Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 413 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy Game Cover
Over fifteen years old and originally released on PS2, Xbox and GameCube, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy has been raised from the dead. A remaster of the game is now available on Switch.
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"Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy" is a 3rd person action-adventure game inspired by Egyptian mythology. As Sphinx, players use an array of skills and special powers to combat mythical monsters and solve puzzles. When stealth is required, players can use the Mummy's unconventional abilities to evade enemies and sabotage. The game features stunning graphics and diverse interactions with creatures, enemies, and allies.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Nintendo Gamecube
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 413 reviews
story38 positive mentions
stability15 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming and immersive Egyptian setting with beautiful graphics that hold up well over time.
  • The puzzles are creative and engaging, providing a satisfying challenge that encourages exploration and critical thinking.
  • The dual protagonist system, with Sphinx and Tutankhamun, offers varied gameplay styles that keep the experience fresh and enjoyable.
  • The controls can feel clunky and are better suited for a controller, making keyboard and mouse play less enjoyable.
  • The save system is outdated, with infrequent save points that can lead to frustrating backtracking after deaths.
  • Some players may find the story and character development lacking, with a somewhat abrupt ending that leaves plot threads unresolved.
  • story87 mentions

    The game's story is a mix of engaging and imaginative elements, particularly drawing from Egyptian mythology, which captivates players and enhances the overall experience. However, many reviews highlight a disappointing ending, with some feeling that the plot lacks cohesion and creativity, especially towards the conclusion. While the narrative is generally enjoyable and nostalgic, it suffers from pacing issues and unresolved plot points, leaving some players yearning for a more satisfying resolution.

    • “The story is very captivating, and truly holds you in as you keep going all the way to the end.”
    • “The imaginative setting and story, diversity in design, and overall vibes culminate in something that is something to behold.”
    • “Absolutely stunning game world and atmosphere, fun gameplay and an epic story based loosely on Egyptian mythology.”
    • “Things lose cohesion, though, as the story plods along a tired path that doesn't do anything very creative.”
    • “Especially toward the end of the game, the plot feels rushed, like someone just ran out of time, and strung things together with the thinnest possible threads.”
    • “I am disappointed some characters just disappear from the story and never given a reason why; you either assume they were killed or just became so unimportant they had no use for them.”
  • graphics70 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their vibrant and charming aesthetic, particularly the Egyptian-inspired design, which many players find nostalgic and visually appealing. While some reviews note that the visuals have aged well and benefit from a graphical overhaul in the PC port, others express concerns about minor graphical bugs and performance issues. Overall, the remastered graphics are considered a significant improvement, making the game enjoyable for both new players and those revisiting it.

    • “Graphics are beautiful and the story is goofy yet interesting.”
    • “The graphics still look phenomenal even compared to games from the PS3-X360 era, and it easily looks like it could have been released around that time as opposed to the PS2 days.”
    • “Stunning visuals, charming character animation and fantastic story.”
    • “The controls and visuals did not age well.”
    • “However, the high level of graphics causes the game to freeze quite frequently, and this is not typical on my PC as it runs other next-gen games on 11 GB of RAM very smoothly.”
    • “Swyter did implement original art assets but these clash horribly with the low resolution art that is still from the PS2; high resolution source artwork was lazily pasted onto the game world with no thought of how it looks next to a texture made for a console with 32 MB of RAM, combine this with the ugly shading and you have a game that looks like a bad texture pack rather than a remaster.”
  • gameplay63 mentions

    The gameplay of "Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy" is generally praised for its fun and engaging mechanics, blending platforming, combat, and puzzle-solving elements reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda. While players appreciate the diverse playstyles between the two main characters and the intricate level design, some note issues with control precision and puzzle clarity. Overall, the game offers a charming experience with a nostalgic feel, though it could benefit from tighter mechanics and improved explanations for certain gameplay elements.

    • “The overall design of the maps, puzzles, and varied mechanics just makes this game a joy to play... it isn't something you can slap together in a modern game engine without a lot of meticulous design.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing and still holds up after all of these years.”
    • “Playing as Sphinx, the gameplay clearly takes a lot from The Legend of Zelda, but the puzzle sections where you play as the Mummy are, in my opinion, where the game really shines.”
    • “On a gameplay level, Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is generally fun, but fleeting.”
    • “I must admit there are some wonky game mechanics that could be improved or just little changes that would make it overall more enjoyable.”
    • “While its platforming mechanics are still a tad unpredictable at times – and the huge gaps between save points still rankle – Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy’s quality nonetheless shines through.”
  • music63 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its memorable and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with its Egyptian-themed soundtrack. While many players find the music beautiful and nostalgic, some report issues with audio glitches and repetitive tracks that can detract from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is just awe-inspiring, absolutely magnificent and fits the Egyptian theme down to a T.”
    • “The music is superb, the art style is beautiful, and the game looks great to me even today.”
    • “The sound and music fit the atmosphere of the game perfectly.”
    • “You're gonna hear the same pieces of music over and over.”
    • “Music will often disappear, making me have to exit the game completely and reboot it for it to come back, not really stopping you from playing but can take you out of the game to near nothing but the sound effects.”
    • “Sometimes after an hour or two of playing the game, the music soundtrack in the background will stop playing and it will sometimes have weird audio noises and hiccups.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has improved significantly with the remaster, as many glitches from the original have been fixed, resulting in a smoother experience for most players. However, some users still report occasional audio glitches, minor freezes, and a couple of game-breaking bugs that necessitate a restart. While the game generally runs well, particularly on the Steam Deck, there are lingering issues that may affect the experience for some players.

