Mirror 2: Project X
- January 20, 2022
- KAGAMI Ⅱ WORKs
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Mirror 2: Project X" is a game currently in Early Access, offering the first 6 chapters of Story Mode and an early version of Challenge Mode. The full version, to be released in 16-2
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story456 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improved graphics and character depth compared to its predecessor, while others criticize the plot for being confusing, rushed, or lacking coherence. Many players enjoy the branching storylines and multiple endings, which encourage replayability, but feel that the overall narrative is too short and simplistic. Overall, while the game shows potential for engaging storytelling, it currently struggles with pacing and depth, leaving some players disappointed.
“The story, while brief, was nice to run through with multiple endings depending on the choices made throughout the game, encouraging replayability.”
“The art is good, the soundtrack is good, and the story is surprisingly interesting and compelling at times.”
“The game is unbelievably good, the character design, the graphics, the effects and even the story.”
“Everything else is absolutely terrible and the plot doesn't make any sense.”
“The writing of this game's story is very incoherent, especially the ones added later; the twists happen so fast they just make me feel cringe.”
“The story really doesn't make sense and there is only one chapter, but really who cares.”
- gameplay192 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is primarily a match-3 mechanic, similar to its predecessor, with some new elements like RPG features and rhythm-based mini-games. While many players find the gameplay enjoyable and visually appealing, some criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth compared to the original. Overall, the game offers solid mechanics and replayability, but opinions vary on its execution and the balance between gameplay and story content.
“It mixes Slay the Spire gameplay with match-three; I personally think this is a lot of fun and where all the replayability lies.”
“The gameplay is simple, yes, and the story is a little confusing, but the character design was good, and of all the 'worst rated Steam games', this was by far my favorite.”
“Mirror 2 is a match-three game in gameplay, with a story inspired by SCP.”
“Gameplay too tedious, storyline uninteresting.”
“Not to mention that it's just 80% cutscenes and 20% actual gameplay, rather boring one, I might add.”
“The gameplay is different, I can't say there are any visible upgrades from the prequel, but there are two moderate downgrades.”
- graphics176 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their quality, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive 3D anime style, beautiful character designs, and smooth animations. However, some users noted performance issues on lower-end hardware and mentioned minor graphical imperfections. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant improvement over previous titles, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“The graphics and animation are amazing, and there is voice acting as well.”
“The graphics are gorgeous.”
“The graphics have improved from the first game, and now the game is 3D with beautiful scenarios and characters.”
“The ugly graphics bring my mid-tier laptop to its knees.”
“Btw: graphics optimization are shiet - like there is a memory leak somewhere or huge rendering disproportions.”
“The game runs very poorly on my laptop core i3 8th gen and integrated graphics.”
- music63 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its relaxing quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as enjoyable and well-composed, often compared favorably to other popular titles like Genshin Impact. While some players found it less memorable or not to their taste, the majority agree that the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The different stories are all unique and interesting, and the music is out of this world.”
“The music is lovely too.”
“The soundtrack is pretty chill, doesn't get tiring too fast, and as opposed to the original mirror - more modern-sounding as they're going with a sci-fi theme instead of the genre mess the first mirror had.”
“The music in this game didn't leave that much of an impression on me.”
“The music was okay, the engine looked okay but not great, with a Unity engine visual glare quality to the 3D that I disliked over the 2D of the previous game.”
“As a person who mainly listens to heavy dubstep and riddim, the soundtrack for this game is quite relaxing, but I would like to get more energetic songs from this game.”
- character development22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the high-quality character designs and voice acting, which enhance the overall experience. However, several users noted a significant lack of depth in character development, citing a confusing story and minimal progression for the characters, often relying on external files for backstory rather than in-game development. Overall, while the artistic aspects are well-received, the narrative and character growth leave much to be desired.
“For the game itself, I completely respect and appreciate the technical and artistic quality; I really admire the art technology and character design of the production team.”
“Character design, voice acting, and the stories they go into... there is a lot of effort here.”
“The character designs introduced so far are better than Mirror's in my personal opinion, and the 3D models are high quality and polished.”
“Lacking any character development.”
“Too many plot loopholes, extremely rushed story, virtually no character development.”
“Speaking of character development...why does Leah (one of the 'heroines'...?) have a different personality 'in-game' compared to that of the main story?”
- emotional16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates deeply with players, evoking strong feelings of heartbreak and nostalgia through its storytelling and character arcs. Many reviewers express a profound connection to the narrative, describing it as an emotional roller coaster that elicits tears and a sense of empathy for the characters' struggles. Despite some criticisms, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to deliver a wholesome yet poignant experience that leaves a lasting impact.
“Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
“Each story arc is as heartbreaking and enjoyable as you might know from the first game.”
“From the moment I started the game, the visuals immediately blew me away, the sound was great, and the story was enjoyable and heartbreaking.”
- humor12 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of genuine and cheerful interactions among characters, creating a lighthearted atmosphere, though opinions vary on its effectiveness. Some reviewers find the humor lacking or unoriginal, likening it to a simple "Candy Crush" experience, while others appreciate the raunchy and adult-themed jokes that add a unique flavor to the gameplay. Overall, the comedic elements seem to resonate differently with players, leading to a polarized reception.
