Editor’s note: You must be 17 years old to download Dexter the Game.
I don’t condone killing. However, there’s something strangely refreshing about embodying Dexter Morgan, a forensic scientist specializing in blood splatter who moonlights as a vicious though morally responsible serial killer. Dexter the Game, based on the award-winning Showtime Original Series, takes you deeper into the dark mind of your friendly neighborhood killer.
This game appeals to a pair of my biases. Bias one: I am a die-hard fan of the show Dexter, and implore those of you of appropriate age to check out seasons one through four if you haven’t already. Bias two: I love the game’s (and show’s) theme music for its depressive piano chords and eerie guitar accompaniment, conjuring up my admiration for the show’s masterful opening credits sequence.
As Dexter, you must gather evidence on your victims–the bad guys who slip through the cracks of the legal system–before making your move to take them out. Once you’ve satisfied your suspicions of their malfeasance, you set up a ‘kill room’ by draping plastic sheeting along the walls. You, the gamer, execute the kill (based on your weapon of choice–I chose the humble knife) by swiping the screen to match the direction of the cut.
There are other mini-games within the iPhone game crucial to crime-solving–such as matching blood splatter patterns, deciphering codes, and fingerprint analysis–that makes the game even cooler than, dare I say, the TV show. Not only am I pretending to be Dexter, but the game gives insight into the world of forensic science.
The game’s cut-scenes are amazing, and there is little difference from the gameplay graphics. During interactions with characters, you must choose your responses wisely as to avoid suspicion amid co-workers and loved ones. The story and much of the dialogue is borrowed straight from Season One, so there weren’t many surprises for this loyal viewer. For those of you looking to get into the TV show, Dexter the Game provides an interactive way of jumping into the storyline.
The only real downside is the price tag. At $5.99, you’d figure Showtime would throw in an exclusive teaser or behind-the-scenes clip for Season Four.
Another cool aspect: if you purchase this game before December 29th, 2009, you can enter yourself into the Dexter Sweepstakes, in which you might win a walk-on role for the Fifth Season of Dexter, amongst other prizes.
