
Once the Dusklands filter is unlocked, there isn’t much reason to use anything else. Sure, the other filters allow for some creative shots, but the Dusklands filter reveals so much that it’s difficult to justify using anything else by default.
As someone who’s recently been exploring photography, OPUS: Prism Peak is a game that arrived at the right time. There’s clearly a love for the hobby and profession on display, but also a meaningful analysis of what it means.
OPUS: Prism Peak Is Sometimes Out of Focus
OPUS: Prism Peak emphasizes art direction instead of graphical fidelity. It may look dated in some aspects, but the vibrant colors are stunning, and it runs well. The soundtrack is also of excellent quality, contributing well to the reflective mood of the story.
Unfortunately, the game is lacking notable polish in a few areas. Several objects scattered throughout the game world appear to lack collision. Eugene will walk right through tables as if he were a ghost.
Furthermore, Eugene’s movement animations appear to be somewhat stiff. It’s distracting for a slow-paced game that primarily utilizes a third-person perspective. Animations and voice lines occasionally get cut off, resulting in some notable blemishes to the overall presentation.
Considering how minimal the gameplay is, these issues feel more egregious. Unskippable cutscenes and the lack of a manual save option prove frustrating. The game has a tendency to save right before cutscenes play, which can be irritating when loading a save. The recent Planet of Lana II is an adventure game with notably more polish. However, the game’s narrative hits harder.
A Memory Worth Remembering
OPUS: Prism Peak delivers an emotional experience unlike anything I’ve played this year. It can almost be exhausting in this regard, but the story ends before it overstays its welcome. However, some may wish to revisit the game to see every ending it has to offer.
Despite its short length, OPUS: Prism Peak is slow. It rewards players for taking their time in each environment to truly observe their surroundings. The themes intertwine with the few game mechanics to craft an interactive adventure that’s hard to forget.
The story can be predictable, but the emotions aren’t hollow. It’s a sincere exploration of memories and the turbulent feelings associated with them. Playing Opus: Prism Peak reminded me of what makes photography so important.
OPUS: Prism Peak is now available for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: Final Weapon received a Steam copy of OPUS: Prism Peak from Shueisha Games for review purposes.
