Mirror Mysteries
- April 10, 2014
- Strategy First
- 2h median play time
In "Mirror Mysteries," a family picnic takes a mystical turn when the mother discovers their children have been taken into a magical world through a enchanted mirror. Explore 7 magical realms, solve unique hidden object puzzles, and rescue your kids while repairing the broken mirrors to return home. This game offers a different take on hidden object games with its focus on a compelling storyline.
Reviews
- The game features competent voice acting and pleasant graphics, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.
- It offers a unique mechanic where players collect items to place in different scenes, adding a layer of interactivity.
- The game is a good casual experience, making it suitable for players looking for a relaxing time without intense challenges.
- The game is very short, typically taking only about 2 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- The story is weak and lacks depth, making it feel more like a series of tasks rather than an engaging narrative.
- Some hidden objects are poorly placed or difficult to find due to low resolution and cluttered scenes, leading to frustration.
- story91 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered weak and simplistic, often serving merely as a framework for the gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. While some players appreciate the charming sub-stories and character interactions, many find the overall plot to be basic, lacking depth, and not particularly engaging. Voice acting and graphics also receive mixed reviews, contributing to a perception that the game is more focused on puzzles than on delivering a meaningful story experience.
“The story is as basic as it gets, but it works.”
“Each mirror had a cute little storyline and the side characters were charming.”
“It was fun to play and the storyline was a little creepy.”
“The voice acting is irritating and the story is non-existent; it's really just oddly easy puzzles.”
“The plot is bare bones and thematically it can’t decide what it wants to be – a fantasy adventure or a journey through small worlds and ends rather anticlimactically.”
“The story is weak; however, the voice acting I thought was pretty good.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics in "The Mirror Mysteries" receive mixed reviews, with some players noting dated visuals and low resolution that detract from the overall experience. However, others appreciate the artwork and find the graphics to be decent or even beautiful in certain contexts, particularly in puzzle scenes. Overall, while there are commendable aspects, many agree that the graphics could benefit from modernization to better suit current gaming standards.
“I really loved the graphics (but I have to clarify I wasn't in fullscreen), everything was crispy and bright.”
“This is an awesome game for anyone that likes hidden object games, it took me a few hours to play through but overall it was an amazing game with beautiful artwork.”
“The graphics are nice enough.”
“The mirror mysteries has fairly competent voice acting and it plays fine yet it’s let down by a short play length, some very dated graphics, a lack of story and some questionable places for hidden objects.”
“Other than that, cinematics are ugly, the whole plot is laughable, low resolution, little outdated visuals, and the game lacks something that would make it more engaging.”
“The thing is, it's not even a good hidden object game -- the graphics are dated, the story is lame, and it's nowhere near as sophisticated as the recent hidden object games by Artifex Mundi or Silverback.”
- gameplay26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mirror Mysteries" is characterized by its simplistic mechanics, primarily revolving around finding and placing hidden objects, which some players find charming while others deem it rudimentary and lacking in challenge. Although the game features solid graphics and voice acting, it suffers from a barebones story and limited replay value, with many reviewers noting that the gameplay can be frustrating due to poorly hidden items. Overall, while it offers a decent experience for fans of the hidden object genre, its short duration and minimal content may not justify the price for all players.
“It's not gonna blow your mind, but it's a charming game with pleasant gameplay.”
“The graphic of the different worlds are well drawn, the game mechanics are solid, and the voice acting is not bad.”
“The core of gameplay is finding objects in different locations to solve the mystery and complete the game.”
“While I'm only a mild dabbler in the hog genre, I can still tell that the gameplay of Mirror Mysteries is sort of rudimentary.”
“So, banal story, tiresome gameplay, and non-existent challenge.”
“Gameplay is simplistic, clicking on various hidden objects to complete other objects which must be then placed back into the environment.”
- music11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as decent and pleasant, though not particularly memorable or engaging, leading some players to turn it off in favor of other audio. While the soundtrack and voice acting are considered acceptable, they do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, which is more focused on puzzles than narrative. Overall, the music serves its purpose without standing out.
“The music is pretty decent, as is the artwork and voiceovers.”
“The art and music are nice.”
“The only real upside is that the music was enjoyable.”
“I ended up turning off the music and listening to a podcast while I played, since it's mostly puzzle instead of story.”
“It's the first time I've ever noticed the music while playing, though that may be due in part to the fact that I wasn't mentally engaged.”
“Don't expect any flashy cut scenes, or mind-bending music, or out of this world rendering.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in about two hours and offers little incentive to play again, such as achievements or varied content. While it may be enjoyable for a single playthrough, the high price point relative to its short length makes it less appealing for most players, unless purchased on sale.
“Overall, the game is generally fun and not too long, but there doesn't seem to be much replay value, since there are no achievements or anything.”
“Because Mirror Mysteries is so short, with little replay value, I would suggest buying it when it is on sale.”
“The main reason I am not recommending this game is that the price is much too high for so little content; $12 is incredibly high for only 2 hours of gameplay, and holds zero replay value.”
“There is little to no replay value and you could probably burn through it in 2 hours depending.”
“The main reason I am not recommending this game is that the price is much too high for so little content. $12 is incredibly high for only 2 hours of gameplay, and holds zero replay value for most people.”
“Overall the game is generally fun and not too long, but there doesn't seem to be much replay value, since there are no achievements or anything.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as very atmospheric and engaging, with some interesting locations and hidden object puzzles. However, it is noted that the overall experience may feel cheap and lacks a strong story, suggesting that those seeking a deeper narrative should look elsewhere.
“Very atmospheric.”
“Still, it's cheap, has a neat atmosphere and some occasionally interesting locations.”
“Play it for the hidden object puzzles and the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
“Despite some interesting visuals, the overall atmosphere fails to create a compelling experience.”
“The game’s atmosphere is dull and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from enjoyable voice acting, particularly the comedic delivery of the mother character. However, the overall tone is somewhat inconsistent, as the presence of a humorless spirit adds a darker element to the narrative, overshadowing the lighter moments.
“The voice acting was enjoyable; I found myself laughing several times when the mom speaks.”
“Inside the house is a humorless spirit who has trapped little Tommy and Sophia (or whatever their names are, this is not a character piece) in a magic mirror after they broke the other mirrors set around the room.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect to become repetitive after the initial levels, but many appreciate it as a refreshing change rather than a tedious experience.
“I found it slightly grinding after the first couple of levels, as it's the same thing over and over.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game, being over a decade old, experiences glitches when played on Windows 10, indicating stability issues in modern systems.
“This game is over ten years old and there are glitches when running it under Windows 10.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game evokes a sense of melancholy due to its brevity, complemented by engaging puzzles and appealing animations, though the narrative lacks depth, resulting in a somewhat uninspiring emotional experience.
“A sadly short game with nice puzzles, nice animation, and a slightly boring story.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow and uninteresting, with characters lacking depth and the plot being described as flimsy. The use of capital letters in cutscene dialogue adds to the overall lack of engagement, though some players have lower expectations for character development in this genre.