Game Review: The Big Con

Released: August 2021

System: Xbox Game Pass

Genre: Teen Heist, Coming of Age

My Rating: 3/5 stars

I currently base my reviews loosely around the CAWPILE system developed by Book Roast on YouTube. I modify the categories depending on the format of the story I’m reviewing.

My star ratings are purely by my opinion and not measured by any particular metric.

SPOILER WARNING: This review will contain spoilers! Proceed with caution!

ALSO, the copy I was playing glitched out on me so I was unable to finish the game completely, though I got to what I believe was the last chapter.

Summary

Hustle your way across ‘90s America as a runaway teen con artist. Choose how to make your scratch as you don disguises, pick pockets, and rip people off in this comedic crime-filled adventure. Experience the totally rad '90s in all its plaid and payphone glory!

Characters

I like Ali. She’s a bit of a typical teenager, but still loves and sticks by her mom, which makes her motivation a bit understandable and believable. She’s also a bit snarky, if not a tab naïve. Ted was likeable, which made his betrayal all the worse. I like Esme. She’s a tuff, but fair, cop with snark.

(Can you tell I like snark?)

Atmosphere

The 90’s threw up in here. It’s like a psychedelic road trip of bad decisions and grand adventures. Perfect for a teen heist story, really.

Game Mechanics/Gameplay

Fairly simple timing mechanics is most of it. The movement/navigation was smooth enough, if stylized. The camera made it a little rough sometimes if you were in an alley or something because nothing would go transparent and you couldn’t see Ali or what you were doing.

Plot

Teen heist, coming of age, bad decision kind of deal. Moves at a good clip. Ali’s motivation is clear, as is her perceived path. She meets some interesting characters along the way. I assume she learns her lesson in the end and everything turns out okay.

Intrigue

How is she gonna get enough money? Is she going to get caught? It pushes you through and keeps things interesting with little thought puzzles.

Logic

As logical as any game with a ghost helper and multicolored skin. Nevermind the rewind tapes to get your money back, and the things they acknowledge in their snark.

Enjoyment and Final Thoughts

I liked it a lot more than I expected. I don’t know if I’ll play it again, but it was fun to pass the time and tease the brain a little.

It was fun, snarky, and full of references.

Would I Recommend?

Yes. It was fun with a radical (get it?) concept and art style. Aside from the game-breaking glitch I hit and eye-bleeding colors, it was cool and clever.