It is the year 2029, and it is currently Christmas Eve. At the grand inauguration of the Japan Space Station Hotel, a horde of monsters infiltrates the hotel and commences mass murder. You escaped but are now confined in a security room with no way out. Your only hope rests in guiding Rio, a lone woman, through conversation. If you show her effectively, she may be able to save you. She is your only lifeline, so rely solely on her.
Lifeline is the first PlayStation 2 game to be wholly voice-controlled. You do not directly control Rio. Instead, you communicate with her and direct her actions. Tell her to open the lavatory door if you want her to do so. If a keycard is lying on the table, instruct her to gather it up. Tell her to flee if a monster she cannot fire is closing in on her. You explore the entirety of the Space Station Hotel, from the kitchen to the maintenance area to the bedrooms and bathrooms, discovering objects and fighting numerous enemies.
The game can recognize over 2,000 words and phrases. In general, commands consist of nouns and verbs, but many of these can be combined (e.g., reload, fire, retreat). Rio can also be instructed to target specific enemy body parts to exploit their vulnerabilities, and players can similarly alter the attack order.
A headset is required to play the game, whether it comes with the game, is purchased separately, or is USB-compatible.
