2064: Read Only Memories
- October 6, 2015
- MidBoss, LLC.
- 8h median play time
2064: Read Only Memories is an excellent cyberpunk adventure for anyone looking for a point-and-click title inspired by games like Snatcher. Don't forget the catchy soundtrack.
"2064: Read Only Memories" is a futuristic AI-themed adventure game set in Neo-San Francisco. Players explore the city, interact with various characters, and solve a mystery in this branching narrative. The game tackles themes of genetic alteration and the impact of virtual intelligences on society. Your choices significantly affect the story, as you navigate the social challenges of this colorful, dynamic world.
Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke emotional responses.
- Charming pixel art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
- Strong representation of LGBTQ+ themes and characters, making it inclusive and relatable.
- Excessive dialogue that can feel tedious and slow-paced, detracting from gameplay.
- Limited interactivity and simplistic puzzles that may disappoint traditional adventure game fans.
- Some characters and themes can come off as heavy-handed or preachy, potentially alienating some players.
- story1,221 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "2064: Read Only Memories" is a captivating blend of cyberpunk themes and character-driven narratives, focusing on a journalist and a sentient robot as they unravel a mystery involving a missing friend. While many players praise the engaging characters and rich world-building, some critique the pacing and predictability of the plot, noting that it can feel linear and overly reliant on dialogue. Overall, the game is celebrated for its thoughtful exploration of identity and technology, making it a compelling experience for fans of story-rich games.
“The story is interesting and the characters (especially the voice acting) are positively charming.”
“I would highly recommend this game to those that enjoy a game that has true different endings depending on the choices you make throughout the game, and to those who enjoy a rich story with amazing character development.”
“The story is rich, and the characters are captivating.”
“Npcs are arrogant, story is bland and dialogues bored me to death (and I'm used to boring visual novels).”
“The story needed to be half the play time.”
“The story is so boring that it made it hard to get attached to any of the characters or make me immerse myself into the world the game was trying to create around me.”
- music434 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, nostalgic, and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack, often described as a blend of retro chiptune and electronic styles, effectively complements the game's visuals and narrative, creating an immersive environment. While some players noted that not every track is memorable, the majority found the music to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The writing is largely solid, the visuals are beautiful, and the music creates a charming and immersive atmosphere.”
“The lo-fi electronic synth soundtrack is thoroughly catchy and does wonders at setting the mood for the story and gameplay, while the game’s pixel art screams nostalgia.”
“The music is catchy and nostalgic, fitting perfectly in almost every situation, while the voice acting is, for the most part, absolutely fantastic!”
“On the other hand, the soundtrack is not fantastic, and the atmosphere is a bit bland.”
“The music doesn't radically stand out on its own, but it is location-appropriate and does complement what else is going on in the game at the time.”
“The music is decent I will admit and most voice acting works but there was one NPC who you could really tell didn't use proper recording equipment.”
- graphics353 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which effectively captures a nostalgic retro aesthetic reminiscent of classic adventure games. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant colors and detailed character designs, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that complements the game's cyberpunk themes. However, some players note that the pixelated visuals can occasionally hinder readability and gameplay experience, particularly in more complex scenarios.
“The graphics in 2064: Read Only Memories are phenomenal.”
“The pixel art style of 2064: ROM is absolutely amazing.”
“The graphics are fantastically designed and detailed, and are awesome to look at and explore during each new scene.”
“The graphics are charmingly rudimental, the voice acting is really quite good on the whole, and I found the soundtrack grew on me quite a bit.”
“To be honest, the visuals aren’t the strongest part of the game.”
“If you are used to modern graphics, there really aren’t a lot to admire about the graphics.”
- gameplay278 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "2064: Read Only Memories" is primarily a point-and-click adventure with minimal mechanics, often leaning towards a visual novel format. While the story, characters, and retro aesthetics are praised, many players find the gameplay simplistic and dialogue-heavy, with easy puzzles that lack depth. Overall, it appeals to those who prioritize narrative over challenging gameplay, but may disappoint players seeking a more interactive experience.
