Divination | PS4 Review

Divination. The seeking of one's future through fortune telling. It's a practice as old as time, and as humans we always seek that advantage of knowing even if it harms us in the end. For who would not want to be able to control their fate, their destiny? 

Mojiken's "Divination" tries, like the real practice of divining, to bring forth future predictions and enlighten those involved in the story using it's own brand of fortune telling. A brand involving disembodied robotic hands, and runes. Through guest visitations with a series of inquisitive questions, and the divination itself the ones seeking answers get the answers that the hands provide. For better or for worse. Through these sessions also unfolds a series of events tied to the suicide death of a governing A.I. known as Mother, and the domino effect her death and insight has brought upon the trans-humanist population of the given future dystopia. Having A.I. robots contemplating life, and humans struggling alongside them. Each trying to come to terms with their roles in life, and what life has afforded them.

Through 4 sessions scheduled at different months and dates, you as the guiding hands, must deal the divinations in accordance to the questions asked of you. Each session brings forth it's own unique character, and moral dilemmas. Some human, and some sentient robots. You'll listen to their pleas for understanding through a series of questions of your own, and apply the runes they hand to you to give them the answer they seek. Arranging the runes in different orders provides different outcomes, and it isn't until the end of the 4th session that your objective becomes clear. Whether it be to create chaos or whatever. The price for such a service being the telling of the characters' latest dream.

Before, and after a session you'll observe the cause and effect of your divinations via TV monitors that showcase the world news. Sometimes involving the sessions' clients or giving backstory to the whole Mother situation, and it's effects on society. All culminating in a final broadcast that tallies the overall result percentage you were aiming for. That being a 100% success rate. Different factors of the divination process play into this end tally. Things like questions asked, and the runes placed. Supposing you fail the end goal the process will reset like Groundhog's day, but in doing so gives you access to a flow chart menu where you can fast track progress. Choosing a starting point, and one of the already achieved divination results. As with anything regarding fate, and the course of life everything you do and don't do has a ripple effect going forward. Cause and effect. Ultimately ending in the revealing of the robot hand's true motives.

The Verdict ...

Divination is a deep dive into what it is to be human, and to live life. It explores through it's characters the meaning of life, and the reasons why we seek to control our destiny. It showcases how one event involving one person can have a ripple effect that is so destructive it upends society, and life itself. Showcasing the importance of not relying on others for answers, but seeking the answers to your questions yourself. Realizing that fate is what you make of it, and that what you do or don't do in life leads to one's life's outcome. For this alone the game earns my respect. It tackles hard subject matter in a competent fashion. If you have $5 to spare you might get something worthwhile out of this narratively driven visual novel.