Backstreets of the Mind

About

Backstreets of the Mind is a single player action game with a drama theme. It was developed by SiBear Games and was released on March 4, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Backstreets of the Mind" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you go back in time to change the main character's life by interacting with the environment, solving puzzles, and unlocking old-school mini-games. The unique gameplay feature is searching for hidden messages in signboards and placing the "right" thoughts in the protagonist's mind. The game boasts an immersive storyline and soundtrack, leading to a pivotal life decision. This game is similar to other popular sandbox titles by the same developer, such as "The Wild Eight."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

53%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

story7 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features nice, photorealistic graphics and clear visuals, making the hidden object scenes visually appealing.
The concept of time-shifting and correcting past mistakes adds a unique twist to the traditional hidden object gameplay.
The mini-games, while varied, provide some enjoyable moments and the ability to replay chapters adds a layer of flexibility.

The game is very short, taking only about 2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for many players.
The user interface is poorly designed for PC, with slow panning and frustrating controls that detract from the overall experience.
The story is linear and lacks depth, with choices that feel inconsequential and a narrative that can be confusing or unengaging.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The game's story is described as simple and linear, with some players finding it unique yet lacking depth, while others criticize it for being dull and poorly executed. Despite some interesting themes and photorealistic graphics, many reviews highlight issues such as a short narrative and logical inconsistencies. Overall, the story seems to evoke mixed feelings, with some appreciating its intrigue and melancholy, while others find it disappointing and unengaging.
- “The graphics are low-res but plenty clear enough, all the mini-games are solid, the story is simple but unique compared to most.”
- “It has nice 'photorealistic' graphics, an interesting (although a bit melancholy) storyline, and a few mildly amusing minigames.”
- “This game has a psychological/meaning-of-life motif that seems to be in vogue these days, but I found the story intriguing enough to want to play the game to the end.”
- “Anyone who plays hidden object games will be used to corny storylines and poor logic, but oof.”
- “The story is the part that I hate.”
- “The story is entirely linear (except the final level), so the 'time-shifting' aspect is just part of the linear storyline; you can’t 'time shift' on your own.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
34%
22%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their high resolution and clarity, with some users highlighting the photorealistic quality and effective panning techniques. While the artwork and mini-games are considered solid, opinions vary on their challenge level, and some feel that the overall graphical experience is overshadowed by other aspects of the game.
- “The visuals are high-res and objects are easy to spot.”
- “Great photorealistic graphics, nice mini games, interesting storyline.”
- “It has nice photorealistic graphics, an interesting (although a bit melancholy) storyline, and a few mildly amusing minigames.”
- “The story and graphics seem solid, but the rest is just not worth the time and money.”
- “The graphics are low-res but plenty clear enough, all the mini-games are solid, the story is simple but unique compared to most.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The gameplay features some interesting concepts, such as multi-plane scrolling that enhances exploration, but is ultimately marred by repetitive mechanics and frustratingly incorrect tools for problem-solving. Players find the experience tedious, compounded by long, unskippable cutscenes and a lack of engaging variety.
- “One twist in the gameplay and graphics was the 'multi-plane' scrolling of each level; moving around shifts the perspective a little, possibly revealing a hidden object.”
- “There are some neat ideas in the gameplay, like scrolling the picture and watching the town modernize, but the whole thing where they give you only incorrect tools to solve each problem the first time you attempt it was pointless and annoying.”
- “Really just a very boring game, with long, unskippable, badly acted cutscenes, and the gameplay is just the same thing over and over... don't bother.”
- “One twist in the gameplay/graphics was the 'multi-plane' scrolling of each level; moving around shifts the perspective a little, possibly revealing a hidden object.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to the presence of repetitive and tedious cutscenes that cannot be skipped, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Repeated, tedious cutscenes you cannot skip.”
- “The grinding feels endless and monotonous, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Leveling up requires an excessive amount of time and effort, turning the game into a chore.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is generally praised for being pleasant and non-intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the experience without distraction. Additionally, the volume controls are well-designed, enabling users to adjust the music to their preference.
- “The pleasant music throughout the game creates an immersive atmosphere without being overwhelming.”
- “I appreciate the good controls for volume, allowing me to adjust the music if it feels too distracting.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the game runs exceptionally well, even on outdated and low-performance hardware, indicating strong stability across various systems.
- “Runs great even on an old, broken down toaster.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, allowing for an uninterrupted experience.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report excellent optimization, with no performance or technical issues noted, even on lower-end hardware.
- “No performance or technical issues at all for me and my 5-year-old low to mid-range rig.”
- “The game runs smoothly even on older hardware, which is impressive.”
- “I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users generally feel that the game offers little to no replay value, suggesting that once completed, there is minimal incentive to play it again.
- “Little to no replay value.”
- “The game lacks incentives to play through again.”
- “Once you finish the story, there's not much left to explore.”