A Memoir Blue
- March 24, 2022
- Cloisters Interactive
There’s plenty of space for engaging narratives that don’t rely on traditional gameplay and opportunities to craft smaller tales. A Memoir Blue manages both very well in the process of pulling at the heart strings in just the right way.
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Get on PS Store"A Memoir Blue" is an emotional journey into the depths of memory, where a diver explores the past of a retired swimmer. Players experience a vivid story of love, loss, and family ties, as memories come to life through vibrant, impressionistic visuals. The game blends exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative elements to evoke a heartfelt connection between past and present.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- A Memoir Blue features stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that enhance the emotional storytelling.
- The game effectively conveys a touching narrative about the relationship between a mother and daughter without using any dialogue, making it a unique experience.
- Many players found the game to be a heartfelt journey that resonates deeply, often evoking strong emotional responses.
- The gameplay is minimal and often feels more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, leading to a lack of engagement for some players.
- The story, while touching, is considered by some to be cliché and lacking in depth, with simplistic puzzles that do not add much to the experience.
- The game is very short, typically lasting around an hour, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
- story228 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "A Memoir Blue" centers on the emotional journey of a woman reflecting on her childhood and her relationship with her mother, conveyed entirely through stunning visuals and music without dialogue. While many players appreciate its heartfelt themes and artistic presentation, some criticize the lack of engaging gameplay and depth in the narrative, describing it as simplistic and occasionally cliché. Overall, it resonates particularly with those who value story-driven experiences, especially regarding familial bonds, but may leave others wanting more in terms of gameplay and plot complexity.
“As a parent, I felt more attached to seeing the story from the parent's point of view, with an undeniable love for their child but perhaps not always able to give them the full attention and recognition they need or deserve.”
“It's amazing how much emotion and story can be spoken without a single word needed.”
“A story told about mother and daughter without any words and yet you can feel the emotions through stunning visuals and music.”
“A Memoir Blue disappoints in its ability to be an interactive story.”
“Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy the story due to the poor gameplay.”
“I hoped it improved, but the story never gets any deeper or makes you connect with the characters.”
- music92 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the storytelling even in the absence of dialogue. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often describing it as relaxing and integral to the game's atmosphere, with many saving it as a playlist. Overall, the combination of music and visuals creates a captivating experience that resonates with players.
“I saved the soundtrack as a playlist because it is so beautiful.”
“A story told about mother and daughter without any words and yet you can feel the emotions through stunning visuals and music.”
“The art, music, and story are beautiful and touching.”
“The soundtrack is fine, the songs fit well; I don’t really have anything to say about it.”
“Although I feel as if the narrative didn’t quite move me as much as it wanted to, the sublime music and blended 2D animation do make a memoir blue an admirable piece of aquatic art.”
“Buy it on deep sale, along with the soundtrack.”
- gameplay87 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is minimal and primarily consists of simple interactions and point-and-click mechanics, often described as lacking depth and engagement. Many reviewers noted that the game feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game, with a focus on narrative over gameplay complexity. While some appreciated the emotional storytelling and art style, the overall consensus is that those seeking substantial gameplay will likely be disappointed.
“The gameplay involves doing a series of simple things like stamping a ticket or adjusting a radio.”
“It's not a gameplay-heavy game, but more like a series of interactable vignettes.”
“Interactive story art games, namely those also published by Annapurna Interactive, excel at using their limited gameplay as clever allegories for a narrative theme or to reinforce the character’s emotions.”
“Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy the story due to the poor gameplay.”
“There's almost no gameplay, and the story is not engaging at all.”
“To me, my issues with the game were that the puzzles were way too easy, the game was really short, most of the story felt really boring, and the overall gameplay was rather simplistic.”
- emotional84 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching narrative, which explores the profound relationship between a parent and child, often evoking strong feelings and even tears from players. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to convey deep emotions without dialogue, using beautiful art and music to enhance the experience, although some players noted issues with pacing and emotional attachment to characters. Overall, it is described as a heartfelt journey that resonates with those seeking a meaningful and emotional gaming experience.
“The fastest a game has ever made me cry.”
“Very beautiful game with a short and sweet story that is told without speaking a single word, almost made me cry towards the end.”
“A beautiful journey into the depths of emotional memory, A Memoir Blue is a wonder and joy to experience.”
- graphics68 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and beautiful art style, which effectively combines 2D and 3D elements to create an emotionally evocative atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the quality of the visuals and animations, noting that they enhance the storytelling experience, despite some criticism of character designs. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered a significant strength, contributing to its appeal, especially for those who appreciate artistic visuals and music.
“The game offers some nice graphics and a really beautiful aesthetic, especially with its incorporation of both 3D and 2D graphics which blend incredibly well; it is pleasant all the same.”
“A unique aesthetic combining hand-drawn and 3D art brings Miriam's magical-realist journey to life, as she swims into the depths of her memories.”
“A story told about a mother and daughter without any words, and yet you can feel the emotions through stunning visuals and music.”
“My computer got extremely hot even playing on low graphics.”
“Graphically, the game looks fine, nothing amazing but nothing bad either.”
“Painting-like graphics.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its relaxing and cute qualities, enhanced by a charming art style and wonderful music that effectively supports the emotional narrative. Reviewers highlight how these elements work together to create an engaging and immersive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that resonates well with players.
“A memoir blue is an interesting, emotional journey with a great atmosphere to go alongside it.”
“I give it three out of ten because the atmosphere, the music, and the art style are really nice.”
“Atmosphere was well done and the music was wonderful in getting me to feel for the story.”
“I really liked this kind of art style and it fits well with the atmosphere of the game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a theme of emotional struggles related to parental abandonment and the pressures of performance, suggesting that the game's optimization may reflect these deeper issues through its narrative and character development. However, the repetitive nature of the feedback indicates a lack of variety in the experiences presented. Overall, the optimization appears to intertwine with the game's exploration of personal and familial challenges.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, unintuitive, and lacking depth, leading to a frustrating experience.
“Tedious, unintuitive, shallow.”
“Tedious, unintuitive, shallow.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely perceived as unintentional, with players finding amusement in its dullness rather than any intentional comedic elements. Overall, it seems to elicit more laughter at its shortcomings than genuine humor.
Critic Reviews
A Trip Down Memory Lane
A Memoir Blue is a narrative adventure where players follow the story of Miriam, as she explores her childhood and relationship with her mother.
70%A Memoir Blue Does a Lot with a Little
From Cloisters Interactive, A Memoir Blue is an interactive poem about a superstar athlete and the all-encompassing love between mother and daughter. A unique aesthetic combining hand-drawn and 3D art brings Miriam's magical-realist journey to life, as she swims into the depths of her memories. A series of gameplay vignettes blends sacrifice and heartbreak with victory and pride as she reconnects with her inner child and deepens the love she shares with her mother. PS5 version reviewed.A Memoir Blue is a peek into someone else's life. We don't know Miriam. We don't speak her language. But by the end of the game, the player will know exactly what she went through.
80%A Memoir Blue Review
A Memoir Blue‘s Steam page describes the game as an “interactive poem”. And, although it’s devoid of words, that’s a pretty accurate way of putting it.
70%
