Bright Memory

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 10,459 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Bright Memory Game Cover
Despite some minor issues, Bright Memory is a taste of what’s to come next year from Bright Memory: Infinite and I couldn’t be more excited
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"Bright Memory" is a fast-paced, action-packed FPS game that combines elements of close-quarters combat and long-range gunplay. Players take on the role of a special agent with supernatural abilities, battling against enemy soldiers and mythical creatures in a futuristic world. With a variety of weapons and abilities at your disposal, you must utilize strategy and skill to defeat your enemies and complete your mission.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,459 reviews
gameplay1,368 positive mentions
stability246 negative mentions
  • gameplay3,038 mentions

    The gameplay of "Bright Memory" is characterized by its fast-paced, dynamic combat that combines first-person shooting with hack-and-slash mechanics, offering a visually striking experience. Players can engage in a variety of combat styles using a mix of firearms and melee attacks, although the game is criticized for its short playtime (approximately 30-60 minutes) and some technical issues that hinder the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, many players find the core mechanics enjoyable and the gameplay fun, making it a promising title for fans of the genre, especially considering it was developed by a single person.

    • “The gameplay is fast-paced, with responsive shooting mechanics and a satisfying melee system.”
    • “Bright memory's core gameplay revolves around combining frenetic gunplay with sword-based melee combat.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging and fun!”
    • “While the ambition of a solo developer is commendable, technical shortcomings can significantly hinder the gameplay experience.”
    • “The gameplay is mindless button mashing with enemies that have way too much health and take ages to kill, at least when you try to shoot them.”
    • “This is a mechanically shallow, uninteresting and poorly thought out version of Bulletstorm.”
  • graphics2,308 mentions

    The graphics of "Bright Memory" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning quality, especially considering the game was developed by a single individual. Players have noted impressive visual details, effective use of ray tracing, and a vibrant art style that enhances the overall experience. However, some reviews mention occasional graphical glitches and performance issues, suggesting that while the visuals are a highlight, there is still room for improvement in optimization and consistency.

    • “Despite its single developer origin, 'Bright Memory' boasts impressive visuals.”
    • “The game's graphics showcase impressive attention to detail, while its combat mechanics offer fast-paced and engaging gameplay.”
    • “Bright Memory has stunning visuals and fantastic gameplay but since it's so short it feels like a demo rather than a complete game.”
    • “In addition, the game suffers from occasional bugs and glitches, which can range from minor graphical glitches to game-breaking crashes.”
    • “Some of the enemies look a bit wonky, and there are graphics artifacts, like missing textures or floating debris.”
    • “The graphics aren't that great in the end; the screenshots are nitpicked for it to look good.”
  • story1,980 mentions

    The story in "Bright Memory" is often described as minimal, confusing, and lacking depth, with many players feeling thrown into the action without sufficient context or explanation. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and potential for future development, the current narrative is criticized for being fragmented and vague, primarily serving as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a compelling storyline. Overall, the game is seen more as a tech demo with a short playtime, leaving players wanting a more fleshed-out narrative in future installments.

    • “Even though it is short and the story doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, it amazes me that the game by itself was made only by one person, and I believe he did a great job.”
    • “The story looks interesting as well with the monsters and men as enemies.”
    • “The story is surprisingly good and it caught me.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story unfolds through fragmented environmental storytelling and cryptic dialogue.”
    • “Players piece together the events through scattered documents and audio logs, but the overarching plot points remain vague.”
    • “Just dumped you into a story that it did not explain at all.”
  • music476 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and intense qualities that enhance the gameplay experience, often drawing comparisons to the soundtracks of titles like Doom. However, some players find the music to be repetitive or generic, with a few noting that certain tracks, particularly for boss fights, lack memorability. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, there is a consensus that it could benefit from more variety and refinement.

    • “The music makes my blood pump.”
    • “The soundtrack is a blast as well.”
    • “The music is outstanding, the graphics are unbelievable, and the gameplay is amazing.”
    • “The music is just fairly generic techno battle music.”
    • “The music and script, at least in the demo, could use a lot of work.”
    • “Largely loud and brash, the music whilst fitting the action in game, is certainly nothing to write home about.”
  • optimization346 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering, frame drops, and technical issues across various hardware configurations. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on high-end systems, others experienced poor performance even on lower settings, indicating that optimization remains a critical area for improvement. Overall, the game shows potential but is marred by inconsistent performance and bugs that disrupt the gaming experience.

