The Blackwell Legacy

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In "The Blackwell Legacy," Rosa Blackwell, aided by her spirit guide Joey Mallone, discovers her abilities as a medium and investigates a series of mysterious suicides at NYU, revealing a sinister force at work. As a newly-minted medium, Rosa, guided by the 1930s ghost Joey, delves into supernatural inquiries to put troubled spirits to rest, starting with a chain of ominous student suicides at a local university. This point-and-click adventure game weaves a tale of uncovering supernatural ills plaguing New York City, bound by a gripping storyline and intriguing mysteries.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,774 reviews

story650 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

Engaging story with interesting characters and a unique premise of helping ghosts move on.
Clever notebook mechanic that allows players to combine clues and progress the narrative.
Good voice acting and charming retro graphics that evoke nostalgia for classic adventure games.

Very short gameplay, typically around 2-3 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
Some puzzles can be unintuitive or frustrating, requiring players to exhaust all dialogue options to progress.
Technical issues such as crashes and poor sound mixing detract from the overall experience.

story
1,381 mentions
47 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Blackwell Legacy" is generally well-received, with many players praising its intriguing premise and character development, particularly the dynamic between the protagonist, Rosangela, and her ghostly partner, Joey. While some reviews note that the narrative can feel derivative or rushed due to the game's short length, it effectively sets the stage for the series, leaving players eager to explore further installments. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging storytelling, solid voice acting, and nostalgic charm, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of point-and-click adventures.
- “The story is brilliantly thought out and I really enjoyed playing it.”
- “The blackwell series has one of the best storylines I have seen, including games, movies, TV shows, and books; it's really captivating.”
- “The story is captivating from start to end.”
- “But from a 2024 perspective, the story just feels very derivative; it doesn't add anything particularly original or imaginative to a trope that has become terribly overused in the meantime.”
- “The main storyline had the potential to be captivating, but it was diluted by the brevity of the game and the lack of meaningful choices for the player to make.”
- “Its short length, lack of engaging actions, and a shallow, underdeveloped plot make it an unfortunate example of a missed opportunity.”
graphics
386 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly described as retro and pixelated, evoking nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventures from the 90s. While some players appreciate the charm and atmosphere created by the art style, others criticize the outdated visuals and low resolution, which can appear stretched or blurry on modern displays. Overall, opinions are mixed, with many acknowledging that despite the graphics' limitations, the engaging story and voice acting compensate for the visual shortcomings.
- “I enjoyed the pixel graphics and I thought the puzzles were easy enough that you won't need a strategy guide.”
- “An amazing point and click game with lovely pixelated visuals, fitting voice acting, and logical puzzles.”
- “The art style is purposefully retro and done with a quality rarely seen in pixel games, and the music provides the perfect ambience for the tone of the story.”
- “The game uses AGS, a primitive tool for creating graphical adventure games that was frankly outdated even when this game first released.”
- “The graphics are very stretched and blurry on modern retina monitors - over the years, they could have implemented an option to change the in-game resolution, at least up to 720p.”
- “The graphics look really dated and you can't increase resolution, so playing in fullscreen isn't a great idea.”
gameplay
347 mentions
29 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Blackwell Legacy" is characterized by its point-and-click mechanics, featuring a unique notebook system for solving puzzles and connecting clues, which some players found innovative yet occasionally frustrating due to unclear instructions. While the game offers a charming narrative and enjoyable character interactions, it suffers from a short playtime and some clumsy mechanics, leading to mixed reviews regarding its overall execution and depth compared to other titles in the genre. Despite its limitations, the game is seen as a solid introduction to the series, with improvements noted in later installments.
- “The gameplay is satisfying; you collect clues and combine them in order to figure things out.”
- “The investigation/detective gameplay is made much, much better than any other investigation game I've ever played.”
- “The notebook mechanic is an interesting way to handle most of the puzzles as dialog puzzles rather than relying on inventory puzzles.”
- “Some mechanics and required actions are not obvious, such as combining notes in your notebook.”
- “In terms of gameplay, length and general production value, there are many better games of this type out there.”
- “It felt like a mere interactive storybook, with the gameplay reduced to clicking through endless, mundane dialogues.”
music
248 mentions
47 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its nostalgic 90s vibe and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. However, there are significant complaints regarding the lack of volume control, with some tracks, particularly in specific locations like Rosa's apartment, being described as annoying or overwhelming. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered iconic and fitting for the game's tone, technical issues with sound management detract from its enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, full of jazzy tunes that captures the moodiness of New York City perfectly.”
- “The music is really nice, and actually better than I was expecting.”
- “The music is fantastic and the overall experience is rewarding.”
- “Unfortunately, the biggest downside is the music.”
- “Great game, but the music in Rosa's apartment is so annoying I had to put it on mute every time I was in there for more than 2 minutes.”
- “The music is repetitive, distracting, and rarely adds to the atmosphere, and it can't be turned off.”
humor
90 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its clever writing, voice acting, and the balance between light-hearted moments and darker themes. Characters like Rosangela provide relatable and amusing interactions, while the inclusion of humorous dialogue and a blooper reel adds to the overall charm. However, some players feel that while there are funny moments, the game may not be consistently humorous throughout.
- “Something I didn't expect was how funny it would be, both with the writing and voice acting.”
- “The plot and characters are both humorous and light-hearted while also conveying some dark subject material.”
- “It's not afraid to touch upon some serious subject matter, get dark and emotional, but also have some humor in there to balance it out; all the dialogue is fully voiced too.”
atmosphere
50 mentions
