Majestic Nights
- October 30, 2014
- Epiphany Games
Get on Steam"Majestic Nights" is an episodic action-adventure-thriller game set in an alternate 1980s where all conspiracy theories are true. Play as an intelligence operative or private investigator, uncovering clues and investigating conspiracy events using wits, stealth, and force. The game offers six chapters, with a free prologue and paid subsequent chapters, providing a complete story or standalone experiences.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a vibrant 80's aesthetic and a catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The narrative is engaging, filled with conspiracy theories and humor, appealing to fans of the genre.
- Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique indie charm and potential for fun gameplay.
- The game has been criticized for being unfinished, with only two of the planned episodes released since 2014, leading to feelings of abandonment among players.
- Gameplay mechanics are often described as clunky and buggy, with issues in combat and AI behavior that detract from the experience.
- The episodic nature of the game, combined with a season pass that feels misleading, has left many players feeling ripped off.
- story51 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as fun and ambitious, blending a neon-soaked 80s aesthetic with conspiracy theories, but it suffers from shallow writing and a lack of coherent context. Many players find the dialogue convoluted and the plot vague, often feeling lost without proper introduction or character motivation. Additionally, the episodic nature and reliance on DLC for further story content have led to frustrations regarding the game's unfinished state and perceived value.
“It's not perfect and it has its share of bugs, but the story is fun and the price is appropriate.”
“Majestic Nights had a great vision, cool music, and a neat storyline that mixed the neon-soaked idealized 80s with a paranoiac nightmare conspiracy world where all wacky theories and legends are secretly true.”
“It's a fun game, good storyline, nice animation, and a killer soundtrack.”
“Only the first two chapters in this unfinished release make you pay to play the conclusion to the story, which is a terrible way to release a game.”
“The worst part is, even if it worked properly, it would still be nothing but a plot made entirely of vague and uninformative references to conspiracy theories split up by repetitive shooting sequences.”
“You're basically thrust into the plot with absolutely zero lead-up or introduction, no idea who you're playing as, what their motivations are, what's at stake, or who the bad guys are.”
- music35 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its 80s synthwave revival style, perfectly complementing the retro gameplay and atmosphere. Players appreciate that the soundtrack is included at no extra cost, enhancing the overall experience. However, some reviews note that the quality of the music can vary, with a few expressing disappointment in less intense tracks that detract from the gameplay.
“The music is spot-on for the atmosphere of the game (in the style of 80s synthwave revival) and is included with the game at no extra cost, in mp3 and flac - bonus points for a game when so many others sell the OST separately.”
“I love the game's style, humor, 80's flair, and soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
“Now unfortunately the game has a way less intense and way more bland soundtrack, making the experience worse than it could have been.”
“While I like the dialogue (what little there is), the art style, and the music, the majority of this game is plagued by poor stealth mechanics, frustrating combat, and bugginess.”
“Music's also fine - I have a softness for techno and electronica. To be honest, I'm disappointed so far in what I've seen.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this indie project is characterized by simple mechanics and a retro feel, but it suffers from various issues such as bugs, frustrating combat, and a lack of polish. While some players appreciate its charm and unique approach, many find the gameplay repetitive and filled with glitches, leading to a mixed overall experience. Improvements in controls, mechanics, and content are needed for a more enjoyable experience.
“Retro gameplay and music add to the overall feel of this niche adventure.”
“While the graphics are not great (but more than adequate) and the gameplay is a bit sketchy at times (but not aggravating), the theme is great.”
“There are a few hiccups with the controls and gameplay, but overall I still thought it was a great experience.”
“The gameplay is shoddy and the writing could use a little more polish.”
“I was really looking forward to playing a game with this sort of concept, but the shortfalls in gameplay and story make it nigh intolerable right now.”
“To start with, the gameplay loop is repetitive, boring, and filled with bugs.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are subpar and reminiscent of tablet-level visuals, earning a low score of 3/10. However, the bright and bold 80s retro art style has been praised for its charm and thematic consistency, drawing comparisons to the Borderlands aesthetic. Overall, while the graphics may not impress technically, their stylistic appeal resonates with some players.
“It has a good 80's retro art style similar to Borderlands.”
“Stylistically, the visuals are bright and bold and oozing with 80s flair.”
“I loved the concept and the art style to pieces.”
“The in-game graphics are so bad that the loading time is practically nonexistent.”
“Technically speaking, the graphics look like something that would be at home on a tablet rather than your desktop PC.”
“Graphics 3/10”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, being described as buggy, underdeveloped, and riddled with glitches that detract from the overall experience. Players report problems such as poor animations, AI limitations, and gameplay errors, leading to a frustrating and repetitive experience. While it may be inexpensive, the consensus is that it is not worth the time due to its lack of polish and stability.
“However, what it really turned out to be was a buggy, underdeveloped, and repetitive mess.”
“The basic premise of an action-adventure game in a setting where all conspiracy theories are true sounds interesting, or did when Deus Ex and The Secret World used it anyway, but this thing is too buggy, unfinished, and plain shoddy to even be put up for sale.”
“Now the gameplay isn't perfect; the shooting system is pretty bad, there are game glitches like shooting through walls, AI having very limited behavior, moonsliding, ignoring the corpses, bugs, and gameplay errors.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is described as quirky and highbrow, appealing to those who appreciate clever dialogue and 80's flair, though it may not resonate with everyone. While some find the humor engaging, others note that the references lack depth and the overall experience can feel buggy and tedious. Overall, it offers a unique comedic style, but its effectiveness may vary depending on the player's taste.
“Quirky and funny point and click episodic adventure game.”
“I love the game's style, humor, 80's flair, and soundtrack.”
“Yes the humor and story are high brow, so if you aren't really good with words and stuff, maybe skip it.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Majestic Nights" is highly praised, characterized by an engaging 80s synthwave soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and is provided at no extra cost. Reviewers note that the game's atmosphere, filled with humor, action, and intriguing conspiracies, stands out as one of its strongest elements, drawing favorable comparisons to titles like "Hotline Miami."
“Great atmosphere similar to Hotline Miami but also includes a great RPG system and choices on how you deal with your objectives.”
“The atmosphere is arguably the strong point of Majestic Nights.”
“The music is spot-on for the atmosphere of the game (in the style of 80s synthwave revival) and is included with the game at no extra cost, in mp3 and flac - bonus points for a game when so many others sell the OST separately.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability due to its episodic structure and diverse conversational choices that allow players to approach objectives in different ways. While currently short, the planned six-part adventure encourages players to revisit episodes for a varied experience.
“At this stage, it is short but offers some replayability. Things get a little weird in episode two towards the end, but it's all a part of the overall adventure, which is planned out as a six-part episodic game.”
“Speaking about the writing, not only is it great, but there are different conversational ways (non-evident most of the time) of accomplishing objectives, which warrants replayability. It's kind of a big deal for a game that's not too long at the moment.”