“The gameplay is straightforward, but not so much that you feel like your hand is being held through a linear world.”
“The writing is excellent and witty, the music and voice acting are superb and the gameplay… well, the gameplay is pretty much the same as many other point-and-click adventures out there, but it’s absolutely solid.”
“Amazing atmosphere, soundtrack, and story combine to enhance the already great gameplay.”
“The gameplay is nothing special.”
“There just is not any gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself is a fairly simple point and click adventure, but the real heart is in the story being told.”
- humor109 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "2064: Read Only Memories" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging characters, and a wealth of funny dialogue that enhances the exploration experience. Players appreciate the balance of lightheartedness with deeper themes, often finding themselves laughing out loud at the quirky interactions and witty remarks. However, some critiques mention that the humor can be hit or miss, with occasional moments feeling forced or dated, yet overall, it remains a standout feature of the game.
“This game is so much more than just a visual novel; the amount of items and people you can interact with that give often extremely funny dialogue is insane, and so much of it is completely optional.”
“The writing is great, and while I wouldn't call a lot of it laugh-out-loud funny, I would definitely say I'm charmed by so much of what this game has offered me so far.”
“The humor is really on point, and the music in this game is amazing.”
- emotional58 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players reporting that it evokes a strong range of feelings, from heartwarming moments to deep sadness, often leading to tears. The engaging story, relatable characters, and impactful voice acting contribute to a profound emotional connection, making it a memorable experience that resonates long after playing. Overall, the game is described as a touching journey that effectively balances humor and darkness, leaving players feeling invested in the characters and their struggles.
“I did tear up at many points of the game - it's pretty emotional.”
“The soundtrack slaps incredibly well, the characters are original and actually drive the story, the latter despite the usual underdogs vs the big ones is incredibly emotional and refined, pairing that with brilliant voice acting and the charismatic chiptune graphics results in a game that is truly a ride.”
“This game made me cry about robots and now I can't play the bad ending because I can't be mean to these characters, I just can't.”
- atmosphere57 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming visuals, immersive music, and engaging storytelling, creating a captivating cyberpunk experience. Many reviewers highlight the strong soundtrack and distinct art style that enhance the overall ambiance, while the diverse cast of characters adds depth to the exploration. However, some players feel that despite the rich atmosphere, the gameplay can be linear and uninspiring, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
“The atmosphere is incredible, with a strong soundtrack, solid voice acting (especially for a game that didn't start with it!), and graphics that are smoothly, charmingly animated with great, distinct sound effects.”
“This nostalgic visual style is complemented with a tight 80’s synth-inspired soundtrack by 2 Mello that provides an atmospheric backdrop to the locations and a sense of personality to the characters you meet during your journey.”
“Amazing atmosphere, soundtrack, and story combine to enhance the already great gameplay.”
“On the other hand, the soundtrack is not fantastic, and the atmosphere is a bit bland.”
“It can be stylish, it can be atmospheric, at certain times it can truly be captivating; but all that's wasted.”
“The puzzles are not hard, the game plays much like an interactive novel and doesn't take very much thought from the player, but the atmosphere and story and music are enough to make me a big fan of this game.”
- replayability30 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed positively, with multiple endings and branching narratives providing significant incentive for players to revisit it. While some players find the replay experience enjoyable and rewarding, others note that the game's short length and pacing can make pursuing different paths feel like a chore. Overall, it offers a mix of replay value for completionists and those interested in exploring various dialogue options, though not all players feel compelled to replay it extensively.
“The game’s puzzles are challenging but never feel unfair, and the game’s multiple endings give it great replay value.”
“Great replay value, lots to discover and hundreds of silly little jokes to enjoy amidst the fascinating and fun gameplay.”
“With a branching narrative that changes depending on how you approach a problem or discussion, it has a surprising amount of replayability.”
“Seriously don't pay $20 for a short game with limited replayability.”
“I think my biggest complaint is that the game's length and pacing discourage replay value, which makes achieving multiple endings kind of a chore.”
