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 mother-daughter relationship without using any dialogue, making it a unique experience.
- It's a short, relaxing game that serves as a poignant reflection on family and personal growth, making it ideal for players looking for a quick emotional journey.
- The gameplay is minimal and often feels more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, which may disappoint players seeking deeper interactivity.
- The story, while touching, can come across as cliché and lacks significant depth, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the characters.
- Its short length and simplistic puzzles may not justify the price for some players, leading to mixed feelings about its overall value.
- story111 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "A Memoir Blue" is a poignant exploration of the relationship between a mother and daughter, conveyed through stunning visuals and music without any dialogue. While many players found the narrative emotionally resonant and relatable, some criticized the gameplay as simplistic and lacking depth, making it feel more like an interactive storybook than a traditional game. Overall, the game is appreciated for its artistic storytelling and emotional impact, though opinions vary on its engagement and originality.
“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 memoir blue has beautiful underwater transitions between past and present using 2D and 3D art and gorgeous music to tell a highly interpretive mother-daughter story.”
“A Memoir Blue disappoints in its ability to be an interactive story.”
“I hoped it improved, but the story never gets any deeper or makes you connect with the characters.”
“There's almost no gameplay, and the story is not engaging at all.”
- music44 mentions
- 66 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the storytelling experience even in the absence of dialogue. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, often describing it as relaxing and integral to the game's atmosphere. Overall, the combination of music, art, and narrative creates a captivating and immersive experience for 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.”
“With shivering music cues that make the story complete, even though no words are spoken at all during the whole game... you can easily make out the final words of this game.”
“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.”
- gameplay41 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "A Memoir Blue" is largely minimalistic and simplistic, focusing more on an interactive narrative experience than traditional gaming mechanics. Players engage in basic actions like point-and-click interactions and simple puzzles, which some found unengaging and lacking depth. While the game offers a touching story and beautiful visuals, it is best suited for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay complexity.
“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.”
“Simply put, there's almost no actual gameplay.”
- emotional40 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, with many players reporting that it made them cry, particularly due to its touching narrative centered on the relationship between a parent and child. While some found the pacing slow and the gameplay simplistic, the overall experience is described as a heartfelt journey that resonates deeply, often evoking strong feelings of nostalgia and connection. Despite its brevity, the game's ability to convey profound emotions without dialogue is noted as a significant strength.
“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.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique art style, blending 3D and 2D elements that enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and quality artwork, noting that they effectively convey emotions and complement the game's music. While some mention minor design flaws, the overall aesthetic is considered a strong point, making it appealing for those who appreciate artistic presentation.
“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 story told about mother and daughter without any words and yet you can feel the emotions through stunning visuals and music.”
“The art style is gorgeous.”
“My computer got extremely hot even playing on low graphics.”
“Graphically, the game looks fine, nothing amazing but nothing bad either.”
“Painting like graphics”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its relaxing and charming qualities, enhanced by a fitting art style and wonderful music that effectively conveys the story's emotions. Reviewers appreciate how these elements work together to create an immersive experience.
“A cute little game with a relaxing atmosphere.”
“I really liked this kind of art style and it fits well with the atmosphere of the game.”
“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.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a theme of emotional struggle and personal growth, suggesting that the game's optimization reflects the characters' journeys through issues like parental abandonment and the quest for self-worth. Players may find that the optimization of gameplay mechanics parallels the characters' training and performance, emphasizing the cost of achieving personal goals amidst feelings of boredom and neglect. Overall, the optimization serves as a backdrop for deeper narrative exploration.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unintuitive, often leading to a shallow experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
“Grinding feels tedious and unintuitive, making the gameplay shallow.”
“The grinding mechanics are repetitive and lack depth.”
“It becomes a chore to grind for resources, detracting from the overall experience.”
- humor1 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.
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%
