2064: Read Only Memories
- October 6, 2015
- MidBoss, LLC.
- 38h 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.
- Beautiful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Inclusive representation of LGBTQ+ characters and themes, making it relatable for a diverse audience.
- Gameplay can feel linear and lacks challenging puzzles, making it more of a visual novel than a traditional adventure game.
- Some characters and dialogue can be overly preachy or heavy-handed in delivering social messages.
- Technical issues such as unresponsive UI and slow text speed can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- story435 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "2064: Read Only Memories" is a central focus, featuring a rich narrative set in a cyberpunk world that explores themes of AI sentience, identity, and social issues, particularly around LGBTQ+ representation. While many players appreciate the engaging characters and emotional depth, some criticize the pacing and predictability of the plot, noting that it can feel overly linear and reliant on exposition. Overall, the game is praised for its charming art style, strong voice acting, and thought-provoking themes, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-driven games.
“The story is rich, and the characters are captivating.”
“I cannot overstate how much I love the characters and story in this game.”
“The story, setting, and characters are charming, with lots of quality representation.”
“The story needed to be half the play time.”
“The story is nothing special or original, very standard.”
“The progression of the story is basically, go talk to this person, then they'll send you this person, and so on.”
- music170 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy, atmospheric, and nostalgic qualities that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack, often described as quirky and fitting for the game's themes, features a variety of styles, including lo-fi electronic and retro synth, which effectively sets the mood for both dialogue and gameplay. Overall, the combination of excellent voice acting and a well-crafted musical score contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
“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 soundtrack is amazing and it fits perfectly with the dystopian cyberpunk theme of the game.”
“The music is fantastic, easily the best part of this game.”
“On the other hand, the soundtrack is not fantastic, and the atmosphere is a bit bland.”
“At some point I decided to turn it off due to many repetitive sounds I couldn't stand and played instead VA-11 Hall-A's soundtrack in the background which fits surprisingly well into the game.”
“Except the music in your apartment, that is shit.”
- graphics143 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming retro pixel art that resonates well with fans of the genre, effectively capturing a nostalgic cyberpunk aesthetic. While some players appreciate the vibrant and unique character designs, others find the visuals occasionally difficult to read, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is praised for its creativity and attention to detail, making it a standout feature for those who enjoy retro-inspired visuals.
“The pixel art aesthetic really works for the game and has clearly been designed by people who know what good pixel art looks like.”
“The graphics give the game a very pleasant look, everything being colorful and nice, a refreshing step out of the typical dystopian future look of cyberpunk stories.”
“The overall visual aesthetic and soundtrack of the game is both pleasing to look at and hear, furthering the immersion into the game world.”
“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.”
“The only complaint I have relates to the late 1980s EGA graphics aesthetic.”
- gameplay120 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is primarily a point-and-click adventure with minimal mechanics, focusing heavily on narrative and dialogue rather than complex puzzles or challenges. While some players appreciate the retro graphics and the integration of unique mechanics, many criticize the gameplay for being simplistic and lacking depth, often feeling more like a visual novel than a traditional adventure game. Overall, the experience is enjoyable for those who prioritize story and character development over intricate gameplay.
“I just love the retro graphics, and the simple gameplay style.”
“The gameplay is straightforward, but not so much that you feel like your hand is being held through a linear world.”
“Amazing atmosphere, soundtrack, and story combine to enhance the already great gameplay.”
“The gameplay elements are few and very simplistic, not up to any real adventure standards: click here, click there ... the inventory is basically useless/unnecessary ...”
“What gameplay there is feels largely circumstantial and adds very little to the overall experience - I would even argue they detract from some of the things the game does right.”
“The final chapter features a lengthy portion of gameplay that comes out of nowhere and doesn't feel like a test of skill or intelligence.”
- humor40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging characters, and a mix of quirky, feel-good silliness that resonates with players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance humor with deeper emotional themes, offering laugh-out-loud moments through witty dialogue and amusing interactions with the environment. While the humor is generally well-received, some players note that it can be hit or miss, occasionally overshadowing the narrative experience.
“Loved the humor, from puns to meta to feel-good silliness.”
“The writing has a lot of humor and offers tons of dialogue if you choose to interact with your surroundings thoroughly.”
