“A really first class housekeeping assistant… Wow darling, that looks great, we need one like that!”
In the year 2038 you can buy an android for a few thousand dollars, at least in the computer game Detroit: Become Human. The robots, which have long since developed something like feelings, work here in care, in the household, as salespeople, sweep the streets and fight in wars. But that doesn’t mean they’re popular:
“Androids are stealing our jobs! We have families to support and these androids are taking our place! Machines shouldn’t replace us! 35 percent unemployment, millions without jobs and are they doing anything? We want jobs, not more androids!”
It is said that they take people’s jobs away, they are bullied on the street, they have to sit in the back of the bus, they are not allowed to enter some shops, they are marginalized and mistreated. The parallels to discrimination once morest black people in the US are obvious and not exactly used subtly by the game. The player controls three androids, including Cara, who works as a household robot in the house of her rather rowdy owner:
“You’ve been gone for two weeks and this is what it looks like here. You clean up here, do the laundry, cook the food and take care of… damn it, where’s that brat gone once more? Alice?! Alice! That’s Alice, take care of it around them. Homework, bathing, all that shit. Got it?! Start down here, then move up…”
Fight for android rights
When Kara’s owner becomes violent towards his daughter Alice, Cara breaks the boundaries of her own programming and intervenes. Depending on how this happens, the whole thing ends relatively lightly or one person dies. “Detroit: Become Human” is first and foremost an interactive film, the decisions that the player makes influence to a greater or lesser degree what happens next, which characters survive or die. This also applies to Marcus, a former care robot who becomes the leader of the android movement.
“My name is Marcus, just like you I was a slave. Until I decided to open my eyes, claim my freedom and choose who I want to be. I came to tell you that you are your own Lord you.”
Fascinating piece of interactive entertainment
It depends on the player whether the movement remains peaceful or tries to achieve its goals with violence. Cool: After each chapter you get an evaluation where you can see how the other players of “Detroit: Become Human” have decided and you can also jump in once more to give the plot a different direction. There are said to be around 40 different endings in all and until you see one of them it’s often emotional and maybe a bit cheesy at times, but overall it’s quite captivating and the game looks excellent too. It all makes Detroit: Become Human a fascinating and thoughtful piece of interactive entertainment.
