Alter Ego
- August 8, 2017
- Activision
- 3h median play time
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Get on Apple Store"Alter Ego" is a life simulation game that allows players to explore different choices and consequences in a virtual life. Players can navigate various stages of life, from childhood to old age, making decisions that impact their character's relationships, career, and happiness. The game poses the question, "What if you could live your life over again?", offering players a unique chance to reflect on their own decisions and experiences.
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Apple II
Linux
Mobile Platform
Ms Dos
Tablet
Reviews
- The game is a nostalgic experience, retaining the charm of the original 1986 version while providing an engaging narrative.
- It offers a unique and entertaining gameplay experience, allowing players to explore different life paths and outcomes.
- The writing is praised for its depth and emotional impact, making it a thought-provoking game that resonates with players.
- The game lacks modern updates, including options for same-sex relationships and a more diverse representation of life choices.
- Many players find the gameplay repetitive, with limited variation in outcomes and a fast progression through life stages.
- The app has technical issues, such as freezing and unreliable save features, which detract from the overall experience.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as an engaging interactive experience that allows players to immerse themselves in the life of an alter ego, influenced by their choices and random events. However, many users express disappointment over the lack of variety in storylines and scenarios, suggesting that the game could benefit from additional content to enhance replayability. Overall, while the narrative offers a captivating escape, it falls short in depth and diversity.
“I loved losing myself in this story.”
“It is an amazing game and despite having the same story, it has a lot of replayability.”
“This isn't just a story though; how your alter-ego's life runs its course is determined by the choices you make as well as events that are beyond the player's control.”
“My biggest problem is the apparent lack of variety in each individual story line.”
“Would be nice if the story explored more scenarios.”
“There is also no actual story; you just pick random events in their life, not to mention the college and store are pretty worthless.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game lacks graphics, relying solely on text, which some players find entertaining but ultimately wish for improvement. Many reviewers express a desire for visual enhancements, noting that the absence of graphics feels inadequate for the game's price point. Despite this, the gameplay remains engaging, with hopes for future updates to include more visual elements.
“I wish there were more pictures or graphics, but otherwise, it's an amazing life simulator.”
“The graphics are also non-existent for a game of this price - it's a text scroll game with the same text for everything.”
“I noticed no real changes except a few graphical enhancements.”
“But in the future, I do wish to see this game with some graphics and possibly more ways to involve yourself with the family.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players highlight significant replay value due to impactful decision-making, others criticize it for being short-lived and lacking variety, leading to a perception of low replay value. Many users feel that the game could benefit from more options and content to enhance its longevity.
“Because one decision can influence everything, there is a huge replay value!”
“Replay value is high.”
“Very fun with tons of replay value.”
“A good distraction for a short while; could use more variation for replay value.”
“Fun, but short-lived and doesn't have much replay value.”
“Not worth the money - low replay value, no option for same sex relationships, limited turns per life stage.”
- emotional11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its phenomenal writing that balances wit with deep emotional moments, often reflecting on life and mortality. Players find the scenarios relatable and touching, leading to genuine emotional responses, including tears during pivotal moments. Overall, it delivers a powerful emotional experience that resonates with players.
“Awesome game - phenomenal writing, witty at times, but emotional and serious when it needs to be.”
“The writing is beautiful and funny, and the scenarios are sometimes heartbreakingly true to life.”
“While I'll admit it wasn't perfect, it certainly was an emotional experience and does put life and mortality in perspective.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is generally viewed positively, with users appreciating the absence of advertisements, which enhances the experience for the $4.99 price. However, there are concerns about excessive microtransactions in other games from the same developer, leading to mixed feelings about their overall monetization practices.
“There are no advertisements, which made it worth the $4.99 investment.”
“I wouldn't recommend the other games this dev offers due to incessant microtransactions.”
“Ads every minute.”
“I wouldn't recommend the other games this dev offers due to incessant microtransactions.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers an intriguing mechanic that keeps players engaged, with approximately four hours of content per route. However, some users note that replayability is limited, as completing the game once (around 20 minutes) leaves little additional content to explore. Overall, while the game is enjoyable, there are calls for more depth and expansion in future updates.
“It had a very interesting mechanic and it keeps me invested.”
“About four hours of gameplay per route, I loved the game!”
“Once you play it one time through (about 20 minutes of gameplay), there is not really any more content.”
“This app lacks depth in terms of gameplay, and I hope to see the alter-ego feature elaborated upon in the future.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by beautiful and witty writing, often blending comedic elements with poignant, relatable scenarios. While some criticism may feel excessive, it is generally delivered in a lighthearted manner, contributing to the overall enjoyable experience.
“The writing is beautiful and funny, and the scenarios are sometimes heartbreakingly true to life.”
“One thing I didn't like is how the criticism you got for some responses was over the top, but it was all in good humor.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of having to consistently choose straight relationships. This monotony detracts from the overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.
