Alter Ego

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 164 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Alter Ego Game Cover
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"Alter Ego" is a suspenseful murder mystery game set in a small town, where players alternate between the perspectives of a detective and a petty thief to solve a series of gruesome crimes. With over 80 locations to explore, 25 characters to interact with, and cinematic-quality visuals, players must uncover the dark secret behind the strange aristocrat's death and the terrifying events that follow. The game promises a story that will stay with players long after they finish playing.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 164 reviews
story61 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The atmosphere is incredible and the story is engaging, keeping players invested throughout.
  • The game features beautiful graphics and well-designed pre-rendered backgrounds that enhance the immersive experience.
  • The puzzles are generally straightforward and logical, making for a pleasant point-and-click adventure experience.
  • The ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many plot threads unresolved and feeling rushed.
  • The pacing of the game can be slow, with some players finding it tedious to navigate between locations.
  • The characters, particularly the protagonists, are often unlikable, which may detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.
  • story171 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed experience, with many players finding it engaging and atmospheric, particularly in its early stages. However, it suffers from pacing issues, a lack of resolution, and an abrupt ending that leaves numerous plot threads unresolved. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and character perspectives, others criticize the narrative for being confusing, linear, or ultimately disappointing.

    • “The atmosphere, voice acting, and music are perfect for immersion; and the story is uniquely written - it leads you to believe one outcome, yet it turns right around and you're left with something entirely different and unexpected.”
    • “The premise is fascinating (you alternate between playing a police detective and a criminal who both get entangled in something sinister), and there are multiple points of interest the plot presents along the way to keep you hooked.”
    • “The story is enjoyable whilst you're playing it, it unravels nicely and keeps you gripped.”
    • “The narrative is trying to merge two different storylines, resulting in a scattered and somewhat confusing plot.”
    • “The plot has a lot of holes which were never explained - I don't know if there are any alternative routes.”
    • “The ending is kind of disappointing, and seems like a strange ending to the story.”
  • graphics42 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising the atmospheric Victorian style and hand-drawn backgrounds as visually appealing. While some players find the graphics to be decent and fitting for the game's tone, others criticize the animations as limited and dated. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's ambiance, though they may not meet modern standards.

    • “Really liked the game, especially the style of the graphics.”
    • “The graphics and backdrops are quite nice, sound passable.”
    • “Beautiful graphic style and gripping, fascinating storyline.”
    • “Graphics are meh; gameplay is not good.”
    • “True that the graphics are not that good and animations are quite bad by today's standards, but if you are prepared to overlook these points, you will find quite an enjoyable journey.”
    • “The story isn't very inventive, the puzzles are too easy, and it's more like a boring interactive film, with bad visuals.”
  • gameplay33 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized as a traditional point-and-click adventure, featuring a mix of simplistic and occasionally frustrating puzzles that often require specific actions in a set order to progress. While the mechanics are generally straightforward and the story engaging, players noted issues with linearity, pacing, and some tedious elements, particularly towards the end where gameplay becomes less interactive. Overall, the experience is described as mildly entertaining but lacking in depth and polish.

    • “Haven't made it to the end yet, but I really like the approach to the mechanics and the storytelling.”
    • “It has a decent story, good traditional point-and-click adventure gameplay; it isn't overly difficult yet still presents a bit of a challenge.”
    • “The gameplay follows the point-and-click adventure genre, with subtle differences.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics utilize some of the worst adventure game mechanics; requiring people to try something multiple times, after clearly telling them that this doesn't work, for it to be successful.”
    • “Gameplay was a bit weird (you have to do the steps in a certain order which isn't always obvious, e.g., first you need to show a torn page to another character before you can search for the book it belonged to).”
    • “The gameplay is very linear and the puzzles vary from snoozingly simplistic to vaguely difficult, and none of them should be particularly hard to overcome, though some are easy to overlook if you forget to talk to someone or inspect an item in your inventory properly.”
  • atmosphere26 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of visuals, sound design, and a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in pacing and story depth, the rich 19th-century setting and dark, moody ambiance contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the atmosphere is considered one of the standout features, creating a captivating backdrop for the gameplay.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible and the story is engaging.”
    • “I remember the dark atmosphere and the nicely captured 19th century setting.”
    • “The atmosphere, voice acting, and music are perfect for immersion; and the story is uniquely written - it leads you to believe one outcome, yet it turns right around and you're left with something entirely different and unexpected.”
    • “Given how unimportant a lot of the events in the game feel, it creates a boring atmosphere and makes you want to stop playing.”
    • “The creators nailed the atmosphere with a genuinely suspenseful narrative centering around two protagonists who are not, in the least bit, sympathetic characters.”
    • “Graphics are made in agdc, resulting in a successfully grim atmosphere with grayish colors dominating the scenery.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the atmospheric sound design and voice acting that enhance immersion, others criticize the lack of a substantial musical score during gameplay, noting that it detracts from the overall experience. Many agree that a more prominent soundtrack could have significantly improved the game's tension and engagement, despite the effective use of music in cutscenes. Overall, while the music fits the atmosphere well, its scarcity during key gameplay moments leaves some players wanting more.

    • “Sound, voice acting, and music are all great.”
    • “The atmosphere, voice acting, and music are perfect for immersion; the story is uniquely written - it leads you to believe one outcome, yet it turns right around and you're left with something entirely different and unexpected.”
    • “Music fits the atmosphere.”
    • “The very strict nature of the script, the truncated storyline and some less brilliantly designed puzzles, as well as lack of musical score all take away from the value to be found here, and ultimately you are left with an amputated experience that obviously didn't get all the attention it needed from a developer studio that apparently had to shut down before fully finishing this title.”
    • “The game totally lacks in the musical department, and will have you make do with some swooshing of wind, crows howling and other natural background noises as to not subject you to absolute silence as you unravel the slow story.”
    • “There is very little music other than during the cut scenes, which are not particularly obtrusive and do serve to fill out scenes between gameplay quite nicely.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with many puzzles and gameplay elements feeling repetitive and laborious. While the environments and voice acting receive some praise, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging gameplay, despite features that help alleviate some of the frustration.

    • “Most puzzles are tedious.”
    • “The game itself is rather tedious.”
    • “Alter Ego is a point-and-click mystery game with a decent story but tedious gameplay.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of excellent dialogue and some amusing missteps, contributing to a hilariously entertaining experience. Players appreciate the clever use of sound effects that enhance comedic moments, particularly in enclosed spaces. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, adding to the game's charm.

    • “The graphics are pretty good for the time, and the dialogue is mostly good, although there are some hilarious missteps.”
    • “Hilariously bad adventure game.”
    • “Excellent dialogues with humor; I also liked the sound effects in the scenes, such as the echo when talking in a large enclosed space.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    While the game features some emotional moments, they are not particularly impactful, and the ending left players feeling that their time investment was ultimately unfulfilled.

    • “The game has a few emotional moments, but they are not too strong.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game is reported to be highly unstable, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay. Users consistently highlight the prevalence of these issues, indicating a significant lack of polish.

    • “This game is tremendously buggy.”
    • “And buggy?”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users express uncertainty about the game's replay value, but many feel that the overall enjoyment and quality justify the price, suggesting a positive experience that may encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “The replay value is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and engaging!”
    • “I find myself coming back to this game time and time again, discovering new strategies and outcomes.”
    • “With multiple endings and choices that truly matter, the replayability is off the charts!”
    • “The game lacks significant changes in gameplay, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as side quests feel repetitive.”
    • “While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of varied endings or choices diminishes replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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