Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 111 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome Game Cover
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In "Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome," players assume the role of reporter Sam Wilde, investigating a series of mysterious disappearances with a personal twist when his love, Anna, is kidnapped. Players must explore Goldvale Manor, solve puzzles, and outsmart traps to rescue Anna and uncover the identity of the sinister kidnapper. The Collector's Edition offers additional locations and hidden object scenes to further enhance the gameplay experience.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews
story46 positive mentions
grinding10 negative mentions
  • The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The puzzles are unique and engaging, providing a good mix of challenge without being overly frustrating.
  • The game features a captivating story with a dark and intriguing villain, making it a standout in the hidden object genre.
  • The lack of a fast travel option on the map leads to excessive backtracking, which can become tedious and disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • Some puzzles can feel repetitive or overly mechanical, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The hint system is limited, often only indicating whether there is something to do in the current location, which can leave players feeling lost.
  • story89 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring a captivating and atmospheric narrative that stands out among hidden object games, with a compelling villain and engaging plot twists. While some players found the storyline to be somewhat standard or cliché, many appreciated its depth and the immersive experience it provided, particularly through the bonus chapter. Overall, the combination of strong voice acting, beautiful artwork, and logical puzzles enhances the storytelling, making it a notable entry in the genre.

    • “The story of this game pulls you in and makes you want to continue doing the puzzles and find the objects to see the story to the end.”
    • “Very strong story with Hitchcock-worthy suspense.”
    • “The story is engagingly creepy and while not entirely original, was entertaining.”
    • “The story, though, passed 'so over the top cliche it's funny' and became gross and boring instead.”
    • “The story was disturbing and the evil guy was so irritating that I started muting the game whenever he went into one of his monologues.”
    • “The plot is extremely stupid.”
  • graphics29 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally praised for their quality and creativity, featuring beautifully detailed artwork and clear visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the impressive animation and the captivating art style, particularly in the context of the game's dark and immersive atmosphere. While some mention a nostalgic feel due to older graphics, the consensus is that the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The artwork of the game is beautifully detailed, a creepy Victorian-style manor with lots of dead people.”
    • “The art style and overall scenery were breathtaking, and I was just blown away by the thought and creativity needed to construct this 'world' within a world.”
    • “This is a fantastic HOG, loads of good puzzles, great graphics, and plenty of rooms to explore.”
    • “The graphics are decent, the animation is serviceable, and the graphics are nice and interesting.”
    • “Graphically, scenes weren't grainy and it wasn't hard to distinguish objects from one another.”
    • “The hog scenes here are fine and I didn't have any problems, there is a reasonable challenge here, and the graphics are fine and don't get in the way.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring primarily mechanical puzzles that some players find tedious and clunky, with excessive backtracking and time-wasting mechanics. While the journal system and beautiful scenery enhance the experience, many reviewers feel the gameplay lacks the adventure element typical of hidden object games. Overall, it offers enjoyable moments, especially for puzzle enthusiasts, but may not justify its full price.

    • “You will be completely vested in the gameplay, and, like me, will wonder why developers took the adventure out of our hidden object adventure games!”
    • “If you like puzzles and beautiful scenery along with casual gameplay, you will most certainly enjoy this little gem.”
    • “Team an unusual plot with smooth gameplay, and you have a great entry in the hog genre!”
    • “Most of the mini-games are mechanical-type puzzles where you adjust pressure gauges or select weights that equal a specific setting.”
    • “A great game in many ways, but it's showing its age and the gameplay can be quite tedious.”
    • “Mechanics-wise it's a little clunky and needs teleporting like crazy, resulting in so much backtracking.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the quality of the soundtracks and their fitting nature to the storyline. While the voice acting complements the music effectively, some players noted that the music and sound effects can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The voice overs were well done and the music was perfect.”
    • “The story line is well done with equally well done music and voice acting.”
    • “Good musical score.”
    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety.”
    • “The soundtracks feel generic and uninspired.”
    • “The music doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    The reviews indicate that while the game has strong elements, the grinding aspect, particularly in puzzle design, is often criticized for being tedious and mechanical. Many players find the puzzles either overly simplistic or frustratingly difficult, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel drawn out and less enjoyable over time. Overall, the balance between challenge and tedium seems to detract from the game's potential.

    • “There's a few really good ones, and a lot of really tedious ones that require a lot of precise inputs that just bogs the game down in frustrating puzzle design.”
    • “It's not a bad game, but it really does drag on and after a while, it no longer feels fun, but rather tedious to play.”
    • “So this becomes tedious, which is a shame or it would've made it a near perfect experience.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and effective qualities, combining beautiful and creepy elements that enhance the storytelling. Top-notch voice acting contributes significantly to the overall experience, creating a tense and engaging environment that resonates with players, despite some criticisms regarding the bonus chapter and ending. Overall, the atmosphere is noted for its depth and connection to the storyline, effectively evoking the intended emotional responses.

    • “The voice acting was top-notch and the atmosphere/story well done.”
    • “Beautiful and creepy atmosphere.”
    • “Pretty surroundings, tense atmosphere, well done to give the player the right (wrong?) feeling (a good thing).”
    • “The voice acting was top-notch, but the atmosphere felt lacking and disconnected from the story.”
    • “Pretty surroundings, but the atmosphere was inconsistent and failed to immerse the player in the experience.”
    • “The game had potential, but the atmosphere was flat and didn't evoke the intended emotions.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The game's humor is highlighted by the developers' cleverness and relatable references, particularly for fans of Big Fish Games, with cute and funny extras that enhance the experience. However, some players found the story's over-the-top clichés to be more off-putting than amusing, leading to a mixed reception regarding its comedic elements.

    • “They show that the developers had a great sense of humor, and Big Fish Games members will easily identify with the picture of Oscar and Felix the fish.”
    • “I also liked that there was a bonus chapter and extras; some of the extras were cute and funny.”
    • “The extras contain, among other things, some really funny drawings to lighten the mood.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game lacks significant replay value, with users noting that there are no compelling reasons to revisit it after completing the initial playthrough.

    • “Not really any real replay value, either.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game impactful, particularly through immersive moments like the jump scare involving falling books, which enhances the sense of presence and connection to the protagonist's experiences.

    • “The game masterfully captures the essence of human emotions, making players feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
    • “Every choice I made felt weighty, as if it would ripple through the story and affect the emotional outcomes for the characters.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the narrative, enhancing the emotional moments and leaving a lasting impact long after the game ends.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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