MazM: Jekyll and Hyde
- April 2, 2020
- Growing Seeds
Get on Steam"MazM: Jekyll and Hyde" is a narrative-driven game that explores the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Players uncover the dark secrets of Victorian London by solving puzzles and making choices that affect the story's outcome. The game features hand-drawn graphics and a focus on atmospheric, immersive storytelling.
iPad
iPhone
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features stunning artwork and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- It is a faithful adaptation of the original Victorian novel, capturing the essence of the story and characters effectively.
- The gameplay is engaging and offers a unique perspective on the narrative, making it enjoyable for fans of gothic literature.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with some mechanics feeling frustrating and lacking depth.
- Dialogue and character interactions can be stiff and mundane, detracting from the overall immersion.
- Some players found the pacing slow and the story predictable, leading to a less engaging experience.
- story42 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story, based on the classic "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," is praised for its faithful adaptation and stunning visuals, effectively capturing the essence of the original narrative while offering a unique perspective through different character viewpoints. However, some players found the pacing slow and the dialogue mundane, with minor typos detracting from the experience. Overall, it is considered an engaging and artistic retelling that enhances certain themes of the original work, making it accessible even for those unfamiliar with the novella.
“The story is told in a drawing, enticing way to keep your attention to the end; everything is elegantly written.”
“The mazm version of this brilliant gothic story is a wonderful adaptation that not only remains faithful to the original story but also enhances certain aspects, offering, in my opinion, a better experience of the story.”
“It's a short game with a main emphasis on the story, which, accompanied by its eerie soundtrack and aesthetically matching artworks, constitutes an overall entertaining gameplay.”
“The story gets a little bit boring, as the clues just explain what happened a few seconds ago, the dialogues are mundane, and the characters explain the plot through talking to themselves.”
“The main story of Dr. Jekyll remains the same, but other characters changed dramatically, and I can't see the point of the change, so I'd say it's an unsuccessful adaptation.”
“There seemed to be this undertone that some big plot twist would be happening, but nope.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork and faithful adaptation of the Victorian novel. Reviewers praised the beautiful art style, which enhances the storytelling and immerses players in the game's eerie atmosphere, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack. Overall, the visuals are considered a major highlight, often overshadowing other gameplay elements.
“The artwork throughout is incredible.”
“First off, absolutely love the visuals; the art style is just *chef's kiss*.”
“Stunning visuals and amazing recreation of a great story.”
“The graphics are cute and yet gloomy.”
“The constant walking back and forth with no other real substance can get old fast, but the visuals sometimes make up for it.”
“1) Artwork: to adapt a novel into a video game, one has to acknowledge the fact that the latter medium demands a wider attention to the visual and less to the imagination.”
- music15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its outstanding quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting that it perfectly complements the story and art style. While some sound effects are considered basic, the original soundtrack is described as beautiful and fitting, contributing to an eerie and immersive experience. Overall, the music plays a significant role in capturing the mood and engaging players throughout the gameplay.
“The soundtrack was outstanding, the characters and even the art style is impressive.”
“It's a short game with a main emphasis on the story, which, accompanied by its eerie soundtrack and aesthetically matching artworks, constitutes an overall entertaining gameplay.”
“The art style is beautiful and pleasant to look at, the music perfectly fits every situation and the game captured my interest and curiosity from the very first moment and kept it up to the very last second.”
“The sound effects are free/stock and I'm fairly sure the music is as well, though the music isn't unpleasant.”
“The sound effects are free/stock and I'm fairly sure the music is as well, though the music isn't unpleasant.”
“The music isn't stock; the team seemed to work on it themselves, which I think is pleasant.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is often criticized for being repetitive and simplistic, making it less engaging for players seeking depth. While the artwork and story are praised, many reviewers feel that the gameplay does not enhance the overall experience and may be more suitable for a younger audience. Overall, it lacks the complexity that some gamers desire, leading to a recommendation primarily for those who appreciate visual storytelling rather than intricate mechanics.
“It's a short game with a main emphasis on the story, which, accompanied by its eerie soundtrack and aesthetically matching artworks, constitutes an overall entertaining gameplay.”
“The game mechanics were transferred from the mobile version, so you have to click the mouse as you'd tap on the phone screen.”
“The artwork is amazing and the gameplay is nice too.”
“The mechanics are repetitive and it gets frustrating when you have to do the same few clicks over and over.”
“Gameplay style would be more appropriate for 8-10 year olds.”
“I can't really recommend the gameplay; I feel as if this would have done better as a visual novel, because here's the selling point (and why I bought the game) - the artwork is downright gorgeous.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the game's audio, which builds in intensity as the story progresses, creating a compelling crescendo. The simple yet effective sound design contributes positively to the overall immersive experience.
“The audible part plays a crucial role that really uplifts the atmosphere and grows closer to a crescendo the further the story advances.”
“The sounds are simple and yet make a good addition to the atmosphere.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly criticizing the mobile game minigames and the unnecessary freeroam mechanics that lead to repetitive back-and-forth movement. This can detract from the overall experience, especially for those familiar with the source material.
“If you've read the book recently, this game may seem tedious or annoying with its mobile game minigames at times.”
“The game does classify itself as a visual novel, but I feel it might have done better without the 'freeroam' aspects - walking back and forth felt tedious after a while.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character designs are often praised for their creativity and uniqueness, contributing significantly to the overall appeal of the game. However, some players feel that while the designs are visually striking, they may lack depth in terms of character backstory and growth throughout the narrative. Overall, the character development is seen as a mixed bag, with strong visual elements but varying levels of emotional engagement.
