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Behind the Screen

69%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay
92% User Score Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Behind The Screen" is a puzzle-based game with stealth and fighting elements, set in 1970s Taiwan during the end of Martial Law. Players delve into the memories of a suspected murderer to uncover the truth, while exploring themes of media's power in shaping public opinion and the dangers of judgment without knowing all the facts. The game features a unique art style and can be completed in 1-2 hours, with deeper thinking challenges beyond the solution.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Behind the Screen screenshot
Behind the Screen screenshot
Behind the Screen screenshot
Behind the Screen screenshot
Behind the Screen screenshot
Behind the Screen screenshot

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
story6 positive mentions
  • The game features a well-crafted and engrossing story that explores deep themes and emotional experiences.
  • The unique art style and aesthetic are charming, effectively enhancing the narrative experience.
  • Gameplay includes a variety of mechanics that are easy to learn, providing a fresh take on storytelling through interactive elements.
  • The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 2 hours, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • The fighting mechanics are repetitive and feel luck-based, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The English translation is often poor, with grammatical errors that can be distracting, although they do not significantly hinder understanding.
  • story
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is an engaging and intricately crafted interactive experience that follows a Taiwanese boy's coming-of-age journey in the 1970s-80s, blending elements of reality and imagination. While it features cute graphics and a unique storytelling approach, including a news report method, some players find it short and the narrative darker than initially expected, as it delves into the formative memories of a convicted murderer. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate puzzle games and short stories with surreal and imaginative elements.

    • “The story is very well put together and pretty engrossing.”
    • “The story takes you through the various stages in the life of a Taiwanese boy as he's growing up, and at each stage discovering the differences between reality and his perception of reality.”
    • “The game as a story?”
    • “This is a story focused with weird art and surreal moments.”
    • “Honestly from the pictures, it just seemed like a bizarre fantasy game with a very imaginative child protagonist, but the story is much deeper and darker than what I had imagined.”
  • gameplay
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay features a variety of mechanics that are easy to learn, but the fighting system is a significant drawback that detracts from the overall experience. While the basic gameplay set pieces serve their narrative purpose effectively, improvements to the combat could elevate the game considerably. Despite its relatively short playtime of 3 to 5 hours, the game leaves a lasting impression that lingers long after completion.

    • “There are a few different game mechanics that are easy to get acquainted with quickly.”
    • “The gameplay set pieces, while basic, are meant as narrative devices, and do a pretty good job as such.”
    • “Even if it has 3 to 5 hours of gameplay, you will think about it for the next 10 hours.”
    • “However, the fighting mechanic really lets it down.”
    • “If the fighting mechanic was improved, it would really elevate the whole game.”
    • “The gameplay set pieces, while basic, are meant as narrative devices and do a pretty good job as such.”
  • graphics
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are praised for their cute aesthetic, reminiscent of old Taiwanese animated children's shows, which enhances the overall experience. The art style is well-executed, even extending to the live-action segments, contributing to the game's charm despite its short length.

    • “Anyone who has seen any old-style animated Taiwanese kids' shows will recognize the art style; it works really well. Even the live-action videos were done in the style of that era.”
    • “The graphics are cute, and the story is nice, but it is short and ends quickly.”
    • “Really nice short game with a cool aesthetic.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is heavily centered on the protagonist's tumultuous relationship with his father, characterized by emotional distance and abuse, which creates a profound and often distressing narrative experience.

    • “There is a constant theme of abuse within the relationship of the protagonist and his father, who is both emotionally distant and abusive.”
  • music
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is consistently praised as outstanding, with multiple users highlighting its quality.

    • “Great music.”
    • “Great music.”

Buy Behind the Screen

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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