The Mind's Eclipse
- January 25, 2018
- Mind's Eclipse Interactive, LLC
Get on Steam"The Mind's Eclipse" is a black and white science-fiction visual novel where players explore a fallen research station, the CORE, in search of their loved ones while experiencing an emotional narrative. As they uncover the mystery of the Eclipse and its side-narratives, players will interact with their environment and analyze journals and chat logs to understand the CORE's downfall. The game features morally gray characters and an immersive world, providing an engaging experience without the need for dating mechanics. Be cautious of COSy.
Reviews
- The Mind's Eclipse features a well-written and engaging sci-fi story that prompts deep reflection on existential themes.
- The game's art style is beautifully simplistic and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its striking black-and-white visuals.
- The gameplay is accessible and easy to navigate, allowing players to focus on the narrative without getting stuck on complex puzzles.
- The gameplay is mostly linear with limited interactivity, which may disappoint players looking for more choices and exploration.
- Some technical issues, such as the cumbersome start menu and lack of a 'Continue' button, can detract from the overall experience.
- The pacing can feel dragged out in parts, particularly in the middle of the game, which may affect immersion.
- story23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game features a well-crafted sci-fi narrative that explores themes of life, death, and immortality, complemented by engaging characters and intriguing plot twists. While the story follows familiar tropes, it is delivered in a compelling manner that keeps players invested, with much of the narrative conveyed through artwork and environmental storytelling. Overall, the depth and detail of the story encourage players to immerse themselves fully to appreciate its richness.
“Super well-written and interesting sci-fi story and characters.”
“The story is not painfully obvious, while not forcing one to dive into every single phrase and detail to get a firm grasp of it.”
“A story about life, death, immortality (and the consequences of it), and choice.”
“If you are so close to making the story interactive, why not go all the way?”
“Most of the story is told through the game’s artwork and emails, and it’s up to you to piece together how different people feel about the eclipse, and what they decide to do about it.”
“The story... well it goes exactly where you would expect it to go, but it's told so well that it doesn't matter that this is a well-worn path.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Mind's Eclipse" are characterized by a striking black-and-white art style that, while simplistic, effectively enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Users appreciate the raw, indie comic book aesthetic, which complements the narrative and creates an immersive experience. Overall, the visuals are praised for their clarity and ability to convey emotion, making them a standout feature of the game.
“The striking black-and-white artwork and electronic soundtrack really help to make this visual novel stand out.”
“The art style for The Mind's Eclipse is a wonderful ink-shaded world that appropriately sets the tone for the game.”
“Thus far, I've found the storytelling mechanism to be quite compelling, and the artwork makes for an immersive experience.”
“The graphics are raw and uncompromising, like an indie comic book.”
“One of the main reasons for buying The Mind's Eclipse was its graphics.”
“Is taken by the art style, which although simplistic and monochromatic fits the settings.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily linear and simple, characteristic of a visual novel, with minimal puzzle mechanics and an underutilized inventory feature. Players can expect an intuitive experience, as the controls and menu are easy to navigate, allowing for a slow-paced gameplay duration of around seven hours. Overall, the gameplay does not demand much from the player, making it accessible but lacking in depth.
“I took about 7 hours of slow-paced gameplay.”
“I also find the menu, controls, and gameplay experience to be intuitive.”
“On the gameplay side, it's a visual novel, so expect something simple that doesn't ask much from the player.”
“Mostly linear gameplay.”
“Inventory feature is mostly useless gameplay-wise.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its compelling ambient soundtrack, which enhances the stark black-and-white visuals and contributes to the overall atmosphere. Reviewers note that the electronic soundtrack is varied and immersive, making it a standout feature of the game despite the absence of voice acting. Overall, the combination of great music and striking art direction elevates the narrative experience.
“The game's atmosphere, set by the black and white art and soundtrack/soundscapes, is pleasant and quite varied for a short game.”
“This game has a compelling ambient soundtrack that pulls you into the stark, black and white scenes.”
“A short but intense narrative experience with a great soundtrack and an old-school sci-fi art direction.”
“The moody soundtrack fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *The Mind's Eclipse* is characterized by its effective sci-fi setting, enhanced by a black and white art style and varied soundscapes, creating a pleasant yet gloomy ambiance. While the game successfully immerses players in a mysterious abandoned city, some reviewers noted a loss of pacing that detracted from its initially claustrophobic feel. Overall, it is praised for its atmospheric qualities, despite some mid-game pacing issues.
“The Mind's Eclipse is an atmospheric sci-fi point-and-click visual novel - awakening in an abandoned city, you piece together its past from fragments of emails and logs you find, making for a highly effective mystery.”
“Very good simplistic but atmospheric game.”
“The game’s atmosphere, set by the black and white art and soundtrack/soundscapes, is pleasant and quite varied for a short game.”
“The atmosphere is gloomy.”
“It lost some of its pacing and claustrophobic atmosphere, which made it feel a bit dragged out in the middle part.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its stark contrast between a desolate environment and moments of beauty, creating impactful emotional scenes that resonate with players.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of a barren, dead world, interspersed with occasional gorgeous visuals and deeply emotional scenes.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on the characters' journeys long after I finished playing.”
“Each moment in the game is filled with raw emotion, drawing players into a profound experience that resonates on a personal level.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely absent, with users expressing that there are no comedic elements to enjoy.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious due to the movement between rooms, though the lack of backtracking helps alleviate some of the frustration.
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over, which really drains the fun out of the game.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and feels like a chore.”
