MIAZMA or the Devil's Stone

About

MIAZMA or the Devil's Stone is a single player action game. It was developed by Private Moon Studios and was released on May 2, 2018. It received positive reviews from players.

MIAZMA is the second Jonathan Hunt adventure, sequel to award-winning FMV title Yoomurjak’s Ring. The agile NY journalist embarks on a new investigation after a curious meteorite. What is inside the devilish stone? Is it a huge gem, a magic formula or a devastating substance?

Genres & Tags

Adventure

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

story24 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The story is intriguing, following journalist Jonathan Hunt as he investigates a missing person's case that leads to a piece of ancient meteorite.
The game features a variety of complex and challenging puzzles, many of which are based on science and historical figures, providing a unique gameplay experience.
There is a decent length to the game, with well-acted FMV elements and a nice variety of interesting side characters.

The game suffers from too many mundane conversations and a general B-movie feel, which can detract from the overall experience.
Some puzzles, particularly the last six safe lock puzzles, are convoluted and tedious, making them frustrating to solve without a walkthrough.
The English voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances being campy and poorly delivered, which can be off-putting for players.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
20%
9%
The story is generally regarded as intriguing, with a mix of engaging plot elements and well-constructed puzzles that keep players hooked. While some found it less compelling than its predecessor, "Yoomurjak's Ring," the narrative's blend of detective work and scientific themes, along with amusing visuals and acting, contributed to an enjoyable experience. However, there are moments in the story that some players felt lacked coherence, which slightly detracted from the overall impact.
- “Yoomurjak's Ring stood out to me a bit more because it featured more puzzles, a better story, and the gameplay felt like navigating Google Maps Street View.”
- “The storyline is pretty interesting, and the visuals and acting are highly amusing.”
- “There are some weird moments in the story, which make no sense at all.”
- “The story switches between the investigator on the case and the missing man and his experiences.”
- “Without giving too much away, the devil’s stone is a meteorite and most of the story and puzzles concern physics and general science in a variety of specialties.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
49%
38%
The gameplay in Yoomurjak's Ring is characterized by a strong emphasis on puzzles and storytelling, resembling a navigational experience akin to Google Maps' street view. However, players may find the still shots and frequent transitions between locations disorienting, necessitating note-taking, while the dialogue mechanics can be frustrating and detract from the overall experience.
- “Yoomurjak's Ring stood out to me a bit more because it featured more puzzles, a better story, and the gameplay felt like navigating Google Maps Street View.”
- “It takes some getting used to with the still shots and constant jumping from lab to lab, and you definitely want to take notes during gameplay.”
- “The dialogue mechanics are somewhat annoying.”
- “I thought, is there any gameplay?”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a blend of subtle humor and serious moments, contributing to its overall entertainment value. Players appreciate the funny acting and engaging story, although a few puzzles may fall short. Overall, the humor is seen as a key element that enhances the gaming experience.
- “I felt it was one of the ways the game entertained with subtle humor.”
- “Nice story, quite funny acting, and nice puzzles except 1-2.”
- “But sometimes, it’s those very things that make them entertaining and funny to me.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's music features a larger soundtrack of modern instrumental tracks that serve as enjoyable background music throughout the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- “This game has a bigger soundtrack, featuring modern, instrumental tracks that I enjoyed throughout the game.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in the game are praised for being visually appealing and engaging, complementing the interesting storyline and enhancing the overall experience. Users find the visuals and acting to be particularly entertaining, making it suitable for its target demographic interested in science and history.
- “The storyline is pretty interesting, and the visuals and acting are highly amusing.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly in the last six safe lock puzzles, to be convoluted and tedious, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
- “The last six safe lock puzzles are quite convoluted and tedious.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of character performances is generally adequate, with actors effectively conveying their personalities; however, players may struggle to distinguish between characters, leading to confusion throughout the game.