56 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its pixelated art style, strong voice acting, and an evocative soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight a unique blend of melancholy and tension, creating a rich, immersive world that feels alive, even with minimal graphics. While some critiques mention repetitive music, the overall sentiment is that the game's atmosphere, combined with its engaging story and characters, makes it a standout experience in the old-school point-and-click genre.
- “A short game with rather rudimentary puzzles that is, however, oozing with atmosphere, emotion, tension, humor, and one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard.”
- “The story, characters, voice acting, and music are all top-notch, creating a very atmospheric and enjoyable old-school point-and-click experience.”
- “The music is repetitive, distracting, and rarely adds to the atmosphere, and it can't be turned off.”
- “I love how even the minor characters feel fleshed out and real, which creates an atmosphere of an actual world that gets shattered when you run into your first ghost.”
- “Old-school point & click adventure game, rather short, but it makes up for it with interesting puzzles and a noir-ish detective atmosphere.”
emotional
42 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, tackling serious themes with a balance of humor and heartfelt storytelling, often evoking strong feelings and attachment to the characters. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue and the ability to explore a range of emotional responses, although some critique the voice acting and pacing. Overall, it is recognized as a touching experience that effectively engages players on an emotional level throughout the series.
- “It's not afraid to touch upon some serious subject matter, get dark and emotional, but also have some humor in there to balance it out; all the dialogue is fully voiced too.”
- “An amazing game and really, really touching as you go through the various ghosts' histories and come to get to know them.”
- “The finale (epiphany) was fantastic (you may shed a tear).”
stability
22 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with users reporting issues such as freezing during saves, crashes, and various interface glitches. While the auto-save feature mitigates some frustration, the overall stability is a concern, with many players feeling that a more polished version is necessary. Despite these issues, some reviewers appreciate the game's charm and engaging plot.
- “I have experienced that with several games on Steam, and I understand that fixing bugs on GNU/Linux will not make you rich. However, in my opinion, it is only fair to provide a bug-free version for everyone and not strip features from any of the versions.”
- “In the last minutes, the game freezes if you try to save.”
- “Interesting plot, fun dynamic between the main character and her sidekick, but it was buggy as hell.”
- “And considering how buggy this game is, you need to save often in case it crashes.”
optimization
20 mentions
50 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally good, with smooth performance on PC, though players have reported occasional stuttering and hiccups. While the voice acting quality varies significantly, with some performances being strong and others feeling amateurish, the overall sound quality is acceptable. Players noted that the game runs well as long as they remain active, suggesting minor issues when idle.
- “Performance on my PC was good.”
- “Otherwise, the game runs smoothly so long as you don't sit idle for too long.”
- “The voice acting varies greatly, from exceptionally good to amateur-ish performances.”
- “The voice acting... I grant that this is an indie game with a small team, but in a lot of cases the voice acting is unfortunately flat and monotone, creating a very wooden performance.”
- “Sound quality is fine, but I noticed occasional stuttering and hiccups.”
- “The voice performance falls flat.”
grinding
18 mentions
11 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and confusing, often detracting from the overall experience and enjoyment of the story. Many reviewers note that unclear objectives and repetitive actions contribute to a sense of boredom, particularly during extended play sessions. However, some acknowledge that despite these issues, the narrative and character development remain strong points of the game.
- “A lot of the actions you have to do are not clear, and some don't make sense, which makes the gameplay very tedious.”
- “It's tedious and confusing, and really got in the way of the best part of Blackwell, which is its story.”
- “I appreciate what they were going for, but I think there are a lot of blatant game design mistakes that detract from the gameplay and make it a bit boring and tedious.”
character development
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is primarily focused on the main storyline, with limited depth outside of it, suggesting that future titles may explore this aspect further. While the character development is believable and allows for player influence on reactions, the game excels in animation, character design, and voice acting, contributing to memorable characters and emotional engagement. Overall, the series maintains an old-school adventure vibe with interconnected plots that enhance character growth over time.
- “There's also believable character development, and to some extent you can color her reactions towards the positive, if you choose so.”
- “Each title has that old school adventure vibe and interconnecting plotline, plus character development throughout the series.”
- “As for character development, there isn't a whole lot going on in this game outside of the main storyline, which I suppose is for the later games to sort out.”
- “The central focus of this game is advancing the plot and moving the character development forward.”
- “Didn't expect that much character development or so many feels.”
replayability
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability primarily due to its short playtime of 2.5-3 hours and a linear story that lacks branching paths. While some players find value in replaying for commentary and behind-the-scenes content, many agree that the game is best experienced once, with additional playthroughs mainly appealing to those seeking achievements. Overall, the replay value is considered low unless players are particularly interested in the commentary insights.
- “There is replay value because the commentary gives you interesting insight.”
- “Plus, the game has some behind-the-scenes bloopers, as well as commentary tracks, which gives an interesting look into the making of the game, including some admissions by the developer himself on some of the game's flaws, which makes them even easier to overlook and adds replay value.”
- “The game is only short, a couple of hours maybe, but there is a level of replayability due to the commentary options.”
- “At a full playthrough time of roughly 2.5-3 hours and very little replayability, it's barely worth getting even on sale.”
- “Outside of replaying it for the commentary, the game does not really offer any replayability, which is common for adventure games, so it's not a big deal.”
- “With such a short playtime and relatively low replayability since it has a linear story that doesn't branch, you'd expect the game to at least offer more.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The reviews suggest that the game's monetization strategy may be misleading, particularly in its advertising, which hints at significant plot twists that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, players recommend exploring classic point-and-click adventure games instead, implying that the current offering does not meet the standards set by established titles in the genre.