I recently had the chance to play Erica, an interactive film that uses the PlayLink system on your PlayStation 4 to let you decide the fate of the main character. At first, I was pretty stoked to see this unique blend of storytelling and player choice in action.

While the format is impressive, the game's full potential wasn't utilized. The story, the characters, the sets – everything feels a bit superficial, like the developers were going for a certain look without fully committing to it.

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In Erica, you play as a teenager who receives a mysterious package with a bloody human hand. For safety reasons, she temporarily moves into a mental institution owned by her father, the victim's father. We learn not only the dark history of the center but also Erica's parents – and it's actually pretty interesting.

The story presented is just good old-fashioned cinema. The characters are fairly typical, the main storyline is a bit predictable, and the decorations look a bit bare. I mean, I've seen more detailed sets in some indie games.

The main interaction is choosing dialogue options – but here's the thing: it's not really that interactive. You get the freedom the developers wanted to give you, but it's just an illusion. No matter what you choose, the story still moves forward as planned. It's only when you hit those key moments that start an entirely new scene that you feel like you're actually influencing the story.

Over the course of a 1.5-hour session, there are literally only a few meaningful interactions. It's a shame, because it's in these moments that we feel like we're actually influencing the story.

These options were presented as short slogans. However, the available options are described vaguely – which makes it hard to make a fully conscious choice. And to make matters worse, the time to make a decision is too short. Even in calm situations that don't require immediate action from the player, quick action is needed.

Often, we don't get to read all the available options, and the movie already moves forward. As a result, we mark a random option that initially seems appealing, rather than making a fully conscious choice.

The second and final interactive action is simple gestures: pulling a door handle, using a lighter, or unwrapping a gift. The problem is, the gestures aren't always recognized correctly. I often find myself swiping my finger across the phone's screen multiple times until the game finally gets it right.

The whole experience is controlled using the smartphone screen or the controller's touchpad. To make things easier, every time you use the controller, a white stripe appears on the TV, indicating the action being performed. But, it's still a bit of a pain to get used to.

You can control the game using your smartphoneThe problem with control is also linked to dialogue settings. The indicator controlled by the touchpad is really hard to use. Combined with the short decision-making time, you eventually end up choosing the wrong option or missing it altogether.

The whole film was shot with real actors and sets. But, when we make a simple gesture, interactive objects are generated by the computer. Some of the elements used look photorealistic, while others stick out like a sore thumb against the background.

The strongest aspect of the game's presentation is the music by Austin Wintory. It's the sound design that creates tension and anxiety for the most part. However, it's still not enough to fully immerse yourself in the story of this teenager.

The game's story for Erica remains unfinished after the first playthrough. The creators, of course, emphasize at the beginning that one playthrough isn't enough to understand the whole story. Depending on the choices made, you feel more of a sense of frustration than dissatisfaction. This is a significant difference between wanting to know the nuances of the story and understanding the story as a whole.

Erica is undoubtedly an interesting proposition, but it's clear that the game lacks an adequate budget. The story feels a bit superficial, the sets look unfinished, and the dialogue doesn't create connections between the characters.

I'm part of Sony's monthly game giveaway, so I guess I shouldn't complain. I don't get the game for free, as I pay for a yearly PS subscription, and without it, I wouldn't get the games this way.

The iOS app for smartphone control is called "Erica App PS4™".

All the pros and cons are listed below.

I'd definitely recommend this game! It's really interesting and unique, perfect for kids – just make sure they're supervised, as there are a few scenes with blood.