MIAZMA or the Devil's Stone
- May 2, 2018
- Private Moon Studios
- 12h median play time
Get on SteamMIAZMA 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?
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The story is intriguing, revolving around a journalist investigating 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.
- There is a decent length of gameplay, with well-acted FMV elements and a nice variety of interesting side characters.
- The English voice acting is inconsistent, with some campy performances and a general B-movie feel.
- There are too many mundane conversations and excessive back-and-forth between areas, which can lead to boredom.
- Some puzzles, particularly the last six safe lock puzzles, are convoluted and tedious, requiring a walkthrough to solve.
- story17 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as intriguing and engaging, with many players appreciating its blend of puzzles and narrative depth. While some found it less compelling than the previous installment, "Yoomurjak's Ring," the plot remains interesting, featuring a mix of detective elements and scientific themes. Overall, the dialogue and character interactions are well-received, though a few moments in the story may feel nonsensical.
“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.”
“I enjoyed the story, and the FMV was great.”
“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.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
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 stillshots and frequent transitions between locations disorienting, and the dialogue mechanics can be frustrating, leading some to question the overall gameplay experience. Taking notes is recommended to enhance understanding and enjoyment.
“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?”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of subtle humor and serious moments, with users appreciating the funny acting and engaging story. While most puzzles contribute to the entertainment, a few are less effective, yet overall, the humor 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 for 1-2.”
“But sometimes, it’s those very things that make them entertaining and funny to me.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
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.”
“Nice background music.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for being visually appealing and engaging, complementing the interesting storyline and enhancing the overall experience for players interested in science and history.
“The storyline is pretty interesting, and the visuals and acting are highly amusing.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the last six safe lock puzzles to be convoluted and tedious, contributing to a sense of grinding in the gameplay experience.
“The last six safe lock puzzles are quite convoluted and tedious.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive tasks required to level up become frustrating and detract from the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of character performances is adequate, allowing players to grasp the personalities, but the lack of distinctiveness among the characters can lead to confusion in remembering who is who throughout the game.
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I experienced long loading times that really disrupt the flow of the game, making it frustrating to get into the action.”
“The graphics settings are poorly optimized, as even on lower settings, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
