Alicemare
- November 21, 2016
- △○□× (Miwashiba)
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Alicemare is a single-player Horror Adventure game with an intriguing story, good gameplay, phenomenal visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack. Players control Allen, a young boy who has lost his memory, as he investigates a rumor and uncovers the delightful yet highly emotional world of Alicemare. The game features subtle touches of horror, with a focus on exploration, storybook and fairytale elements, and memorable characters such as Allen, Letty, and Rick."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Cute visuals and nice soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Engaging story with emotional depth, exploring themes of trauma and personal growth.
- Challenging puzzles that require critical thinking, adding to the gameplay experience.
- Writing felt lacking and some players found the story confusing or unsatisfying.
- Short playtime, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly obscure, leading to reliance on guides.
- story462 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Alicemare" is a creative blend of dark themes and classic fairy tales, featuring multiple character arcs that explore themes of trauma, regret, and emotional depth. While many players appreciate the intricate storytelling and character development, some find the narrative confusing and underdeveloped, often requiring additional resources like a novel adaptation for clarity. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with a mix of engaging puzzles and a haunting atmosphere, though its execution can leave some players feeling unsatisfied.
“The story is really nice, the riddles are the ones that had me stuck for a while though (I'm just not the brightest tool in the shed)!”
“The story, the characters, and the way the fairy tales were woven to fit into each of the children's life stories was incredible.”
“Alicemare is a great short story-rich game.”
“The game feels vague with little payoff; I've gotten all endings and most of the story is still confusing.”
“It sets up what could be a neat story but feels underdeveloped with its short span (the game only takes a couple of hours to 100%).”
“What also didn't really help the story is all the x's in the game; you see in certain parts of the story there are words that are covered in xxx, which made the story very confusing, especially in the later part of the game.”
- music106 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its classical influences and emotional resonance. Players found the soundtrack to be immersive and well-composed, effectively complementing the game's visuals and narrative, despite some noting that it may not be entirely original. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music was very good with plenty of nice classical soundtracks to listen to.”
“The music is beautiful and the writing is really effective at getting you attached to characters with the little 'screentime' they've got.”
“Alicemare is certainly charming, with a beautiful soundtrack, good story, and interesting characters.”
“The music is bland and unoriginal.”
“I can go on about the massive, empty rooms; the awkward character speeds; the locked doors that never open; the misplaced music choices; the inventory screen that says nothing about the items; the recurring Tetris minigame that is tonally awkward.”
“Audio BGM soundtrack during the teacher's house where the kids stay has horrible quality.”
- graphics100 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, often described as a blend of whimsical and eerie elements that enhance the overall aesthetic. Many reviewers appreciate the pixel art and character designs, noting that they contribute to a nostalgic and visually appealing experience, despite some criticism regarding the simplicity of the RPG Maker graphics. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, effectively complementing its themes and atmosphere.
“The artworks were all visually descriptive; horrifically cute in a sense if you're into that.”
“The pixel art and visuals are really lovely.”
“Beautiful art style and character/setting design with an intricate plot that gives big nods to classic fairytales.”
“The pixel graphics are quite amateur.”
“Ugly pixel graphics abound, and there’s basically no gameplay.”
“My only complaints were that your character moves a tad too fast for my liking and it made it harder than it needed to be to navigate through narrow areas, and that the credit sequences all had extremely low resolution which made it hard to see the artwork that scrolls past with rather essential character developing story.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, primarily involving puzzle-solving and basic RPG mechanics, which some players found enjoyable while others considered it mediocre or unpolished. Many reviews highlight the ease of gameplay, with some puzzles being confusing, and the overall experience being more focused on the story than on intricate gameplay mechanics. While the game features charming visuals and voice acting that enhance immersion, it suffers from a lack of depth and polish, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution.
“The gameplay is nice and simple; it's just pick up an object and click on another object to use that object or solve some puzzles, nothing too complex.”
“The gameplay mainly consists of puzzles and just absorbing the beautiful atmosphere, getting enveloped in each new environment.”
“I really liked the gameplay and how they choose to associate some fairytales with every character.”
“The story is boring, the gameplay and the puzzles suck, so there's not that much reason to bother with it.”
“The gameplay is unpolished, the characters and setting are under-utilized, and the pay-off for exploring and getting different endings is underwhelming.”
“If you are going to play it, just use a guide; the gameplay itself is annoying and just seems pointless.”
- atmosphere36 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is a blend of cute and creepy elements, creating a unique fairy-tale experience that is both emotionally engaging and eerie. Reviewers appreciate the well-composed soundtrack and art style, which enhance the game's haunting yet charming ambiance, despite some feeling that certain areas lack depth. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of mystery and nostalgia without relying on traditional horror tropes like jump scares.
