Blackwell Unbound

About

In "Blackwell Unbound," players step into the role of Lauren Blackwell, a medium investigating a series of strange accidents in 1973 Manhattan, accompanied by her spirit guide Joey Mallone. As they uncover a supernatural conspiracy, they must use their wits and Lauren's abilities to prevent a mysterious killer from striking again. This atmospheric point-and-click adventure game is a captivating follow-up to the original "Blackwell Legacy."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 514 reviews

story138 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Great atmosphere and engaging story that builds on the first game.
Improved gameplay mechanics, including the ability to switch between characters, enhancing puzzle-solving.
Strong character development, particularly for Lauren Blackwell, making her a compelling protagonist.

Short playtime, often feeling like a chapter rather than a full game.
Some voice acting quality issues, particularly with certain characters sounding unnatural.
Repetitive backtracking and some puzzles lacking clear direction, leading to potential frustration.

story
379 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
62%
2%
The story in "Blackwell Unbound" serves as a compelling prequel to "Blackwell Legacy," offering deeper character development and a more intricate plot while maintaining the series' signature themes of ghostly assistance and mystery-solving. Although shorter than its predecessor, it effectively expands the overarching narrative and introduces engaging new characters, with a strong emphasis on emotional depth and atmosphere, enhanced by excellent voice acting and a fitting jazz soundtrack. While some players noted minor pacing issues and a few unresolved plot points, the overall consensus is that the story is well-crafted and integral to the series, making it a must-play for fans.
- “The story is well done, having elements that are somewhat based in reality from a subtle to a very direct way.”
- “The story is interesting and generally well designed, except for some awkward dialogue from one of the ghosts.”
- “The story is pretty decent with a decent twist and a decent ending.”
- “The story is still mediocre.”
- “The story was really sad and made me tear at certain points; death and the loss of beloved ones is a common theme in there.”
- “The main reason being too much storyline setup, a couple of really annoying puzzles, and a super short game.”
gameplay
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
2%
The gameplay in "Blackwell Unbound" builds upon its predecessor, "Blackwell Legacy," by introducing a character-switching mechanic that enhances puzzle-solving and character interactions. While the core mechanics remain similar, the addition of new gameplay elements, such as combining clues and using both Lauren and Joey independently, adds depth and variety to the experience. Overall, players appreciate the engaging story and intuitive puzzles, though some find certain mechanics, like the phone book search, less effective.
- “Gameplay expanded in the right ways (being able to switch between two characters made for some cool interactions), and music was chill and relaxing.”
- “The game's main mechanics are puzzles (some inventory-based, others environmental or deductive), conversations with choices, and combining clues in your notebook.”
- “The other awesome new mechanic is that you can play as both Lauren and Joey, switching between each character and acting independently to take advantage of their different skills as needed to forward the storyline.”
- “However, subpar graphics and tedious repetitive mechanics squeezed the joy out of Blackwell Unbound.”
- “Unfortunately, unlike some other successful adventure games that have used this mechanic, Blackwell Unbound doesn't really make good use of the ability to switch characters.”
- “The second installment in the Blackwell series is a big improvement on the first game, but gameplay is still not very intuitive.”
music
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its atmospheric jazz soundtrack that enhances the 1970s New York setting. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack is a significant improvement over the previous game, with a perfect blend of smooth jazz and haunting melodies that complement the narrative and emotional moments. However, some players mentioned issues with sound volume control and repetitive loops that could detract from the experience.
- “The soundtrack in this series overall is great, but I think this game has my favorite uses of music.”
- “I especially loved the music, which is just as well since there's a focus on music in the story.”
- “The music is a soothing jazz that works perfectly as a backdrop.”
- “The music is better than the first game, but they really need some sound volume options.”
- “A technical mishap is the unadjustable MIDI music that ruins a few scenes by overwhelming the dialogue.”
- “A looping sax music segment literally gave me a headache after a while, and I chose to play with no sound until that was over.”
graphics
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
65%
10%
The graphics of "Blackwell Unbound" are characterized by a nostalgic pixel art style that appeals to fans of classic adventure games, though opinions vary on their quality. While some players appreciate the aesthetic and improvements in animation compared to the original, others criticize the outdated resolution and occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the visuals evoke a vintage charm, but they may not meet the expectations of those seeking modern graphical fidelity.
- “With gorgeous graphics (I particularly liked the jambalaya records scene, which cleverly combines an exterior and interior shot), very good voice acting and interesting puzzles, Blackwell Unbound was a joy to play.”
- “The visuals, bathed in a sepia glow, transported players to an era long past, an era of vintage charm and enigmatic mysteries.”
- “The pixel graphics/art style is good and feels as though it got a little bit of an update, which was nice; the commentary was good.”
- “The game uses AGS, a primitive tool for creating graphical adventure games that was frankly outdated even when this game first released.”
- “Graphics are still very coarse at a base resolution of 320x240, there are still letterboxes on the sides of the screen, and the mouse cursor still has the size of my thumb on my 43" monitor.”
- “The graphics and voice acting are other pieces of evidence that Blackwell Unbound seems to have been given less thought and attention than the first game.”
atmosphere
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
19%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating blend of moody, pixel art visuals and a haunting jazz soundtrack that effectively captures the essence of 1970s New York. Reviewers highlight the compelling storytelling and character dynamics, noting that the game's melancholic tone and nostalgic elements create an immersive experience, even if some aspects of gameplay may fall short. Overall, the atmospheric design is considered a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth and intrigue of the narrative.
- “Lovely pixel noir NYC vibes, with a very atmospheric soundtrack.”
- “We explore a moody 1970s New York, perfectly captured with its atmosphere and the haunting piano soundtrack.”