    • “Overall, I'd say the game is excellently optimized.”
    • “This game is appreciably well optimized and even runs on low-end iGPUs such as Vega 8 & 11 on 720p at normal-high preset, running at 30-40 fps.”
    • “The graphics are great, the performance is like my computer doesn't even see a game running; it's so well optimized.”
    • “Solid core mechanics for a shooter, but still a badly designed, buggy, and unoptimized mess that manages to outstay its welcome, despite only taking 30 minutes to finish.”
    • “Even if you manage to stop the game from crashing on boot, the game will still be a stuttering mess which is also prone to crashing no matter your graphics settings or Proton version.”
    • “The optimization for this game is god awful as well.”
  • stability258 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, ranging from minor graphical issues to significant gameplay interruptions, such as freezing and loss of experience points. While some players appreciate the game's potential and visuals, many express frustration over its lack of polish and stability, often describing it as an unoptimized and buggy experience. Overall, the game's current state is seen as a rough demo that requires substantial improvements before it can be considered fully enjoyable.

    • “It looks fantastic and runs great.”
    • “The combat feels unique and satisfying, it runs great, the graphics are incredible, and it's all the more impressive knowing it was made by a single person.”
    • “Holy crap this game is awesome and runs great in Linux using Steam's Proton layer.”
    • “In addition, the game suffers from occasional bugs and glitches, which can range from minor graphical glitches to game-breaking crashes.”
    • “Solid core mechanics for a shooter, but still a badly designed, buggy, and unoptimized mess that manages to outstay its welcome, despite only taking 30 minutes to finish.”
    • “Game freezes almost every time when I open the skill menu and then steals all my XP.”
  • replayability160 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its enjoyable gameplay and the ability to unlock new abilities and achievements across multiple runs, while others criticize its short length and limited content, leading to low replay value. Many reviews highlight that while the game can be fun to speed-run and offers some replay incentives, it ultimately lacks depth for long-term engagement. Overall, it seems to cater more to achievement hunters and those who enjoy quick, action-packed sessions rather than players seeking extensive replayability.

    • “It's replayable and does have achievements (some of which are literally for replaying it), and as short as it is, that replay is simple to knock out if you enjoy the gameplay.”
    • “To play through the game it only takes about 30 minutes but it was super fun and fast-paced with a ton of replay value and trying to do it faster with less deaths.”
    • “Despite how little there is to do in Bright Memory, the game is thrilling and replayable, and I am tantalized waiting for the next release.”
    • “I'm being generous, don't buy this version. The game is short, not free, and it should have been free. It doesn't have any replayability, and the gameplay is clunky. The only positive I can give is the graphics, which look amazing, but overall, I don't recommend it.”
    • “I don't foresee the replayability of this being very high, especially when you're doing the same 4 hours over and over, so that's a bit of a hit to what it could be.”
    • “It is very short, about 20 to 30 minutes of play, with no real replayability apart from messing around with the abilities and trying to beat your time.”
  • atmosphere72 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive environments, strong lighting, and effective sound design, although some players noted inconsistencies in voice acting that can detract from the experience. While the graphics and overall aesthetic are often highlighted as impressive, the linear gameplay limits exploration of these atmospheric settings. Overall, many reviewers found the atmosphere to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is insane; I would recommend experiencing it to everyone.”
    • “Graphics are crysis level, gameplay is devil may cry level, music is doom level, enemy variety keeps things fresh, and the atmosphere is incredibly immersive.”
    • “I really fell in love with the beautiful atmosphere and creatures in this demo.”
    • “The voice acting (English) doesn't, in my opinion, sell the story atmosphere all too well.”
    • “For example, the English voice acting is often stilted, unnatural, and breaks the atmosphere created by the game, whereas the Chinese voice acting, probably due to being the game’s native language, is definitely an improvement with the actors being far more expressive and the personalities of each character showing much more strongly through their interactions.”
    • “Though whilst not the greatest on a technical level, the styling of the environments in some sections of the game effectively lends to the atmosphere that the storyline is trying to create, though this is not consistent across all areas of the game.”
  • monetization62 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players criticizing it as a cash grab due to the presence of ads and a lack of a compelling storyline. However, others appreciate that there are no microtransactions, suggesting that the developer's focus on gameplay over monetization could lead to a more enjoyable experience. Overall, the game's monetization strategy seems to be a point of contention, with players divided on its impact on gameplay quality.

