These nights in Cairo
- October 17, 2017
- Salamandra88
- 2h median play time
"These Nights in Cairo" is a first-person adventure game set in Egypt during the 1920s. You play as an archaeologist searching for treasures and ancient artifacts while uncovering a mysterious plot. The game features puzzle-solving, exploration, and interaction with non-playable characters in a historical setting.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and engaging character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- The story, while short, offers multiple endings and choices that provide replay value and keep the player invested.
- The main character, Margaret, is portrayed as strong and relatable, making her journey through the narrative enjoyable.
- The game suffers from a rushed pacing, leading to underdeveloped relationships and abrupt endings.
- The translation from Russian to English contains numerous errors, which can detract from immersion and clarity.
- Many characters feel clichéd and reminiscent of those from 'The Mummy' franchise, lacking originality in their development.
- story120 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its cliche elements and similarities to the "Mummy" movie franchise, leading to a perception of it being somewhat derivative. While some found the plot engaging and appreciated the variety of endings and character routes, others criticized the rushed pacing and lack of depth in character development. Overall, the game offers a short, entertaining narrative with beautiful artwork, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound storytelling experience.
“The story is intriguing and each route and ending was satisfying in its own way, even the 'bad' ones.”
“The story is extremely captivating, the artwork is superb and the music is quite enjoyable as well.”
“I loved every minute of it and the storyline and routes were so interesting to play through.”
“The characters and majority of the plot are very cliché (as someone else wrote, it feels like a knockoff of the 'Mummy' movie franchise).”
“The biggest issues for me were in the not-so-amusing death endings, the multitude of mediocre endings for Ramessu (the 'bad' guy), and the fact that the story was short enough that I beat everything; all routes and endings in the 6 hours Steam shows I played it as a completionist to get all achievements.”
“The fact that the three love interests' routes (and all non-romantic routes) are all just variations of the same story is a bit of a disappointment.”
- music34 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly with its Egyptian-themed soundtracks that evoke a sense of adventure and romance. However, some players noted issues with the music cutting out or becoming repetitive, with a limited number of tracks that can become annoying over time. Overall, while the music is considered a highlight alongside the artwork, its execution has room for improvement.
“The music and art are probably the best parts of the game.”
“Incredibly fun game with beautiful art, and wonderful music.”
“The music was really set specific; it felt like I was in the desert and I felt transported back in time to this mythical wonder of the world with its temples to the gods, history, culture, and people.”
“The music, on the other hand, is much less impressive.”
“There are, I think, about 3 music tracks in the whole game, and all of them get a bit annoying after a while.”
“Soundtrack quality is not good and very distinct looping.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork and eye-catching art style, which significantly enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers noted that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they still contribute to an immersive atmosphere and complement the engaging storyline. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable for players.
“The artwork on the main character is notably awesome.”
“Graphically, the game is a treat.”
“This interactive visual novel/game 'gets it right' with many choices that do matter, gorgeous artwork that builds immersion, and an interesting, well-written & well-told storyline.”
“All in all, I cannot recommend this game unless you are simply looking for a quick and easy way to earn achievements and/or trading cards, or you are interested mainly in the artwork and CGs.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game offers decent replayability due to its multiple endings and various routes, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. While the experience is relatively short, the ease of controls and improved translation enhance its value, making it worthwhile for a few playthroughs. However, some players may not feel compelled to replay it extensively after completing all routes.
“Short story but with replay value and quite a lot of endings.”
“Replayability ∞: As for this one, I still recommend going through all routes, but I probably won't play it again.”
“At least there are multiple endings, so it has some replay value.”
“It's not a terribly long experience, but the controls were easy to use, the updated translation is lovely with fewer errors, and for six bucks, it has a lot of replay value.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with a lack of compelling storytelling contributing to a frustrating experience. Despite some interesting plot elements, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, making the grind feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.
“I tried to give this game a fair shake because it's so pretty and has an interesting background, but honestly, I found the writing tedious and dull.”
“Some parts of the plot are interesting, but it's mostly described in tedious and hasty narration rather than through any fascinating story structure.”
“However, I just found it to be a tedious mess that was not worth my time.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for being relatively short, with a typical run taking around 4.2 hours, but offers enough varied endings to enhance replayability and overall satisfaction. Players appreciate the game's artwork, writing, and mechanics, contributing to a positive experience despite the brevity of each route.
“Each route is pretty short and doesn't differ too much, but there are enough various endings to ensure that the whole gameplay experience is longer and satisfying.”
“I didn't dislike anything about the game, from the artwork and writing style to the mechanics of the game itself.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted through appealing character designs, with comparisons made to iconic characters like Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII. The vibrant and attractive art style enhances the overall aesthetic, contributing to a positive reception of the characters.
“I love and adore Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII to bits, and Ramessu's character design really reminds me of him in some way.”
“Margaret's character design is very easy on the eyes, if I may say so.”
“I liked the art; it is bright and cheery, and much of the character design is pure eye candy.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
“There is a noticeable lack of meaningful choices that affect character development, which makes the experience feel linear.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players highlight the emotional depth of the game, particularly praising amin's and ramessu's routes, as well as the poignant relationship between the main character and her father. The inclusion of humor through characters like sotis and the availability of positive non-romantic endings further enhance the game's emotional appeal, leading to a surprisingly enjoyable experience despite initial concerns about translation and storyline quality.
“I definitely recommend playing this game for Amin's route, Ramessu's route, the main character's complex and touching relationship with her father, Sotis being funny and attractive, and the fact that there are positive non-romance endings.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by convincing sound effects and immersive ambient noises that contribute to the overall experience as the story unfolds. While the variety of sound effects may be limited, their quality effectively supports the game's immersive environment.
“Whilst there are not a huge proliferation of sound effects, those that are present are suitably convincing and add to the overall atmosphere.”
“Whilst there are not a huge proliferation of sound effects, those that are present are also suitably convincing and add to the overall atmosphere.”
“Speaking of immersion, there are also a number of ambient sound effects, such as various noises in the background, that really enhance the atmosphere of the title as the story progresses.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through the charming character of Sotis, who is both funny and attractive, as well as the engaging dynamics in the main character's relationships, particularly with her father. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments that complement the more serious themes, making the experience enjoyable across various routes, including non-romantic endings.
“I definitely recommend playing this game for Amin's route, Ramessu's route, the main character's complex and touching relationship with her father, Sotis being funny and attractive, and the fact that there are positive non-romance endings.”