Reflection of Mine
- February 23, 2017
- RedBlackSpade
Reflection of Mine is a dark puzzle game that explores the complexities of dissociative identity disorder. Players control two characters simultaneously, mirroring each other's actions while navigating through a fragmented mind filled with traps. The goal is to uncover the true identity of Lilly Witchgan, all while avoiding the dangers that lurk in her many personalities' paths. This game offers a unique perspective on the reality of madness and the struggle for control within one's mind.
Reviews
- The game features challenging and engaging puzzles that require strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
- The art style and soundtrack are praised for their atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- The unique premise of exploring a character's dissociative identity disorder through gameplay mechanics is intriguing and offers a different take on puzzle games.
- The portrayal of dissociative identity disorder (DID) is criticized for being inaccurate and potentially harmful, perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions about mental illness.
- Many players find the difficulty level to be excessively high, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment in gameplay.
- The story and dialogue are often described as poorly written and unengaging, detracting from the overall experience of the game.
- story36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in relation to themes of mental illness and identity, while others criticize it for being bland, clichéd, or poorly executed. Many agree that the narrative is often overshadowed by challenging puzzles, leading to a disconnect between gameplay and story engagement. Overall, while the artwork and music are frequently highlighted as strong points, the story's effectiveness varies significantly among players.
“The story is gripping and its music is nice too.”
“It's a beautiful challengeable puzzle-action game with a great story.”
“I really love the theme, design, and storyline.”
“If you're hoping for a story that portrays mental illness in an authentic way -- this isn't the one.”
“The story is bland, the dialogue is dry, the character is completely out of touch with anything that's going on around her and not in the way that leans towards 'they're going on a journey'.”
“While this game may have an interesting story it's so hidden under boring and monotonous puzzles that I have no intention of finding it.”
- music28 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and melodious qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. Many players found the soundtrack to be a significant selling point, with some describing it as exceptional and reminiscent of classic games. However, there are a few mentions of inconsistency, such as instances where music was absent or the soundtrack lacked diversity.
“The story is amazing, and I fell in love with the music right away.”
“The soundtrack is on a whole new level.”
“Atmospheric music and art style combined with an interesting mechanic makes it a joy to play.”
“While the game runs somewhat easy graphically, there is absolutely no sound or music coming through for reasons unknown.”
“Given that the music was a big selling point for me initially, that was a letdown.”
“The soundtrack could be more diverse, but the design and story are interesting.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fun yet challenging mechanics, requiring players to control multiple personalities in intricate mazes that reflect the protagonist's memories. While the introduction of new mechanics enhances puzzle complexity and ties into the story, some players feel that the gameplay can be overly difficult and lacks deeper narrative rewards. Overall, the combination of creative mechanics, atmospheric art, and music contributes to a unique experience, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its hardcore puzzle nature.
“The gameplay is fun and challenging.”
“Very well-thought-out design and mechanics.”
“The mechanics are simple: you always control two (or more) of Lilly's personalities in a maze representing a fragment of her memory.”
“Maybe there's more depth to discover later on, but time spent with the characters is few enough and far enough between that I doubt there's going to be any real identity given to any of these 'identities' beyond the most shallow, surface concept (and game mechanic, of course).”
“In all, besides solving puzzles for puzzle's sake, there doesn't seem to be much reward via story involved for how difficult the gameplay is.”
“Sadly I must give it a severe dis-recommendation due to the soul-crushing puzzle gameplay.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by simple 2D environments and doll-like illustrated characters, which some players find charming and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience. While the art style and music are praised for their calming effect, opinions are mixed regarding their depth and impact on gameplay, with some feeling that the visuals do not compensate for a lackluster story. Overall, the graphics contribute to a pleasant aesthetic, though they may not appeal to everyone.
“I like the art style and found each of her personalities' sprites fun.”
“Graphics take the form of simple 2D environments with doll-like illustrated protagonists, accompanied by melodious music that fits the scenes quite well.”
“Maybe not everyone will like the simple graphics, but it has its own charm and gives a lot of atmosphere in the later stages.”
“Just I don't see any point given the story has spelled out that it's just going to be a bunch of generically written story developments to be pushed onwards by pretty artwork that doesn't really thrill or move past the point of being a static image that you look at for 2 seconds and move on.”
“There's a thin layer of graphics, story, and music wrapped around this shallow yet difficult gameplay which does not help much since you can't really ignore the gameplay.”
“While the game runs somewhat easy graphically, there is absolutely no sound or music coming through for reasons unknown.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique charm, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and art style that create a captivating experience. While the graphics may be simple, they contribute to a rich, immersive environment that complements the gameplay and engages players throughout. Overall, the combination of atmospheric music and artistic design significantly elevates the game's mood and enjoyment.
“The psycho atmosphere, soundtrack, style of game art, and overall mood - it's perfect!”
“It ideally suits the game, complements the game's atmosphere, and organically integrates into the world of the game.”
“Atmospheric music and art style combined with an interesting mechanic makes it a joy to play.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is effectively conveyed through unique art styles and designs that reflect each character's personality, enhancing the player's connection to them. The distinctiveness of each location and its challenges further enriches the overall narrative experience.
“The art is simple, each location feels unique with separate challenges, and the character designs reflect the personality of each character.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters as their stories unfold.”
“I love how the choices I make influence the characters' growth and relationships, making every decision feel impactful.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been noted for its effective advertising, suggesting that players feel the promotional efforts are strong, though specific details on pricing or in-game purchases are not mentioned.
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with users rating it an 8 out of 10 for performance, indicating smooth gameplay and efficient resource management.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I love how the developers have fine-tuned the performance; it runs flawlessly on my setup.”
“The game’s optimization really shines, providing a seamless experience without any noticeable lag.”