MazM: The Phantom of the Opera
- March 25, 2021
- Growing Seeds
Get on Steam"MazM: The Phantom of the Opera" is an adventure game based on the novel "The Phantom of the Opera." Many years after the infamous case, a detective visits the opera house to uncover the truth about the Phantom and his hidden secrets. With stunning visuals and classical music, delve into the mystery and witness the shocking love story in Belle Époque Paris of the late 19th Century.
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Reviews
- The game features a compelling and darker interpretation of the classic story, providing depth to characters like Christine and Raoul, and exploring complex themes of humanity and acceptance.
- The art style and character designs are praised for their beauty and attention to detail, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The soundtrack and musical elements effectively complement the narrative, creating an engaging experience that resonates with fans of the original novel.
- The pacing of the game is criticized for being slow, with unnecessary scenes and dialogue that detract from the overall experience.
- Many fans are disappointed with the portrayal of Erik, feeling that the game makes him irredeemable and fails to capture the nuance of his character from the original story.
- Technical issues, such as glitches and a cumbersome mobile interface, hinder gameplay and make navigation frustrating for players.
- story60 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a complex adaptation of Gaston Leroux's "The Phantom of the Opera," praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, though it takes significant liberties with the source material. While some players appreciate the darker elements and character development, others feel that certain narrative choices detract from the original's essence, particularly in how characters like Erik and Christine are portrayed. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile experience for fans of the story, blending mystery, tragedy, and romance, despite some criticisms regarding specific plot elements and character portrayals.
“A story-oriented adventure that captures the essence of the original through gaming.”
“The story explores difficult topics that we still see even today with the ostracizing of those who are different from what modern society deems 'normal', and the effects it has on those individuals depending on their surroundings.”
“If a story can manage to make me think about it days after I finished it, that's a story well told in my book.”
“Lastly, the story takes odd liberties with the source material.”
“While I generally recommend it - the story is heart-wrenching, tense, and interesting all the way through - the game adaptation is... bad.”
“It feels like the developers also missed the tragedy of who Erik is, and why he is the way he is, which leads to a misunderstanding of the core themes of the original story.”
- music19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to complement the story, although some players note that the tracks can become repetitive due to their short looping duration. Fans of the "Phantom of the Opera" appreciate the atmospheric elements and the incorporation of musical themes, enhancing the overall experience of the visual novel. However, some players expressed a desire for more varied background music in certain scenes to enrich the gameplay further.
“The music is actually pretty good.”
“With a soundtrack that complements the story progression, this is by far one of the best visual novels I have played this year.”
“Characters are well made, the music is on point (I mean, I really would suggest putting it into the 'good music material' ngl.) The atmosphere gets spooky when it's necessary, but it can also be pretty chill to play.”
“Almost all music pieces loop after 10-15 seconds, oftentimes less.”
“And this is a game about music, mind!”
“I wish they had background music for some of the scenes and the controls were the biggest complaint... I played with my PS4 controller and I could pick something up with X but then I would have to press the O button to 'reset' it so it wouldn't pause the game.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their amazing art style, which combines cute cartoon visuals with a sense of unease, enhancing the overall atmosphere. Users appreciate the beautiful artwork and soundtrack, noting that despite the absence of voice acting, the character designs and humor effectively engage players. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the immersive storytelling experience.
“The graphics are amazing, the pictures are wonderful, and there are moments where the writing (as in character dialogue) suddenly becomes stellar.”
“The artwork is great and the humor with sound effects is a nice touch.”
“Despite the cute cartoon graphics and the complete lack of voice acting, you still genuinely care about the characters, although Eric even looks creepy.”
“Love how the cute art style is distorted to give you a sense of uneasiness.”
“Firstly, the art style.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as heart-wrenching and tense, with powerful lines from the original novel that ultimately fall flat due to character changes. While the story remains intriguing and impactful, the adaptation's execution has been criticized, leading to mixed feelings among players.
“Crying over the Persian at 3 AM challenge (gone wrong) (gone emotional)”
“While I generally recommend it - the story is heart-wrenching, tense, and interesting all the way through.”
“Like I wrote before: it's tense, it's intriguing, and it's heartbreaking.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its intense mystery and gothic horror elements, enhanced by beautiful graphics and music. Despite the absence of voice acting, the overall creepiness effectively immerses players, creating a compelling adventure filled with clues and suspense.
“The atmosphere of the game is stellar, truly giving one the feeling of an intense mystery unfolding with some gothic horror elements.”
“Point & click visual novel + beautiful graphics and music + atmospheric = adventure through the story and look for clues to progress.”
“While there may not be any voice acting, the atmosphere and overall creepiness will make you think there is someone whispering sweet nothings into your ears.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through clever conversations and effective sound effects, which add a lighthearted touch to the experience. However, some players feel that the developers missed the deeper tragic elements of the character Erik, leading to a disconnect between the intended humor and the story's emotional weight. Overall, while the humor is appreciated, it may not fully align with the narrative's complexities.
“Conversations are useful, and funny.”
“The artwork is great and the humor with sound effects is a nice touch.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences occasional glitches and freezes, particularly during character interactions, which detracts from the overall stability. While the gameplay is considered minimal and easy, the presence of typos and subpar dialogue further impacts the user experience.
“The game itself is not bad, but there are a few glitches here and there, subpar dialogue, and a few typos. Gameplay is rather minimal and way too easy.”
“It takes a few seconds and freezes slightly whenever you're supposed to play a character.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly enjoyable, particularly for fans of the Phantom of the Opera, with a well-presented story that keeps players engaged and reluctant to stop playing. Those who prioritize narrative over bonuses or achievements will likely find this game appealing.
“I am giving this a good rating because I really enjoyed playing the story and thought it was well presented. The gameplay was a lot of fun, and I didn't want to quit.”
“For anyone interested in this game and thinking about purchasing it, if you're more about story and gameplay rather than bonuses or achievements, then you will love this game, especially if you're a Phantom of the Opera lover.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its unique and fitting designs, highlighting that each character stands out and aligns well with their respective roles in the game.
“The character designs are lovely; everyone is unique and perfectly suited to their role.”
“The depth of character development is impressive, making each character feel real and relatable.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations being revealed gradually.”
