Lifeline (video game) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lifeline |
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| Developer(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc |
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| Director(s) | Manabu Nishizawa |
| Producer(s) | Yasuhide Kobayashi Takafumi Fujisawa |
| Designer(s) | Manabu Nishizawa |
| Programmer(s) | Takayuki Wakimura |
| Artist(s) | Taku Nakamura Benimaru Watari |
| Composer(s) | Shingo Okumura |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2 |
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| Genre(s) | Adventure game, survival horror |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Lifeline, known in Japan as Operator's Side, is a unique video game for the PlayStation 2. It was released by SCEI and Konami. What makes this game special is how you play it.
Instead of using a controller to move characters, you use a microphone! You speak commands, and the game understands them using speech recognition. This innovative way of playing made Lifeline a cult classic for many fans. Even though some reviewers thought it was just okay, its new idea stood out.
The game did well enough in Japan to become part of the "The Best" collection for the PS2. This meant a lower-priced version was released in September 2003. In Japan, you could even buy the game bundled with a USB headset. However, this bundle was not available in North America.
What's the Story?
The story of Lifeline takes place in the year 2029. You, the player, are at a Christmas party on a brand-new space station that also works as a hotel. Suddenly, scary monsters appear and cause chaos! Many people on the station are in danger.
You find yourself trapped in the space station's main control room. You are separated from your girlfriend, Naomi. Luckily, you can see everything through the station's cameras. You also have access to all the station's systems.
Elsewhere, a waitress named Rio Hohenheim is locked in a safe detention cell. You notice her trying to contact the control room. You connect with her through her headset. From the control room, you guide Rio through the dangerous station. Together, you try to solve the mystery of where these monsters came from.
As Rio and you face monsters and solve tricky puzzles, you learn a shocking truth. The monsters are not aliens! They were once humans who changed because of a science experiment that went wrong. This experiment was an attempt to create something special, but it only caused people to change in strange and scary ways.
You also discover that the space station is heading for Earth. It plans to bring back the results of this experiment to be used as a weapon. Along the way, Rio meets her father, who has also been changed by the experiment. You also meet your girlfriend, Naomi, who is the only changed person who still seems like herself. Sadly, both of them are lost shortly after you meet them.
In the end, Rio and you defeat the main monster. Rio then meets you in person! She uses your control console to set the space station to self-destruct. This destroys the dangerous experiment for good. As you both escape, you get hurt by explosions but make it to an escape pod safely. Rio thanks you as the pod begins its journey back to Earth.
How to Play the Game
The most exciting part of Lifeline is how you control the game. You don't use a regular controller to move Rio around. Instead, you use a USB headset and speak commands to her!
You press the "O" button on your controller to activate the microphone. Then, you can say things like "hurry," "stop," "dodge," or "turn left." Rio will then perform these actions in the game. She can understand up to 500 different spoken commands!
As the "operator," you have access to different menus. These menus let you manage Rio's items, view detailed maps, and unlock parts of the station. You tell Rio where to go and what to do.
When Rio meets a monster, you guide her in combat. You can tell her which enemy to attack and even which part of their body to aim for. You also tell her when and where to move to avoid attacks. The game switches between a first-person view and camera views around the station. The camera views are helpful when there are many enemies.
You also guide Rio through conversations and decisions. She might ask you which path to take or what to do next. You can even have casual "small talk" with Rio. However, some players found that the voice commands could sometimes be tricky. It was hard to get Rio to do exactly what you wanted, especially during puzzles.
There are also some fun "Easter egg" conversations you can have. For example, you can tell Rio to "Bark like a dog." She might also ask you about your girlfriend's name. She will be surprised if you tell her your own name or the name of her voice actor!