“Rom illustrates a believable near future with funny dialogue that'll elicit a sensible chuckle and smart writing that keeps you gripped for the length of the game.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, with players reporting strong connections to the characters and impactful storytelling that elicits tears and heartfelt reactions. The combination of a compelling soundtrack, engaging writing, and immersive visuals enhances the emotional experience, making it a standout in the genre. Many reviewers noted that the game successfully balances humor and sadness, leaving a lasting emotional impact that resonates long after playing.
“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.”
“The writing in that game was so real; the game was so instantly immersive and consistently gripping throughout, and the writing struck a perfect balance between touching, deep, and hilarious.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, particularly its retro and cyberpunk aesthetics, complemented by a nostalgic art style and a fitting soundtrack. Many players appreciate the game's ability to balance humor and deep storytelling within a vibrant, inclusive environment, although some note that the soundtrack may not be exceptional and that certain aspects of the atmosphere can feel bland. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating world that enhances the exploration and character interactions, making it a standout feature for many players.
“For me, most of the fun of this game was in exploration, atmosphere, humor, and getting to know the inclusive cast of characters.”
“The game's atmosphere reminds me of the days when playing Snatcher on Sega CD or even Frederik Pohl's Gateway.”
“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.”
“On the other hand, the soundtrack is not fantastic, and the atmosphere is a bit bland.”
“Retains true grappling with oppressive systems and discrimination etc while not excluding or othering players; somehow it manages this while maintaining a mostly cheery atmosphere.”
“What trumps even that for me though are the deep characters and overall atmosphere that the game conveys.”
- character development12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, particularly with well-executed arcs and relatable motives that resonate with players. While the character designs and writing are praised for their depth and appeal, some critiques point to a lack of tension in the plot and a less engaging player character. Overall, the combination of strong character design and meaningful development contributes to a rich narrative experience, despite some narrative threads feeling unresolved.
“The middle chapters, 2-5, were pretty great, a typical cyberpunk novel storyline quite well-executed, with branching choices, good character development, and some nice commentary.”
“I find that it's very well done; descriptions of things in the vicinity give you plenty of world-building, making it easily accessible yet non-invasive. The characters all feel very human with clear motives that line up with their actions.”
“The ending, while good, I did feel left some threads I wanted tied up, although the majority of these were of me wanting to have more character development, so it is kind of a mixed blessing of being attached to some characters.”
“I find that it's very well done; descriptions of things in the vicinity give you plenty of world-building, making it easily accessible yet non-invasive. However, I'm not sure if there are multiple endings. I love all the character designs, but the characters all feel very human with clear motives that line up with their actions.”
“It plays unlike anything I have played recently, and there's a lot of social commentary and allegories throughout the storyline and character development.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive dialogue and the inability to skip conversations, which detracts from replayability. While the story and world-building are praised, the need to replay sections for achievements and the trial-and-error nature of puzzles contribute to a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a drawback, especially given the game's price point.
“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.”
“At $20 it seems a bit overpriced, considering the length (excluding replays, which I'm not too interested in... 5ish hours for a different ending is too tedious for me).”
“You can't really skip over the dialogue or anything and so it's tedious if you've read it already.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it engaging enough to replay multiple times for different endings and achievements, others feel that the effort required to experience all content can be tedious. The design choices seem intentional, aiming to provide a controlled narrative experience, which may limit replay value for some.
“I'll be replaying it again soon for all those juicy hidden achievements; great replay value!”
“It's got a lot of replayability; I still don't have all of the endings and achievements, and I've played it 3-4 times.”
“A lot of fun with an engaging story, even if it doesn't have a lot of replay value.”
“My one complaint is that replayability to get the different endings is a chore, which is why I haven't gotten them all yet.”
“Some may take issue with this as it reduces the replayability, but I think in this case it wasn’t a matter of lazy design but rather to give the developers the most control over the exact experience they wanted you to have.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezing that renders it unplayable. Additionally, users report a buggy interface that detracts from the overall experience.
“I can't keep playing this game; it freezes every few seconds, making it completely unplayable.”
“The interface is buggy; the puzzles are simple; the dialogue is often very long-winded; the plot doesn't really deliver any of the serious commentary or big reveals that the cybernoir genre thrives on.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's voice acting features a diverse range of talented actors, including notable cameos, though the quality varies significantly; while some performances are exceptional, others fall short. Overall, the voice work contributes positively to the narrative experience.
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is perceived as significantly lacking, with comparisons suggesting it falls far short of acceptable standards, evoking negative sentiments reminiscent of outdated marketing tactics.
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%