    • “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
    • “You need to be respectful to them and give a thumbs up only to those who create the game with love, not a cash grab like this.”
    • “This shows that passion and good gameplay will always beat quick short-term cash grabs like microtransactions.”
    • “This is really not good advertising for your studio... sorry I can't recommend the game as it is now.”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently laughing at both intentional design choices and amusing bugs, such as enemies floating when the game is paused. The game cleverly incorporates references to popular titles like Dark Souls, adding a nostalgic and humorous twist, while the poor English translations often result in unintentionally funny moments. Overall, the blend of chaotic gameplay and quirky mechanics creates a lighthearted experience that keeps players entertained.

    • “For as short as this is, it seems like a promising demo of something bigger, but for as fun as the gunplay is, you'll be spending half the time shooting and half the time laughing at the design decisions going on here.”
    • “Can’t wait for the full game to come out, the bonfire was an adorable touch: funny, nostalgic, and endearing all at the same time.”
    • “This game is hilarious and it has many potentials.”
    • “You spend more time laughing and crying than playing.”
    • “You spend more time laughing and crying than playing.”
    • “You spend more time laughing and crying than playing.”
  • grinding50 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring a significant time investment to progress. While some appreciate that it avoids the pitfalls of typical open-world grind fests, many express frustration with repetitive mechanics, lack of difficulty scaling, and cumbersome controls that detract from the overall enjoyment. There is hope for improvement in future iterations, but current experiences are marred by the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “The 'boss' sections are pretty good; they aren't too grindy and you never feel like you're not doing damage.”
    • “Without any way to scale the difficulty, I'll never progress: it's just too tedious, and feels too random.”
    • “Most enemies rush you, so this combined with the cooldowns and attack animation timing not feeling right made some areas seem a little bit too tedious as it turns into constantly trying to move away from enemies in some very cramped spots.”
    • “A tedious, convoluted mess.”
  • character development44 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the character design and visuals but criticizing the lack of depth in character backstories and development. While the main character's design is often highlighted as exceptional, reviewers note that the overall narrative and character exploration are minimal, leaving players wanting more substance beyond the appealing aesthetics.

    • “I decided to try out the game and I instantly fell in love with the storyline, gameplay, graphics, character design, etc. The features this game offers will be really striking to the eyes, and I hope we can see a great and amazing game come in the near future for its full release.”
    • “An extremely small team has done a really great job; character designs are good, the bosses have interesting designs, regular enemies act differently, and the combat is honestly really fun.”
    • “The character designs are interesting, and there's plenty of scope with the story for the future.”
    • “- lack of character development”
    • “- 0 character development, the only person you know anything about is the one you play”
    • “Hey, a single, 30 min level... don't expect a full story with character development, nuance, etc... then again, Doom 2016 doesn't really have too much in the way of a story, but it's still a great game.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is largely inconsistent, with players experiencing a mix of excitement from the soundtrack and gameplay, but also frustration from shallow content and poorly executed mechanics. Many found the narrative lacking depth, leading to minimal emotional engagement, while the main character's erratic emotional state and mundane cutscenes detracted from the overall experience. Despite some moments of enjoyment, the game often feels disjointed and fails to evoke a strong emotional response.

    • “The soundtrack, as short as it is, is very cool and it made me feel awesome while playing.”
    • “I really got into the zone with this game and it made me feel like I was in an arcade blasting my way through each area to show a short cinematic to connect the next area.”
    • “There are boss fights that funny enough made me feel like I was playing a FPS version of Dark Souls.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

Buy Bright Memory

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 60 analyzed playthroughs

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