MAMIYA
- April 30, 2021
- Kenkou Land
- 60h median play time
Get on Steam"MAMIYA" is a single-player Horror Visual Novel game set in Tokyo during the prophesied end of the world. The game follows a group of young men struggling with existential dread, until they meet Mamiya, a mysterious child who becomes their emotional support. With 6 different endings and 83 illustrations, MamiYA offers a captivating, dark mystery with sensational music and a highly emotional story.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- MAMIYA features a deeply engaging and emotional narrative that explores complex themes such as trauma, identity, and human connection, making it a thought-provoking experience.
- The character development is exceptional, with each character feeling realistic and relatable, allowing players to form strong emotional connections with them.
- The art and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game and contributing to its hauntingly captivating storytelling.
- The story can become confusing, especially in the later parts, leaving players with unanswered questions and a sense of disorientation.
- Some players may find the pacing uneven, with certain sections feeling rushed or lacking depth compared to others.
- The game requires the purchase of DLC to experience the complete story, which may frustrate some players who prefer a fully contained experience.
- story134 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Mamiya" is a complex and emotionally charged narrative that explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and the human condition against a dark, post-apocalyptic backdrop. Players navigate the intertwined lives of four characters, uncovering their traumas and relationships through a non-linear structure that can be both confusing and rewarding. While the writing is praised for its depth and thought-provoking content, it also requires patience and commitment, especially as the story concludes on a cliffhanger, necessitating the purchase of additional content for a complete experience.
“The story is fascinating, and I found most of the characters compelling and nuanced.”
“Mamiya is a story about finding, accepting, and loving yourself in a chaotic world.”
“It's a very unique masterpiece with unmatched depth, intricate story, and complex characters that never uses its heavy themes as shock value, or tries to push anything onto its players.”
“The mystery starts out interesting enough, but winds up bogged down by annoying tropes and overcomplicating the story without really meaning to say anything with it.”
“I was really enjoying this until starting the DLC and then you could kind of feel the story collapsing under its own weight.”
“The story was all over the place and the transition between scenes felt a little too fast for my comfort.”
- music50 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game, primarily composed of royalty-free tracks, has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. Players have noted that the carefully curated soundtrack fits seamlessly with the game's themes and moments, often surprising them with its quality and impact. Despite some initial reservations about the use of freeware music, many found it to be a standout aspect that significantly contributes to the overall experience.
“Despite the music being all freeware/royalty free, I found each track to fit the atmosphere perfectly, especially during particularly impactful moments.”
“The soundtrack is apparently all royalty free, but it's hard to believe with how perfectly it all goes together.”
“I rarely think so highly of the music in a game; I would buy a soundtrack if I could. Every track matches the moments it’s used in, and many played a big part in why I cried my eyes out.”
“I can't understand why this game doesn't have a dedicated soundtrack.”
“All of the game's music consists of non-copyrighted obscure tracks found in weird corners of the internet.”
“Even though the music and drawings are a little sloppy, the story is just too good, so it compensates for all.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional depth of the game is widely praised, with players expressing strong attachments to the characters and their arcs, often leading to tears and a lasting impact. The narrative intricately weaves complex themes such as loss, trauma, and interpersonal connections, creating a heartfelt yet bleak experience that resonates deeply with players. The music enhances these emotional moments, contributing to a unique and thought-provoking storytelling experience that many describe as both torturous and beautiful.
“I cried like ten times playing this game, mainly because of Minato, but their character arc was just that more rewarding because of it.”
“This game made me feel many things... each character made a place for themselves in my heart, and this is a story that will stay with me for a long, long time <3”
“Not only that, Mamiya does a great job portraying each of the characters' emotions: when a character is having a wholesome moment, it feels genuine, even the sprite of them smiling is heartwarming and you smile with them; but also, when a character feels that there isn’t a way out and gives up, you can also feel it and it will convince you that there is nothing they can do at that point.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their beautiful and emotive art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling, despite not being flashy or detailed. While the character sprites and presentation are engaging, the backgrounds are considered average but effective in conveying the necessary context. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's immersive experience, complementing its dark themes and compelling narrative.
“The accompanying music and graphics make for an atmosphere that is simply impossible for me to describe in any words in any language.”
“The entire experience is almost dream-like with powerful visuals, dark and disturbing themes, and an extremely unusual and interesting soundtrack.”
“But other than that, it's a great game with solid story, beautiful visuals, and amazing soundtracks.”
“The story is generally dark in subject matter, but it is only described through text, and there are no graphic cutscenes.”
“If you play visual novels mainly for their visuals and expect detailed, flashy art, then you might want to look for a different one – Mamiya isn’t that kind of game.”
“[b]Visuals[/b]: the backgrounds are nothing special, but they get across what they need to.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is deeply immersive, characterized by a stifling sense of existential dread and a dark post-apocalyptic setting that enhances its themes of mental health and relationships. The thoughtful integration of royalty-free music and sepia-toned visuals contributes significantly to the overall experience, creating an atmosphere that resonates powerfully with players. Reviewers unanimously praise the attention to detail, noting that every element works harmoniously to evoke a profound emotional response.
“The accompanying music and graphics make for an atmosphere that is simply impossible for me to describe in any words in any language.”
“So much thought is put into every detail in the game, and it is outstandingly atmospheric.”
“A place near its inexplicable end, an atmosphere stifling with existential dread and suffering no analgesic can soothe.”
“Well from the basic looks you can't expect much from the cover of this one, but within the dark post-apocalyptic atmosphere lies a very dark story about bonds, mental health, sexuality, and friendships.”
“The atmosphere totally hits the mark with the one-color sepia-toned backgrounds; it feels like the world has ended.”
- character development8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in Mamiya is noted for its impressive character designs and varied facial expressions, which enhance the storytelling experience. However, some users feel that the character development itself feels unfinished or lacking depth, despite the engaging narrative that encourages theorizing and connections between plot twists. Overall, while the visual aspects are praised, the depth of character development leaves room for improvement.
“For a project of its scale (mostly developed by one person), Mamiya has great character designs and wonderfully constructed CGs.”
“I really like the character designs, as well as how varied everyone's facial expressions are!”
“The story is very nice to reread, as it puts subtle hints to many of the plot twists and character development, which is very entertaining and allows your brain to theorize and connect things together.”
“Character development, though, feels unfinished and kind of lacking.”
“The art is rather minimalistic; character design is diverse and in a style I personally like, but the backgrounds are just blurry images of a handful of different environments.”
“One of the most memorable aspects of Mamiya is definitely its character designs, but they feel underdeveloped.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and zany elements, often juxtaposed with a darker, multi-layered narrative. Players appreciate the comedic moments that arise from relatable situations, such as the humorous portrayal of personal conflicts, which adds a unique charm to the overall experience.
“Honestly, I bought the game just because I saw another review saying something along the lines of 'gay people break up and make it everyone else's problem' and thought it was funny.”
“You already know what to expect—a multi-layered story full of twists and reveals, quite on a darker side (which never feels exploitative), at times interspersed with quirky humor and zaniness.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a basic user interface that lacks complexity, leading to a straightforward but unremarkable experience.
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The controls are unresponsive, which makes the gameplay frustrating.”
“The AI is poorly designed, leading to a lack of challenge and immersion.”
