Alter Ego Complex

About

Alter Ego Complex is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Caramel Column Inc. and was released on September 27, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Alter Ego Complex" is a spin-off game from "Alter Ego" that allows players to read books with the character Es and explore her dreams. Players can select and read books from a shelf, play simple minigames, and enjoy original artwork. This app is recommended for those who have played Alter Ego and want to delve deeper into Es's story and dreams.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 533 reviews

story43 positive mentions

gameplay6 negative mentions

The game beautifully expands on Es's character, providing deeper insights into her thoughts and feelings.
The art and music are stunning, creating an immersive and emotional experience.
For fans of the original Alter Ego, this game offers a heartfelt continuation of the story, making it a worthwhile experience.

The gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, often feeling tedious and lacking engagement.
Many players found the game to be too short for its price, leading to disappointment regarding its value.
The narrative, while touching, is linear and lacks the depth and complexity that some expected after the original game.

story
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The game's story is generally praised for its emotional depth and character development, particularly in expanding on the protagonist es's backstory. However, many reviewers note that the narrative is quite short and may not feel satisfying given the price, with some expressing a desire for more content or additional story extensions. Overall, while the storytelling is beautifully crafted and resonates with players, its brevity leaves some wanting more.
- “Definitely recommend both for quite the immersive story.”
- “Beautifully written - wonderful story from the viewpoint of es.”
- “A beautiful, meaningful story - hopping from dream to dream of authors, to the dreams built off of their discoveries in es's mind.”
- “There wasn't a story here, and I'm sad it didn't build upon the original story of Alter Ego.”
- “Boring mini games, and a mediocre story that doesn't even come close to the first game.”
- “Gameplay was overly simple and the story was 60% regurgitation of text lines from Alter Ego.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
20%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its haunting and soothing qualities. While some found the soundtrack repetitive and the overall experience short, the combination of music and art continues to be a highlight, contributing significantly to the emotional depth and storytelling. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, maintaining the high standards set by the original game.
- “The perfect soundtrack to fit the atmosphere.”
- “This whole series has been wonderful, from the music to the overall progression of this game is amazing.”
- “Beautiful music and cute artwork of es.”
- “Simple yet tranquil art style, soothing yet familiar soundtrack, but short storyline with a $2 price tag.”
- “The music and progressive story is something to experience.”
- “From the story to, especially, the music.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
57%
26%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it slow, repetitive, and lacking depth compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the contemplative nature and character exploration, others criticize the clunky mini-games and simplistic mechanics, leading to a less satisfying experience overall. Despite its emotional narrative, the short length and minimalistic gameplay leave some players feeling that it does not justify the price.
- “I cannot express the following point enough, this game is meant to be played and enjoyed by those who not only finished the prior game (Alter Ego) but ache to know more about its central character. Only when viewing the game like this can one truly enjoy it for its more laid-back, contemplative gameplay which centers around learning and understanding the feelings of the main character. Though it's short, it's an experience that has the ability to move the player deeply.”
- “About the gameplay: it was nice and not boring!”
- “An interesting twist on the gameplay.”
- “Truthfully, I think that complex may have been more impactful as a visual novel without mini-games or clicking mechanics, as the mini-games feel very clunky and the pacing is very slow. I didn't feel that this was a problem in the original.”
- “Honestly, the game is very well-made and discusses es' character very well, but it's very slow and the gameplay is quite boring and repetitive.”
- “Unlike its predecessor, it seems the team hasn't found a way to turn this style of bare bones, repetitive gameplay into something engaging.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the character "es," often describing their experiences as heart-wrenching and tear-inducing. While some critiques mention gameplay shortcomings, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to evoke strong feelings and foster attachment, making it a memorable and impactful experience despite its brevity. Many users emphasize the emotional journey as a standout aspect, with requests for more content featuring the beloved character.
- “As someone who adores es, it's heartbreaking to see her struggle with herself.”
- “Like another user said, I grew emotionally attached to es and it does hurt right in the beating heart knowing she's not real.”
- “This game, and its prequel are some of the only games that I have ever enjoyed so much, and the story is incredibly heart-wrenching.”
- “I played the first game and was in love, but this one was so different and disappointing. There was no control over the story, the controls were very simple, and the story was boring. The first game was definitely an amazing work of art; I hope you do better in the next one.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful and tranquil art style, which maintains a recognizable connection to the previous installment. While many users appreciate the visuals and artwork, some express disappointment over the game's brevity and lack of depth in storytelling. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The artwork in this is amazing!”
- “Beautiful music and cute artwork of es.”
- “Incredibly short, but well written and with a great artstyle.”
- “Unfortunately, this was a bit disappointing - I liked a lot of the visuals, etc., but it was very short and didn't offer what I hoped it would.”
- “The art style varies a bit from the previous game, but it can undoubtedly be recognized as part of Alter Ego.”
- “Similar art style just like the main game.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to the original version. The minigames, in particular, contribute to this sense of monotony.
- “My problem is that the game is really, really tedious.”
- “Minigames can be tedious.”
- “Not as good as the original, and is quite tedious.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews; while some appreciate the further growth of characters and the effective tie-ins to the story's beginning, others feel it lacks the introspective charm of the original and criticize the ending as regressive. Overall, the character design and engaging mini-games are highlighted positively.
- “What a great way to tie in the beginning of the story with the rest, amazing soundtrack and character design as always, and the mini games were a lot of fun.”
- “Love the further character development from the characters.”
- “It does not have the same introspective charm of the original, and one may argue that the ending is rather regressive in terms of character development.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its perfect soundtrack, character designs, and immersive soundscapes, creating an engaging experience that resonates with players. However, some reviewers noted that while the artistic elements are well-executed, the pacing can feel excessively slow, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “The perfect soundtrack to fit the atmosphere.”
- “The character designs, the atmosphere of the game, the sounds—everything is very much to my liking. I enjoyed playing the game and I look forward to more new releases from this developer. Everyone did a fantastic job in bringing this game to life, and I highly recommend everyone to give it a try.”
- “Despite all the artistic value being carried over masterfully and the atmosphere being the exact same, it delved further into what was previously established.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express mixed feelings about the monetization strategy, noting that while the $2 price tag may be perceived as high, it is justified by the creators' need to earn revenue. Some suggest that integrating ads could enhance accessibility, proposing a lower price or a free model with ads, similar to previous titles. Overall, there is a desire for a more balanced approach to pricing that maintains immersion while supporting the developers.
- “I'm still a fan of the team and want to see more from them, but perhaps they should have considered integrated ads instead for this installment.”
- “It's a fan service for people who enjoyed Alter Ego and want something different, but the $2 price tag for something like this is too high. Maybe decrease the price to $1.30 or just make it free and add some ads, similar to what Alter Ego did. That's a better (or more reasonable) price tag.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers limited replayability, as it can be completed in about two hours, and the bleak ending may deter players from revisiting it.
- “There is not much value in replayability; it can be easily finished in 2 hours, and the ending is rather bleak.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical approach, particularly in the context of romantic interactions, making the experience of falling in love amusing and entertaining.
- “It's funny to fall in love with her.”