Birth ME Code
- April 22, 2020
- Miracle Moon
- 11h median play time
"Birth ME Code" is a suspenseful murder mystery game where you, as the mastermind Pandora, must identify and eliminate the traitor among six characters while avoiding being exposed. Featuring puzzles and hacking abilities to gain insights, the game offers branching storylines based on trust levels established with different characters. With various endings and unexpected twists, can you successfully manipulate the situation and emerge victorious?
Reviews
- The story is rich and engaging, filled with twists and memorable characters that keep players invested.
- The puzzles are challenging and require creative thinking, providing a satisfying experience for players who enjoy problem-solving.
- The game features a unique flowchart system that allows players to explore different narrative paths, enhancing replayability.
- The writing can be awkward and overly verbose at times, detracting from the pacing and immersion of the story.
- Some puzzles lack clear hints or guidance, leading to frustration and reliance on external guides.
- The game includes problematic themes and character portrayals that may be offensive to some players, particularly regarding trans representation.
- story85 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as rich, deep, and engaging, featuring numerous plot twists and a gripping narrative that keeps players invested. However, it also faces criticism for certain controversial themes and awkward writing, which can detract from the overall experience. While many players appreciate the intricate character development and the puzzle integration, some find the pacing and clarity of the plot lacking, leading to confusion in understanding key elements.
“The story in this game is rich and deep.”
“The pacing was great and the story was gripping.”
“A fun and suspenseful death game story that kept me hooked until the end.”
“But I can literally never recommend this game or any of the other games in this series to anyone because of the violently transphobic trope, which is an unskippable part of the story.”
“It's a missed opportunity because the tagline is so interesting and the story falls flat due to the lack of creative ability of the writer.”
“Despite my investment in the story and my enthusiasm toward solving the mysteries, I could only give a very general, hole-filled outline of what actually happened if someone asked me to recount the ending.”
- music25 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance immersion, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent soundtrack and its effective pacing. While some noted that certain tracks could be overly bassy or repetitive, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere and storytelling. However, there is disappointment regarding the absence of an official soundtrack release and a desire for a jukebox feature to enjoy the music outside of gameplay.
“The best thing I have to say is that the game has an awesome soundtrack.”
“The music is really good and kept me immersed in the story.”
“The music was also great and did a good job of setting the tone.”
“The music is serviceable.”
“The music is also mostly fine, albeit a lot of it feels really bassy and made my speakers reverberate a lot in a way I found kind of annoying.”
“Meanwhile, having been stuck listening to it far longer than I would have liked, I am sick of the soundtrack that plays during puzzles.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily text-based, focusing on reading and making decisions, with limited interactive mechanics that can feel unintuitive and frustrating. While the flowchart system offers some fun once understood, it lacks clear explanations, and the puzzle-solving elements often require external tools like pen and paper. Overall, the experience may appeal to fans of similar genres, but it does not deliver the depth or integration found in more established titles like Danganronpa or Zero Escape.
“Almost all of the gameplay involves reading text and thinking about a puzzle, the story, or an important decision.”
“This is definitely an incredibly enjoyable experience for fans of 'death games' like Danganronpa and Zero Escape; Zero Escape especially, as it has lots of similarities to that franchise in terms of plot and gameplay but is also unique in its own right!”
“I really liked the helmet hacking mechanic (playing as the mastermind has its perks!).”
“It suffers from a serious lack of any gameplay (beyond the route choices it's literally just reading) but it does the job.”
“The mechanics that govern the branching paths are unintuitive and often nonsensical.”
“Gameplay-wise, the puzzle rooms are a mix of 'click on everything and they'll solve themselves' and 'put together this assortment of clues that you'll probably need a pen and paper for'.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the stunning artwork and detailed backgrounds, while others find them lacking, especially towards the end. Overall, the visuals are described as consistent and varied, with unique character designs that stand out, though they may not be the game's strongest aspect.
“I also thought the visuals were really pretty.”
“The artwork was stunning.”
“The backgrounds are quite detailed, and the character visuals really pop out, with each character having their own unique flair to their designs.”
“If the story, graphics, setting, and gameplay were a bit more decent, I would have stayed in the game a bit longer, but for now there is nothing in it I could hang on to complete this story.”
“There are aspects of the game such as graphics that are a little lacking, since the focus is on the story.”
“Graphics: they aren't the best and get worse near the end of the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by distinct character designs that effectively convey personality traits, although opinions on the art quality vary, with some finding it less appealing. Overall, the character designs play a significant role in establishing individuality among the cast.
“I also really love the character design in BMC, as each character stands out and instantly communicates their personality before you even see them speak.”
“The art was... okay, even if I found the character designs kind of ugly.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicited mixed feelings from players, with some expressing distress due to the absence of trigger warnings, particularly regarding sensitive themes like sexual assault. While the game offers intrigue and suspense, many felt a lack of emotional investment in the characters and were dissatisfied with the resolution of the story. Overall, the experience was seen as positive but marred by frustrating mechanics and emotional disconnect.
“The overall experience I felt to be positive, and I wouldn't say it wasn't worth my time or money. There's definitely intrigue, mystery, and suspense in equal balance here.”
“I found some of the mechanics frustrating, but the emotional journey was still engaging and left a lasting impression on me.”
“The game effectively captures a range of emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the story and its characters.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-crafted and subtle, enhancing the experience without feeling overbearing or forced.
“The author shares good humor without forcing it into your face.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns kept me laughing throughout the game.”
“I love how the game uses humor to lighten even the most serious moments.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a tense and chaotic energy, ensuring that every branch of the flowchart remains engaging and rewarding, particularly when characters face their inevitable consequences.
“This ultimately leads to a tense and chaotic atmosphere where no branch of the flowchart feels dull, and witnessing every outcome, especially when a character gets their inevitable comeuppance, is sweetly satisfying.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, resulting in disjointed experiences that detract from the overall enjoyment.”