Inversed
- October 18, 2024
- Tymedust Games
Get on SteamA short, interactive visual novel set in the mid-19th Century, in which a poet fights against time as she's writing the most important work of her life. Poetry is the answer, but what is the question?
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PC
Phone
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Windows
Android
Linux
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features gorgeous visuals and stellar voice acting that enhance the overall experience.
- It effectively creates a sense of mystery and emotional depth through its unique word selection mechanics and narrative.
- Despite its short length, the game delivers a powerful emotional punch and intriguing story elements.
- The predetermined lines formed by word choices can feel limiting and may not create a compelling poetic experience.
- Some players found the story's payoff to be underwhelming despite the intriguing setup.
- The game may come off as overly simplistic or lacking in substance for those seeking a deeper narrative.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story is noted for its intriguing meta-narrative and religious intertextuality, which some players found elevated the overall experience, despite a lack of depth in certain areas. While the narrative weaves a coherent tale with emotional impact, opinions vary on its substance and payoff, with some praising the presentation and voice acting. Overall, it offers a mix of compelling elements and areas that could benefit from further development.
“I always enjoy a nice meta-narrative; thus, the inclusion of such elements elevated the story to a higher level.”
“Gorgeous presentation, stellar voice acting, and a story that punched me right in the feels.”
“Here are some of my interpretations relating to the story: [spoiler] analyzing the content of the story, I'm able to discern some religious intertextuality, although I'm not sure what implications they entail.”
“It's also clear she was murdered in some way, though I'm not exactly sure how 'mother!' factors into the story.”
“There isn't that much substance to it, but it manages to weave a coherent story. If you're considering another game by Tymedust Games, I would suggest playing this or another one of their free games first to see if this is your type of style.”
“Maybe the end product will have better content, but the story in this just has the intrigue, but the payoff is... meh.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highlighted as the core component of the game, featuring simple yet well-designed mechanics that allow players to choose words and create poems. Many reviewers praise the mechanical mastery, suggesting that it elevates the game to a legendary status despite its lack of literary depth.
“Other reviews say the mechanics are amazing.”
“A game of this mechanical mastery deserves legendary status!”
“It is the main gameplay component, but I also understand the game is not meant to be a literary showcase.”
“With simple but very well-designed mechanics, choose words and receive poems; what could go wrong in the end, right?”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are well-received, with visuals that complement the game's content effectively, and the artwork is noted to be of high quality. Overall, the graphics enhance the storytelling experience.
“Apart from all that, the voice acting is quite nice and the visuals are fitting for the content described.”
“The story is good, and the artwork is quite good.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its effective use of piano and music, which creates tension and an unsettling feeling that complements the narrative. However, some players feel that the limited time and word count constraints hinder the development of a more immersive atmosphere.
“The piano and music in general serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
“The game effectively builds an unsettling atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, even within the constraints of a game jam.”
“The piano and music in general also serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
“I wasn't quite unsettled by the game, possibly because of the difficulty related to building atmosphere and tension in such a short amount of time, although this is unavoidable considering it was made for a game jam with a 1,000-word count limitation.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively enhances the unsettling atmosphere and tension, complementing the narrative without being distracting. Reviewers praise the well-crafted score, noting its contribution to the overall experience alongside strong voice acting.
“The piano and music in general serve their purpose in creating tension and a generally unsettling atmosphere without distracting too much from the narrative.”
“A very well-crafted short horror visual novel, featuring good music and voice acting.”
“The music often feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the soundtrack has some good moments, it often feels out of place and doesn't match the game's tone.”
“The background music is forgettable and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively conveys deep emotional themes, particularly the heartbreak of Alzheimer's, resonating even with those who haven't experienced it personally. Its ability to deliver a powerful emotional impact in a brief playtime is widely praised.
“Emotional and eerie, this game captured the grief of Alzheimer's heartbreakingly well—even for someone who hasn’t experienced it firsthand.”
“This game packed a huge emotional punch in such a short time.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive at times, suggesting that it can feel repetitive or tedious.
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
“Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
“While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
“The game can feel a bit grindy at times.”
“Grinding becomes repetitive and tedious after a while.”
“I found myself spending too much time grinding for resources.”