- “The writing and characters are absolutely wonderful, and the jazz-noir atmosphere is thoroughly soothing.”
- “But where the game does lack narratively, it does manage to make up for it with atmosphere.”
- “It's a very tentative recommendation; I hope the last two games of the series will have a less depressing atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere of 1970s New York is quietly blended in the background to give room to the characters, which are key in the game.”
humor
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, featuring natural dialogue and strong voice acting that enhances the comedic elements. Players enjoy the interplay between characters, particularly the snarky banter between Lauren and Joey, which adds a layer of humor to the otherwise serious narrative. While some reviews note that the game could benefit from more comedic moments, the overall consensus is that the humor effectively complements the story and characters, making for an entertaining experience.
- “It's charming, funny, and has natural sounding dialogue spoken by pretty decent voice actors.”
- “Lauren is so funny and snarky!”
- “New York in the seventies is so freaking cool in this game, and so are the strange and funny characters (and ghosts) that Lauren and Joey will find on their journey.”
optimization
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The game's optimization received mixed reviews, with performance generally being acceptable but causing issues such as breaking Windows 11 HDR upon exit. While the graphics and voice acting showed improvement over previous titles, some players felt that the overall quality did not match that of other games in the same price range.
- “The smoky jazz and rain slick 1970's New York streets are one thing, but the vocal performances have also been improved considerably.”
- “I was really impressed with The Blackwell Legacy's graphics and voice acting; everything looked really painstakingly drawn, and the voice actors gave great performances.”
- “Whereas the voice actress for BL's protagonist Rosangela delivered a bland performance, BU's protagonist Lauren is engaging and brings life to the game.”
- “Performance was fine except for breaking my Windows 11 HDR every time upon game exit.”
- “Overall voice performances were better than The Blackwell Legacy but not as professional as other titles I've played at a similar price point (including future Wadjet Eye game titles).”
- “I hate to criticize people's acting abilities, especially since I'm certain I'd be absolutely terrible at it, but I feel like the voice performances in Blackwell Unbound really got in the way of my enjoying the game.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
33%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its haunting soundtrack and touching storyline, which resonate deeply with players, evoking feelings of melancholy and connection to the characters. While some found the narrative lacking in depth, many praised the writing for its ability to elicit genuine emotional responses, particularly in poignant moments that can bring players to tears. Overall, the blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling creates a compelling emotional experience.
- “The storyline has some emotional moments, made better by its jazzy soundtrack.”
- “The musician's story's end was actually touching.”
- “Since we already know how Lauren's story will end eventually, seeing her venturing further down into her end is somehow heartbreaking.”
- “The story lacks depth and the characters feel one-dimensional, making it hard to connect emotionally.”
- “The emotional moments fall flat, leaving me feeling indifferent rather than moved.”
- “There’s no real emotional investment; the narrative feels like a series of disconnected events.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to repetitive backtracking and certain achievements that require excessive effort, such as collecting cigarettes. While the game offers thoughtful scenarios, the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, especially when it interferes with appreciating the writing and dialogue. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a significant drawback in an otherwise solid game.
- “A cool little game, although it involves a lot more tedious walking back and forth between places.”
- “My only complaint is that the achievements to smoke less than 20 or more than 100 cigarettes are not particularly fun to get, since they require either grinding out cigarettes (odd choice for an adventure game) or speedrunning the whole game, which is counter-productive to enjoying the excellent writing and dialogue.”
- “However, subpar graphics and tedious repetitive mechanics squeezed the joy out of Blackwell Unbound.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Character development across the series is noted for its polish and depth, with significant improvements in dialogue and relationships, particularly highlighted in the evolution of characters like Lauren and Joey. While some installments showcase mature character arcs, others, like "Convergence," intentionally limit development to set the stage for future narratives. Overall, the series maintains an engaging old-school adventure vibe with interconnected plots that enhance character growth.
- “Each title has that old school adventure vibe and interconnecting plotline, plus character development throughout the series.”
- “Everything is a little more polished than the first, from the cases to the dialogue, voice acting, and character development.”
- “Once completed, this one moved me more than the first (Blackwell Legacy) with even better character development.”
- “Unlike Convergence, character development is minimal, if not laughable, but that seems to be intentional, as this installment feels more like a setup for the final game in the storyline.”
- “Graphics are about the same with some changes to character design on Joey, but nothing terrible.”
- “You can also see the art style and character design mature with each installment.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant bugs and graphical issues, particularly on macOS 14, while others experienced no crashes and enjoyed the nostalgic charm despite minor glitches. Overall, the game seems to have a range of stability issues that can detract from the experience, though some players found it manageable.
- “Sadly, it's too buggy to play in 2023, at least on macOS 14.”
- “Buggy as hell, has all of the problems of the other games, but somehow they are more annoying.”
- “Impressions: anyone who's played the first two Blackwell games will point to their lo-fi charm... Blackwell captures the days of SCUMM/LucasArts perfectly... all too perfectly with its quirks, dead-ends, glitches, and clunky interface.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The game's replayability is considered limited, primarily hinging on achievements and a few missable easter eggs. While some players appreciate the opportunity to explore different aspects of the story, the overall consensus is that the short length of the game diminishes its replay value.
- “Another point towards solid replayability.”
- “The only replay value comes from achievements, of which some are missable, and some easter eggs.”
- “And 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.”