Blackwell Convergence

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 426 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Blackwell Convergence Game Cover
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"Blackwell Convergence" is the third game in the Blackwell series. Rosa, the reluctant psychic, and Joey, her spirit guide, investigate a series of supernatural occurrences in 1930s New York. They uncover a conspiracy involving a mysterious artifact and a shadowy figure from Rosa's past, and must work together to prevent a supernatural catastrophe. The game features point-and-click gameplay, puzzle-solving, and branching dialogue options.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 426 reviews
story108 positive mentions
replayability2 negative mentions
  • The art style and graphics have significantly improved, making the game visually stunning.
  • The story is engaging and ties together elements from the previous games, providing a satisfying narrative experience.
  • The voice acting is strong, and the character development, particularly between Rosa and Joey, is well executed.
  • The removal of the clue combination mechanic from previous games makes the puzzles feel less challenging.
  • Some players found the game to be shorter and easier compared to earlier installments, leading to a less satisfying experience.
  • The quality of voice recordings and audio design has been criticized, with some instances of poor sound quality.
  • story317 mentions

    The story in "Blackwell Convergence" is a continuation of the series, weaving together plot points from previous games while introducing new elements and characters. Reviewers praise its engaging narrative, character development, and the emotional depth of the protagonist's journey, although some note that it feels less focused on puzzles and more on storytelling compared to earlier installments. Overall, the game is seen as a solid entry that builds anticipation for future developments in the overarching plot.

    • “The story is absolutely fascinating.”
    • “The story picks up momentum with consequences of events from the previous games.”
    • “The story really tightens its grip as different events from past and present intertwine.”
    • “The story doesn't come together as organically as in the two predecessors: while before you had separate coherent stories tied up together, in this one, there seem to be little bumps all over the place.”
    • “This game can’t stand alone; it hasn’t really developed the story, it hasn’t developed the characters, there were no puzzles or interesting interactions, and at the end of it very little has changed.”
    • “The story and plot aren't as interesting as the previous installments, and the puzzles aren't nearly as fulfilling to solve.”
  • graphics105 mentions

    The graphics in "Blackwell Convergence" show significant improvement over its predecessors, featuring enhanced pixel art, smoother animations, and a more polished overall aesthetic. While some players appreciate the upgraded visuals and the nostalgic art style, others feel that certain aspects, such as the user interface and sprite scaling, still need refinement. Overall, the game successfully maintains its retro charm while elevating the graphical quality, making it the best-looking title in the series so far.

    • “The visuals, tinged with muted hues, transported players to a realm where the veil between the living and the dead grew thinner by the moment.”
    • “The graphics have improved and the protagonist appropriately seems to be more experienced and confident than she was in her debut.”
    • “The graphics were wonderfully upgraded, so it looks way better while still maintaining the style that defines the series.”
    • “Graphics and animations still leave a lot to be desired.”
    • “The bad part of this game is full-screen pixel graphics can be a bit rough on the eyes.”
    • “Although the game is not up to today's graphics standards and definitely has a short duration, it is fun to play through.”
  • music81 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its beautiful jazz soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and complements the storytelling. The voice acting and sound design are also highlighted as excellent, contributing to a rich and immersive experience. However, some players noted issues with volume control and repetitiveness in the tracks, though overall, the music is considered one of the game's standout features.

    • “The smoky melody of the saxophone in Blackwell Convergence isn't just background music; it's the soulful voice of the city, harmonizing with the witty banter between Joey Mallone, the sardonic spirit guide, and Rosa Blackwell, the down-to-earth detective.”
    • “The music is really lovely, and I think one of the game's strongest points.”
    • “The voice acting is good, the music excellent, the story engaging.”
    • “Unfortunately, the smooth jazz music is way too loud and there is no way to turn it down.”
    • “It can be difficult sometimes to hear what the voices are saying when they coincide with musical highs.”
    • “It gets worse though, now the background music has been over-compressed.”
  • gameplay80 mentions

    The gameplay in "Blackwell Convergence" retains the traditional point-and-click mechanics of the series while introducing some streamlined elements, such as the removal of the clue-combining feature, which some players found limiting. While the game offers a solid narrative and engaging puzzles, it has been criticized for feeling less interactive and more linear compared to its predecessors, leading to mixed feelings about its overall depth and challenge. Despite these changes, the game still provides a satisfying experience with improved mechanics and character interactions, though some players miss the complexity of earlier installments.

