Gray Matter

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 325 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
Gray Matter Game Cover
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In Gray Matter, recently hired assistant Samantha Everett helps reclusive neurobiologist Dr. David Styles conduct experiments on six volunteers at Oxford University. As strange incidents occur, players must decipher the true intentions of Dr. Styles' research and uncover the secrets of Dread Hill House. Legendary game author Jane Jensen presents a captivating mystery adventure that explores the realms of science and the supernatural.

  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Tablet
  • Wii
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 325 reviews
story182 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Engaging storyline with intriguing characters that keeps players invested throughout the game.
  • Beautifully designed environments and artwork, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Challenging yet logical puzzles that provide a satisfying gameplay experience.
  • Some puzzles can be frustratingly obscure, leading to moments of confusion and requiring external help.
  • The pacing can feel slow at times, with characters moving sluggishly between locations.
  • The ending leaves several plot points unresolved, which may disappoint players seeking closure.
  • story354 mentions

    The story of "Gray Matter" is widely praised for its intriguing and immersive narrative, blending elements of mystery, romance, and the supernatural, crafted by renowned writer Jane Jensen. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the engaging plot twists that keep them invested throughout the game, despite some criticism regarding pacing and unresolved plot points. Overall, the storytelling is considered the game's strongest feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of the adventure genre.

    • “The story is addicting, the writing is superb, and the clues are a challenge but not discouraging.”
    • “Gray Matter is a captivating and thought-provoking point-and-click adventure game that delivers a gripping and suspenseful storyline.”
    • “The story is beautifully written and had me on the edge of my seat wanting more.”
    • “First, the pacing of the story is extremely slow.”
    • “Finally, the things which you need to do to advance the story are bizarre and illogical.”
    • “The actions of the characters are really poorly motivated and downright don't make sense. There are plenty of plot holes, and when the whole story unravels and is revealed in the end, it feels even more ridiculous.”
  • music87 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its memorable and haunting quality, with many reviewers highlighting the excellent soundtrack composed by Robert Holmes, which enhances the immersive atmosphere and complements the story beautifully. Voice acting is generally well-received, adding to the overall experience, although some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many expressing a desire to purchase it separately.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent, and when combined with the pre-rendered backgrounds, it creates an atmosphere that keeps you immersed in the story.”
    • “The music, composed by Robert Holmes as usual, is moody and quiet, and there are some lovely pieces like David's theme that are just a delight.”
    • “The soundtrack by Robert Holmes is gothic and hauntingly beautiful, especially the songs by the Scarlet Furies.”
    • “The music might be quite annoying in the end.”
    • “The music gets a bit repetitive after a few hours and the voice acting is pretty stereotypical.”
    • “The soundtrack is quite adequate too, mostly composed of classy, although sometimes repetitive, piano pieces that fit the mood of the game.”
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous pre-rendered backgrounds and beautiful artwork, which effectively create an immersive atmosphere. While many players appreciate the detailed environments and unique art style, some criticize the clunky animations and inconsistent quality of cutscenes, particularly noting that certain 3D models appear dated. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some minor shortcomings.

    • “The pre-rendered backgrounds make all the locations in the game gorgeous, the character models are not too shabby either being fairly detailed and the hand-drawn animated cutscenes are just as attractive as the in-game visuals.”
    • “The graphics are really nice and the incorporation of magic into the problem-solving is surprising, rewarding, and integrates really well with the feeling of the game.”
    • “The artwork is beautiful, and after a while, you come to appreciate its unique style.”
    • “The only thing that can be said against the game are some clunky controls and animations, a few 3D models that don't really work, and the odd, slide-show style cut scenes that seem to shift to a different, anime-inspired art style.”
    • “The visuals, especially character models and animations, are subpar for 2014.”
    • “The game's visuals will likely disappoint some, given that the game originally released in English around 2011 and looks more like it was a product from the early 2000s.”
  • gameplay73 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of traditional point-and-click mechanics and unique elements, such as magic tricks that add a fresh twist to puzzle-solving. While some players appreciate the innovative mechanics and engaging story, others find the gameplay slow, tedious, and occasionally frustrating due to bugs and the reliance on following specific steps. Overall, it offers a classic adventure experience with a rich narrative, though it may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action.