“If there is one downside for me, it's that I'm not the type to aim for any of the other paths you can take through the game, so the replay value for me is kind of low.”
- character development27 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and emotional engagement, with many players appreciating the rich storytelling and the impact of choices on character arcs. The character designs are noted for their expressiveness and detail, enhancing the overall experience, although some critiques mention that certain characters lack depth or likability. Overall, the game successfully combines strong character development with a compelling narrative, though some players desire even more exploration of character backstories and motivations.
“I would highly recommend this game to those that enjoy a game that has true different endings depending on the choices you make throughout the game, and to those who enjoy a rich story with amazing character development.”
“Rom is an interesting mix of a visual novel with incredibly well-done character development and all the mysteries of a detective novel, with all of its twists and engaging moments that can make any interested reader feel for the characters as if they were in the game experiencing all of it through the lenses of our protagonist.”
“Character designs and environments are amongst the most engaging I've seen in such games, and you can really get a sense of emotion and expression during dialogue coming from the main cast.”
“The writing sucked and so did the character designs.”
“The game cycles through dozens of predictable tropes and has relatively lackluster character development.”
“The character development could have been much further explored.”
- grinding21 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, primarily due to the inability to skip or fast-forward through dialogue and repetitive scenes. While some appreciate the depth of the story and world-building, many express frustration with the lengthy replays required for achievements and the lack of engaging puzzles, leading to a monotonous experience. The combination of uninspired dialogue and a cumbersome interface contributes to a sense of tedium that detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“Pretty tedious experience with a lot of uninspired dialogue.”
“The story is great the first time through, but it does get tedious after going through the lectures for the fifth time trying to get all the achievements.”
“After several tedious replays (remember, there's no way to skip dialogue, and the game restarts ahead of several pages of dialogue that you must tediously click through) I just decided to watch the endings on YouTube.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is solid, with no significant performance or audio issues reported. However, players noted a frustrating delay in text advancement, which can disrupt the flow of dialogue. While the voice acting quality varies, the majority of performances are engaging and enhance the narrative experience.
“I always appreciate a game where your choices genuinely matter, and depending on your performance in the finale and how you interacted with other characters, things seem to play out in all sorts of unique ways.”
“Game had no performance or audio issues that I came across.”
“The major 'performance' issue of this game that is worth noting is that text does not skip easily, as clicking the mouse button or keyboard to advance text is unresponsive until the text has been on the screen for about half a second and each line of text has a small space of time before it starts appearing.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant issue, with frequent freezing and buggy interfaces making it nearly unplayable for some users. While a few players found the experience enjoyable despite these glitches, many reported that the persistent technical problems detracted from their overall enjoyment.
“I can't keep playing this game; it freezes every few seconds, making it completely unplayable.”
“The interface is really buggy for me; I'm already pointing at the object, but it doesn't respond, so I need to wave my cursor often to make things right. The autocab's mission is a real pain for me.”
“If you don't and try to click on the 'YouTube' button, the game just freezes.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users appreciating the additional content and quality voice acting, which enhances the overall experience.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases disrupts the flow of gameplay and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
Critic Reviews
2064: Read Only Memories Review
2064: Read Only Memories is an excellent cyberpunk adventure for anyone looking for a point-and-click title inspired by games like Snatcher. Don't forget the catchy soundtrack.
90%2064: Read Only Memories Review - Edited Memories
2064: Read Only Memories is a fantastic update to the original game that tells a noteworthy story with some great characters supported by mostly good voice acting. There are just a few sour spots that drag down the game and stop it from connecting like it should.
75%A lot to do in 2064: Read Only Memories
2064: Read Only Memories is a free expansion to the original game, available on Steam for $19.99. With a cyber-punk setting and a retro vibe, Read Only Memories is filled with a host of interesting and colorful characters to get to know, a complex and escalating mystery to navigate, puzzles to solve, and a sinister plot or two to overthrow, making it a great investment for fans of the point-and-click adventure genre.
85%