“The atmosphere in this game gave me chills; it's dark and creepy, although the characters are cute.”
“The atmosphere of the game is perfectly complemented by the great soundtrack, and the story is really interesting.”
“The art style is really cute and perfectly fits the game's fairy-tale atmosphere; the colors are delicate and nice, and I love how the whole cuteness contrasts the sad vibes it gives you.”
“I, like several other reviewers, expected more of a horror atmosphere going into this game, but instead got a highly emotional story.”
“But the game atmosphere (except for a select few locations) feels somewhat empty and void.”
“Throughout the game there's an atmosphere of 'something is watching you/you're being followed', without jumpscares, or chases, or gore.”
- emotional27 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed reactions, with many players appreciating its depth and the ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears. While some expected a horror experience, they found themselves engaged in a touching narrative that explores character backstories and emotional connections, though a few felt that the storytelling could be repetitive and lacking in emotional impact at times. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to blend unsettling themes with heartwarming moments, creating a memorable emotional journey for players.
“I, like several other reviewers, expected more of a horror atmosphere going into this game, but instead got a highly emotional story.”
“Uncovering the story was an experience that was just as heart-wrenching as it was heart-warming.”
“The story, although quite sad and emotional, is fascinating.”
- character development16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highly praised for its beautiful and unique designs, particularly those inspired by fairy tales, which enhance the overall aesthetic and immersive experience. While the character designs are consistently described as cute and memorable, some reviewers noted that the story lacks depth until the final act, suggesting that character development may not be fully realized throughout the game. Overall, the art and character design contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
“I very much enjoyed playing this, especially how the horror theme of this game was smoothly integrated with the cutesy artwork and character development.”
“Any game Miwashiba makes is guaranteed to have art that's beautifully made; the character designs are some of my favorites, and the game's color scheme is very fitting for the mysterious and dreamy aspect of the game.”
“The character designs and art are aesthetically pleasing, and all in all, I didn’t expect this game to be as casual as it was.”
“I enjoyed the old-school, 2D game design and the color choices as well as the character design and the riddles and puzzles in this game.”
“Miwashiba's character designs are some of my favorites to this day, and I love the fairy tale inspired characters.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and lore exploration, many feel that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to replay. A few reviews highlight that the game can be enjoyable for a short experience, but ultimately lacks significant replay value unless players are keen on revisiting the narrative.
“Good replayability, would recommend m'lady.”
“It's a great game and the fact that there are multiple endings gives it great replay value!”
“It has multiple endings, meaning replayability, antagonists that randomly appear, and an overall atmospheric presence of horror.”
“Would recommend if you are looking for a 'sad game' to spend a couple of hours on -- do not expect much replayability with this one.”
“Overall, this is not a game that has a ton of replay value; the game itself is a short completion, and the endings can mostly be obtained by making separate save files.”
“I actually enjoyed it, although it doesn’t hold much replay value for me.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while some appreciate the challenge of exploring and solving riddles to achieve all endings, others feel that the reliance on tedious puzzles and extensive backtracking can detract from the overall enjoyment. The need for frequent save reloading and trial-and-error exploration adds to the grind, making it feel excessive at times.
“The game also becomes a bit over-reliant on riddles, so the puzzles start to get a bit tedious after a while.”
“That doesn't mean the game is without faults; however, it has some points where the game feels a bit tedious because it requires you to reload your saves and explore a lot through trial and error to find all of the endings.”
“It gets quite tedious.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by clever musical choices that enhance the dreamlike atmosphere, amusing hidden achievements, and playful wordplay that elicits laughter. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments and the unexpected comedic elements, making for an entertaining experience. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay.
“A lot of 'classical' music is used to decorate the dream worlds, and while the choices may seem arbitrary, they actually work (though the obsession with triple meter is funny).”
“There are a few funny hidden achievements.”
“They even sprinkled in some light humor here and there.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some users noting that while it has been updated for new hardware, it still requires a high-end setup to run smoothly. Performance settings are limited and primarily affect framerate, which can lead to poor performance for less experienced players who may not adjust settings correctly. Overall, the optimization appears to be lacking, leading to frustration among users.
“Great game I played way back in 2013 (it was free then, I believe, but this version is optimized for new hardware).”
“The game is most likely optimized like garbage, requiring a NASA-level PC or just an ultra-high-end setup.”
“There are a few performance settings, but all they do is limit the framerate.”
“I find this to be a very bad thing, as someone with lesser knowledge on settings could set the 'highest performance' setting and you're stuck with 15 frames a second.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability, with no glitches experienced during gameplay.
“I haven't encountered any glitches during my gameplay.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes.”
“I've been impressed by the overall stability; everything works as intended.”