    • “The port itself is perfect, 60 fps, no glitches at all.”
    • “It runs great, I've never seen the fps counter go below 60, and it looks amazing.”
    • “An engaging platformer from the PS2 era that runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Beware though, there are two game-breaking glitches that require you to restart your entire game.”
    • “Great game from my childhood but the game is buggy. The text doesn't show all the time and pieces of my sentences become blacked out by a square. If I'm getting an item, I definitely will not see the text about it. The picture also bugs out and I can't look at the options menu; the picture always freezes and becomes distorted. This happens on the main menu too, please fix this!”
    • “I've been running into weird audio glitches (only about twice so far) where the last sound effect will keep playing on repeat until replaced by another.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and nostalgic charm, effectively blending puzzle-solving with comedic elements that resonate with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke joy and laughter, even years after its release, thanks to its entertaining scenarios and memorable moments. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay experience, making it appealing to both old-school gamers and new players alike.

    • “From the quirky humor to the puzzles, there is so much to this game, if you look for it.”
    • “Great adventure game with a lot of funny and quirky personality.”
    • “As the mummy, it is highly emphasized on puzzle solving, but in a funny and entertaining manner; from being set on fire, electrocuted, squished into a paper-thin version of yourself, or even cut into three mummies!”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive soundtracks, and deep connection to Egyptian mythology, creating a captivating experience. However, some players feel that the lack of variety in environments can make the atmosphere feel repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of beautiful design and fitting music contributes to a memorable and engaging atmosphere.

    • “I love the music, the atmosphere, the gameplay, and environments.”
    • “Beautiful atmosphere, soundtrack, and character design.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is breathtaking, especially considering this game was released in 2003 when most games on average didn't look or play that well compared to this.”
    • “The world is great, but the magic of Egyptian landscapes and ancient temples does wear off; a little more variety in atmosphere would've gone a long way, because most of the game feels very samey.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is thicker than the hieroglyphs on a pyramid wall.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and convoluted puzzles that can detract from the overall experience. Players often find the save points inconveniently placed, leading to frustration when progress is lost. While some appreciate the game's nostalgic value and challenging gameplay, many agree that the repetitive nature of the puzzles and grinding can make it feel slow and unengaging.

    • “The save points are often a bit out of the way in dungeons, and regularly having to save after almost any progress in a dungeon is tedious. Neglecting to do so can result in losing a lot of progress if you die later on.”
    • “Most of the puzzles are overly tedious, convoluted, and just not interesting or inventive, but have a ton of steps that need to be done in one specific order.”
    • “Just solve annoying, tedious puzzles for the sake of it and mash attack.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization for PC is generally considered fair for a port, though it suffers from some performance issues and retains console button prompts. While some users report sound stuttering bugs, others have not encountered these problems until specific gameplay sections. Overall, it lacks the polish expected from a native PC release.

    • “It is optimized fairly well for being a PC port, although you will notice from the start that the buttons are in console format.”
    • “Even though the game isn't well optimized for PC.”
    • “Other reviewers have mentioned sound stuttering bugs; I hadn't experienced any of these until I reached the level where you play as Tut and must find the moon, sun, and earth planetarium keys.”
    • “Emulation basically, without the second layer hit in performance.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game features two charming protagonists with distinct playstyles, enhancing the character development experience within a beautifully designed, ancient Egyptian-inspired setting. The combination of fine character design and a captivating soundtrack contributes to a unique and immersive journey.

    • “A colorful setting based on ancient Egyptian myths, fine character designs, wonderful music, simple yet effective puzzles, decent platforming, and two charming protagonists with completely different playstyles help make this game a very unique trip.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, recalling fond memories and experiencing joy simply from its nostalgic elements, such as the title screen music. The game evokes a sense of childhood happiness, highlighting its ability to resonate on a personal level.

    • “This game holds so many heartfelt memories within me that just launching the game and hearing the title screen music made me laugh with joy.”
    • “I didn't get much in terms of new video games, but I did get something that made me feel like a big kid.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as a lazy cash grab by THQ Nordic, with reviewers suggesting that the port lacks the quality and care of the original, prompting players to seek out the PS2 version instead.

    • “This port is an insult to the original game and feels like a lazy quick cash grab by THQ Nordic.”
    • “The monetization tactics in this game are frustrating and detract from the overall experience.”
    • “It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than delivering a quality product.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers solid replay value, appealing particularly to fans of classic action-adventure platformers, despite some buggy behavior. Players appreciate the effort put into enhancing the game's playability and visuals, contributing to its overall replayability.

    • “Despite the game's buggy behavior, it has solid replay value and is a great fit for anyone who enjoyed playing older action-adventure platformer games.”
    • “I really appreciate the effort that went into restoring the game into a more playable and better-looking experience.”
    • “Despite the game's buggy behavior, it has solid replay value and is a great fit for anyone who liked to play older action-adventure platformer games.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return, as side quests feel repetitive and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

20hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
6-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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