The Timeloop is the latest downloadable content for the FMV game Not For Broadcast. A propaganda simulator where the government takes control of the news to control the narrative and lie to the people. Which has absolutely never happened ever in the history of the United States or the world in general. Especially not any time recently. No sir.
However, The Timeloop completely abandons those concepts and themes in favor of a satirical Sci-Fi adventure. Poking fun at modern tropes like time loops and multiverses to great success. Though the message about happiness kind of falls flat in the end. Like they struggled to find a purpose for the story, and stapled it on last minute.
This review contains minor spoilers for Not For Broadcast‘s The Timeloop DLC.
Not For Broadcast is available on Steam, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One and Series X|S for $24.99, with a Complete Edition available for $39.99. There’s also a VR version available on Steam, PlayStation VR, and Meta Quest also for $24.99.
Story – The Never-Ending Smile
The Timeloop takes place during a special National Nightly News episode set early in the story of the main game called “The Night of Smiles.” In which Doctor Charles Magnus and his assistant Chester Mimms present their Euphoria Device. A scientific marvel funded by Advance that will make everyone happy while active.
Chester Mimms & Dr. Magnus
However, a malfunction with the machine traps Alex and his boss, Mr. Boseman, in a time loop. With the night resetting every time the machine is activated. Leading to a journey through different timelines and eventually different multiverses to gather all the pieces necessary to prevent the machine from being activated. Which will end the loop.
The story for this DLC is great. Being a satire on the overuse of concepts like time loops and multiverses. With the game even mentioning that the very well-received Everything Everywhere All at Once came out while they were already working on this parody of the concept. They have a lot of fun with it. And clearly loved getting to show just how weird and creative they can be.
Gameplay – Time Enough at Last
The Timeloop mostly abandons the broadcast gameplay of the base game. It’s all still there, it’s just not as important. The audience retention meter is turned off pretty early. So you don’t have to worry about your cameras, proper censorship, and all that. Instead, they focus on a different kind of puzzle.
So many options
Alex & Boseman have to decode the absurdly complicated password to Magnus’ machine in the broadcast room. Boseman sets up different events in each loop, and it’s up to Alex to record any clues toward any of the passwords. After that, it’s multiverse time.
Alex changes around the cables in the machine to access different parallel Earths. All in search of the name of Magnus’ lost love. Who they believe is the key to ending the loop. So The Timeloop is less about playing Not For Broadcast and more about experiencing all the wacky circumstances. Of which there are many.
Graphics & Sound – How Deep is Your Lore?
The Timeloop features hours of more FMV content to sit back and enjoy. And the detail that goes into every scene is incredible, to say the least. All the new costumes and sets they use for the different worlds in the multiverse are very impressive. The dominatrix world, the pirate world, and the horror world particularly stood out to me.
There’s also lots of new music here as well. Including a whole world where the news broadcast is a musical. And a bunch of characters have their own musical cues that play every time they talk. Which can get annoying when they’re talking back to back to back. However, the quality of the product here is absolutely undeniable.
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- Experiments may be explosive
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- I’m surprised she was available
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- Sci-Fi tech. You know how it goes
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- Noted
Not For Broadcast was reviewed on PC with a code provided by stridepr.com