    • “The gameplay here continues to build upon the advances that Unbound made.”
    • “The mechanics from Unbound are brought back and not only are they improved but they are also much more useful this time around, especially with Joey.”
    • “Good puzzle design makes for interesting gameplay, and the plot moves forward at a brisk pace.”
    • “So much gameplay has been stripped from this; it barely constitutes a game, it’s so close to a walking simulator it’s unreal.”
    • “The decision to remove the 'combining clues in Rosa's notebook' mechanic made me feel a bit hobbled, although I eventually got used to it.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, convergence is starting to veer back to the classic adventure genre, losing the clue-based puzzles and using item interaction instead.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich, immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent voice acting and a beautifully crafted soundtrack that complements the setting. Many reviewers highlight the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic adventure games, with a unique blend of eerie and engaging elements that draw players into the experience. While some feel the atmosphere alone may not be enough to elevate the game, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the enjoyment and depth of the narrative.

    • “The game is fully voice acted, and the places, music, and atmosphere are great.”
    • “Ghostly noir narrator: (exhales, creating an ethereal mist) the atmosphere was thick with anticipation, a storm brewing on the horizon.”
    • “Overall I still enjoyed it and recommend it for the gorgeous art and atmosphere that the game absolutely nails from the start.”
    • “There is so much to be said about this game, but without playing it yourself and immersing yourself in its atmosphere, not to mention the importance of having played the past two games that got us to this point, everything I can possibly say about this game is meaningless.”
    • “I have to admit, in my opinion, it hurts the game’s atmosphere and story, even though the creator was getting better and better in writing character stories for the ghost.”
    • “Anyone who enjoys point-and-click games or the adventure style in general will love this game; it also gives off this uneasy atmosphere and slight awkwardness from Rosangela, the protagonist.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its believable and imaginative dialogue, featuring a mix of sarcasm and lighthearted moments that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the character interactions, particularly the witty banter between the main characters, which adds depth to the story while maintaining a fun atmosphere. Additionally, the inclusion of humorous elements, such as a blooper reel, contributes to the game's charm, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a blend of humor and narrative.

    • “Funny, imaginative, great music, great voice acting.”
    • “Joey is still the same sarcastic and funny guy from the previous games.”
    • “Good story, good puzzles, good humor, the full shebang.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the series is praised for its depth and progression, particularly through the protagonist Rosangela, who evolves into a bolder and more confident character. The combination of improved pixel art, engaging voice acting, and interconnecting plots enhances the overall experience, making the character arcs feel authentic and impactful. Each installment showcases a maturation in both character design and narrative complexity, contributing to a rich old-school adventure vibe.

    • “I really enjoy Rosa's character development; she's come out of her shell some and she's bolder, braver, and sassier.”
    • “Each title has that old school adventure vibe and interconnecting plotline, plus character development throughout the series.”
    • “In terms of plot, Blackwell Convergence has a wonderfully put together one, combining themes from Blackwell Unbound with character development from Blackwell Legacy.”
    • “The music and voice acting are once again done well, which really helps with the mood and character development.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is solid, with no significant performance issues reported. While the graphics and animations received a low score, the voice performances, particularly for the main character, have improved compared to previous installments.

    • “I experienced no performance issues.”
    • “Puzzles are mainly reasonable, the performances are all good and it's nice to see the story coming together.”
    • “-Rosa's voice performance is much more enjoyable in this installment than the first.”
    • “The graphics quality is subpar, with animations that feel outdated and a user interface that lacks polish, resulting in an overall performance rating of 3/10.”
    • “I experienced no performance issues, but the optimization leaves much to be desired.”
    • “One voice performance stands out as particularly poor, with a minor character sounding like Cleveland from Family Guy, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Players highlight the game's emotional depth, noting its ability to evoke strong feelings such as regret, loneliness, and sadness, while also offering moments of hope. The writing is praised for its excellence, with the finale described as particularly impactful, capable of eliciting tears. Overall, the blend of humor and poignant moments contributes to a rich emotional experience.

    • “I remember Dave once said in the comments, 'Ghost stories are touching because they always have strong emotions like regret, loneliness, or sadness; but in the meantime, there is hope as well.'”
    • “This is just a great series with excellent, emotional writing.”
    • “The finale (epiphany) was fantastic (you may shed a tear).”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability due to its choice-driven mechanics, allowing players to experience different outcomes and story aspects based on their decisions. Additionally, the presence of achievements encourages players to revisit the game to unlock all content.

    • “Replayability - you have to make choices at a few points in various parts of this game which will affect the consequences.”
    • “There are some achievements, so there's some replay value here to get them and perhaps see more of or a different aspect of the story.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report that while the game generally maintains stability with few noticeable glitches, there are concerns about low resolution and a buggy Steam overlay. There is hope for improvements in future releases.

    • “It still means that you may encounter small glitches, though... I don't remember any, unlike Blackwell Legacy.”
    • “I still find it sad that this game has really low resolution and a buggy Steam overlay... but, oh well, I hope the new ones will improve that!”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
3-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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