“This group of characters is funny and genuine.”
“Together, they create a cheerful and enjoyable comedy where this group connects between each other and their world expands hilariously.”
“The effect from the usage of a 5-stack gem is a bit underwhelming, but the new ability to stack them together is interesting, and can lead to funny outcomes.”
“Not funny.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but the jokes just didn't land.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring repetitive actions to progress or achieve certain goals. Many reviewers express a desire for improved systems to save progress and reduce the need for grinding, as it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay and storyline.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Gameplay too tedious, storyline uninteresting.”
“Too much grinding and repeating stuff, and no h content yet.”
“This is not just tedious, it becomes frustrating.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting severe performance issues, including memory leaks, stuttering, and high CPU/GPU usage, even on capable hardware like the RTX 3070. Many users note that the graphics are demanding, making it unsuitable for low-spec systems, and while some see potential for improvement, the current state is considered poorly optimized and riddled with bugs. Overall, the game's performance detracts significantly from the experience, overshadowing its otherwise well-crafted elements.
“The gameplay is inherited from Mirror but more enhanced and optimized.”
“Note for fellow low-spec laptop/PC gamers like me: the game is somewhat graphically intense featuring really detailed models and some fancy visual effects, so keep in mind that this won't run smoothly on any random potato PC.”
“But of all the shortcomings of the game, this can develop and even become the best game if it is added and upgraded again; the most important thing is the performance (simple games if heavy become less exciting).”
“Btw: graphics optimization is terrible - like there is a memory leak somewhere or huge rendering disproportions.”
“Horrible optimization, I played this on a 3070 and the game ran like trash.”
“One thing I should point out is that the game will absolutely melt your PC, as it's poorly optimized in its current state.”
- monetization11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 64 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of in-game purchases, while others criticize misleading advertising and questionable refund practices. Concerns about potential cash grabs and the game's financial management have also been raised, leading to a perception of exploitation among some users. Overall, while some find value in the game, others feel misled and frustrated by its monetization strategies.
“Overall - decent match 3 game with no in-game purchases (hello EA...).”
“(Also other things, it appears the budget they needed to maintain momentum would have required microtransactions and at least we weren't led on a string and lied to.) End post thanks company, lots of fun were had.”
“Overall - decent match 3 game with no in-game purchases (hello EA...).”
“Such a mislead and cash grab for the 'mirror' names.”
“Waste of money, false product advertisement.”
“Very good game but misleading advertising and impossible refund.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly engaging due to its blend of gameplay styles and multiple decision trees leading to different endings, others criticize its limited content and short playtime, which diminishes replay value. Overall, the presence of multiple scenarios and endings encourages players to revisit the game, though some feel it could benefit from more substantial content.
“It mixes Slay the Spire gameplay with match-three; I personally think this is a lot of fun and where all the replayability lies.”
“The story, while brief, was nice to run through with multiple endings depending on the choices made throughout the game, encouraging replayability.”
“There is a lot of replayability just to explore different decision trees while enjoying the match-3 game.”
“As it stands, this is an unfinished game with barely an hour's worth of content, and little to no replayability value.”
“There are choices which lead to different endings, so each heroine is replayable more than once with a very different outcome, but I still feel like the length is a bit lacking and could've been longer; I reached the first ending of Leah's story within 30 minutes including passing all the puzzles, the stories feel and go much faster than the length in Mirror, which is probably due to the fact that all the stories are mostly cutscenes with minimal text as opposed to Mirror being in a more classic visual novel-like format.”
“In Mirror 2, there are multiple sub-scenarios to play through, each with multiple endings, which gives this game lots of replay value.”
- stability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as stuttering and crashes, particularly on lower-end PCs. While some players acknowledge these problems as typical for an early access title, they express hope for improvements in future updates. Overall, the game feels more like a paid demo at this stage, with significant room for enhancement in stability.
“The game runs smoothly without any major bugs, providing a stable experience throughout.”
“I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it rarely crashes and maintains a steady frame rate.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job ensuring stability, making it enjoyable to play without interruptions.”
“Now, don't get me wrong, the game itself is pretty well made, other than the obvious bugs and glitches and weird stuttering (along with the heavy usage of CPU and GPU, which is a tad worrying), but as it's in early access, you have to look past that.”
“I've had several force shutdowns because the game freezes and could not respond, although this won't be a problem for those with better PCs than what I have.”
“At the time of writing this review, I was having slight texture glitches (textures fading in too slowly) during the cutscenes, but this will likely get resolved in the near future.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a whimsical tone that complements the battle segments, while also presenting a distinct departure from its predecessor in terms of story, characters, and setting. Overall, it enhances and refines the concepts introduced in the original game, creating a unique and polished experience.
“It matches the whimsical atmosphere of the battle segments.”
“The story, characters, setting, and overall atmosphere are very different from the first game, but this game also improves upon the concepts introduced in the original and polishes everything further.”
“The game so far has nothing to do with the first Mirror other than the name and that the waifus are from alternate universes - the story, characters, setting, and overall atmosphere are very different from Mirror.”
“The whimsical atmosphere of the battle segments feels out of place and doesn't match the overall tone of the game.”
“The atmosphere lacks cohesion, making it difficult to immerse myself in the game world.”