    • “The incorporation of the protagonist's magic into the puzzles is quite original and adds a unique twist to the gameplay.”
    • “Beyond the standard point-and-click fare, this game also introduces a magic mechanic, where you pull off various tricks to get what you want.”
    • “The gameplay is reasonably intuitive, and the last puzzle was the only one that was majorly difficult of the lot.”
    • “I don't particularly think there was that much to the gimmick mechanic of doing magic tricks, since they pretty much boiled down to following recipes.”
    • “It's a shame every single aspect of what makes this a game is so poorly executed; it has an engaging enough story and characters that it could have been a decent book or movie, but the mechanics ruin the pacing and make the whole thing a grueling experience.”
    • “Gameplay is frustrating, but that's par for the course for most adventure games.”
  • atmosphere29 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intricate design, combining excellent soundtracks, detailed visuals, and a compelling narrative that evokes a gothic and mysterious ambiance. Reviewers highlight the effective use of art direction and sound to enhance tension and drama, creating a captivating experience that keeps players engaged. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a harmonious blend of storytelling, character depth, and aesthetic appeal, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is excellent, and when combined with the pre-rendered backgrounds, it creates an atmosphere that keeps you immersed in the story.”
    • “The environments are intricately detailed, with a realistic and immersive aesthetic that perfectly captures the game's gothic atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere sucks you in, and the characters make you stay.”
    • “The atmosphere created was very mysterious, with heavy dashes of both gothic and paranormal sensibilities, so fans of those conventions should be quite pleased with the presentation.”
    • “However, the noir atmosphere and just the way the art direction infused almost every scene and environment with dread was excellent.”
  • character development12 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and uniqueness, with some characters receiving significant attention and complexity. However, several reviewers noted that certain characters lacked sufficient background, leading to a feeling of missed potential and uneven pacing in their development. Overall, while the story and character designs are compelling, there are calls for more consistent and thorough character exploration.

    • “The story is long and rich, carrying several intrigues along with character development.”
    • “Great story, and nice character development.”
    • “The voice acting is really well done, the character development is good and every character is unique in their own way; the puzzles can be challenging but in a fun way; they keep you engaged.”
    • “I wish we got a little more character development. Dr. Styles was a complex character, but some of the others felt like we could have gotten more background that would have enhanced the overall story.”
    • “Subjectively, there was some potential wasted with regards to character development, and the 'building up' did not always feel like it flowed smoothly.”
    • “I was disappointed by some of the character development; it was minimal, and the ending felt very rushed.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues across various hardware setups, particularly related to shadows. While some players found workarounds, such as compatibility mode or restarting their machines, the overall consensus is that the game's performance is subpar, especially given its graphical simplicity.

    • “I had massive performance problems with the game, as have a bunch of other people on the forums, but setting the game to Windows XP SP2 compatibility mode fixed it for me.”
    • “I also had the slow performance issue (character moved super slowly, choppy first cutscene) when I first played the game, but that problem went away and never came back after I restarted my machine once.”
    • “Pretty bad performance and optimization.”
    • “For an adventure game with prerendered backgrounds and very few fairly ugly models on screen at any time, this kind of performance is inexcusable.”
    • “This game has serious performance issues on lots of machines, which renders it unplayable unless you restart your machine before you play.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and slow-paced, with many noting that the gameplay becomes repetitive and frustrating, particularly during puzzles and certain sequences. While the story offers intriguing twists, the overall experience can feel drawn out and burdensome, especially in the latter parts of the game.

    • “Slow and tedious gameplay.”
    • “I did find it got a bit tedious when I was trying to advance beyond a few situations.”
    • “Also, once the novelty wears off, it becomes tedious - you first need to find the correct trick to pull off from inside the magic book, then you simply follow the steps.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is generally inconsistent, with users reporting occasional clunkiness and bugs, particularly affecting gameplay progression and features like scrolling and zooming. While some players experienced significant glitches that required reloading earlier saves, others noted that troubleshooting could resolve certain issues. Overall, frequent saving is recommended to mitigate potential disruptions.

    • “I did run into a few glitches that meant I was stuck because the given event wasn't triggering, so save often. I recommend using about a three-slot rotating system in addition to whatever milestone saves you decide to keep.”
    • “I experienced no bugs or glitches except one that effectively prevented me from continuing the game, forcing me to reload a save from hours earlier.”
    • “Some glitches (for example, I had real issues with the scrolling/zoom features of the game).”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of intentional wit and unintentional absurdity, with moments that range from satirical to genuinely funny, particularly in the portrayal of cultural stereotypes. While some aspects, like the German language portrayal, may come off as ridiculous to native speakers, the overall mix of seriousness and humor enhances the suspenseful atmosphere. Despite minor complaints about character development, the experience is enjoyable and often amusing, especially when shared with others.

    • “Although sometimes it is so ridiculous that it almost becomes a satire and is funny again.”
    • “There is a good mixture of seriousness and humor within the overall suspenseful atmosphere.”
    • “Both sad and funny at times (sometimes unintentionally funny), it's also a great experience to share with a friend.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a deeply engaging story and character development that resonates with players, particularly through its touching moments and impactful ending. However, some reviewers felt that the tragic conclusion felt forced and detracted from the overall emotional experience. The narrative's exploration of grief, particularly through the character of Dr. David Styles, adds depth to the emotional journey.

    • “With a short cast of characters, I was deeply involved in the story, and its ending had parts that were genuinely emotional.”
    • “Very touching story and character development.”
    • “On the way to London, her bike breaks down and she takes refuge in a beautiful gothic mansion, pretending to be an Oxford student sent to assist the mansion’s resident, Dr. David Styles, a physically and emotionally scarred neurobiologist who is in deep mourning over the loss of his wife from a tragic accident.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The Gabriel Knight games are noted for their linear gameplay, which limits their replayability; however, some players are not deterred by this aspect, as they are aware of it before playing.

    • “I've played the Gabriel Knight games before and knew going in that this would be really linear, with very little replay value, so that doesn't bug me.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

18hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
12-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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