This Strange Realm Of Mine
- July 18, 2017
- Doomgriever
- 5h median play time
Containing some really interesting philosophy between bouts of fun classic FPS gameplay, This Strange Realm of Mine is worth checking out.
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Get on itch.io Store"This Strange Realm Of Mine" is a first-person shooter with elements of poetry and psychological horror. After creating your character and dying, you'll explore your afterlife, meeting various characters and their stories while solving puzzles. Combat includes a variety of weapons to fend off monstrous beings in a universe filled with both beauty and horror. The game also features an original soundtrack.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of gameplay and philosophical themes, providing a thought-provoking experience.
- The art style and atmosphere are visually appealing, enhancing the overall immersion of the game.
- The gunplay is satisfying, and the game includes a variety of levels and mini-games that keep the experience fresh.
- The narrative can feel disjointed and overly preachy, with long dialogues that may detract from the gameplay experience.
- Some players found the gameplay mechanics simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge.
- The philosophical content can come off as pretentious or confusing, making it difficult for some players to engage with the story.
- story117 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its philosophical depth and character-driven narrative, while others criticize it for being incoherent and overly verbose. Many reviews highlight the intriguing themes of anxiety, depression, and existentialism, but note that the execution often feels scattered or superficial, leading to a disconnect between gameplay and storytelling. Overall, while the narrative has its moments of brilliance, it struggles with pacing and clarity, leaving some players feeling underwhelmed despite the game's artistic ambitions.
“The overall story is quite compelling and deals with issues such as anxiety, depression, and isolation; the way these feelings are portrayed is quite accurate, and the messages the game sends can be very helpful and never feel forced.”
“A fantastic story with surprisingly great and diverse gameplay and settings.”
“This game is honestly so beautiful; I really enjoyed the story and all the unique levels!”
“It's a conceptually strong narrative shooter that blends together a mix of inspirations including Persona and Duke Nukem, but its thematic story is very undercooked and lacks strong writing, leaving me feeling disconnected from what it was trying to achieve.”
“While I admit it had its moments, especially for what seems like a 'baby's first boomer shooter', I overall find the constant droning about philosophy to be a bit boring and it ruins the otherwise decent formula of the game.”
“The story, however, is like the scattered incoherent musings of someone sloppily going through their first intro to Western philosophy, writing down whatever seemed pseudo-profound.”
- gameplay112 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its immersive atmosphere and variety of mechanics, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and repetitive. Many noted that the integration of philosophical themes into gameplay is intriguing, but the execution often feels lacking, with basic shooting mechanics and minimal challenge. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable moments and unique scenarios, it struggles to maintain engagement due to its linearity and underwhelming gameplay depth.
“The atmosphere is really good and it makes for a very immersive experience, also thanks to its diverse and unpredictable gameplay.”
“A thought-provoking experience that explores concepts of reality, mindset, and mental health with enough varied gameplay to keep it exciting.”
“The gameplay is quite enjoyable, and the variety of scenarios allowed me to keep pushing forward.”
“Gameplay just seems extremely half-assed on the whole, with slap-dash, simplistic level design and a small selection of uninteresting weapons to be used against endless recolors of the same two enemy types.”
“The gameplay is simplistic and plainly boring; you go through linear levels, shoot at one type of enemies, and 'talk' to anime-styled characters that dish out monologues ranging from somewhat infantile philosophical reflections to just straight-out metaphysical babble.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay never graduates, and sometimes even devolves from the original content.”
- graphics59 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style that blends pixelated textures and surreal visuals to create an immersive atmosphere. While some players appreciate the nostalgic, old-school aesthetic reminiscent of classic shooters like Doom, others find the graphics lack depth and sophistication. Overall, the visuals are described as intriguing and effective in setting the mood, despite some criticisms regarding their simplicity and pixelation.
“Surreal graphics and atmosphere: the game's graphics reflect a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.”
“The graphics and aesthetic are fantastic, with flat, 2D environments reminiscent of Doom and Duke 3D that look incredible when enhanced with realistic lighting and superimposed textures.”
“The game's visuals are very well done, using pixelated graphics that create ambiences that can feel both creepy and relaxing.”
“At first glance at the game's cover and trailer, I thought it was one of those Doom-like or older style FPS games merged with newer elements like more detailed graphics, but I was very wrong!”
“There really isn't much to say here; the graphics are a huge part of the game, and the only criticism is that some people might not like the pixelated nature of the game.”
“It's not like choosing 16-bit graphics as your art style because you like the way that looks; a 3D action game where most of the key characters and objects are just rotating sprites is objectively worse than an actual 3D shooter.”
- music36 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke emotions, while others find it somber and mismatched to the gameplay. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's quality and its contribution to the game's artistic expression, though some prefer to listen to their own music instead. Overall, the music is seen as a significant aspect of the game, with moments of brilliance that complement its unique storytelling and visuals.
“The soundtrack is awesome; the maps are horrifying when they need to be and beautiful when the 'set and setting' allow.”
“The graphic art is awesome, the soundtrack goes into my soul, and the atmosphere is just perfect.”
“Additionally, the music is really good in both aiding the general atmosphere and just being straight bangers on their own.”
“Now the first time I loaded up the game, I actually turned the music off because I wanted to listen to my own music while playing instead, and in this game you really don't 'need' the in-game music to play it.”
“But previous games by Doomster Entertainment have had really solid soundtracks, most notably 'Koala Kids', so I listened to the entire 'This Strange Realm of Mine' soundtrack on Spotify and it's quite disappointing.”
“The indie game genre isn't necessarily known for its music, but the music in 'This Strange Realm of Mine' just doesn't fit; it's somber, dull, and really just doesn't fit most of the time. The only song I genuinely liked and that fit the level was the music in 'Revelations'.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and surreal qualities, enhanced by striking graphics, atmospheric sound design, and a blend of bright and dark environments that evoke a range of emotions. Players appreciate the unique style and philosophical themes, noting that the dreamlike quality can mask deeper, sometimes unsettling undertones. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, contributing to a memorable and engaging experience.
“The atmosphere is really good and it makes for a very immersive experience, also thanks to its diverse and unpredictable gameplay.”
“Atmospheric sound design, unexpected events, and tense moments influence the players' experience.”
“These environments combined with various lighting and distortion effects and ambient music complement the dreamlike atmosphere of the game well.”
“Low-fi aesthetics and atmosphere hint at something dark going on behind the curtain, but later it's revealed to be just philosophical ramblings.”
“Can't help but feel it was supposed to be a horror game, in a way that a children's cartoon has jokes for adults; the colorful and cheery atmosphere could hide something very disturbing.”
“In spite of all its flaws, I still recommend this game for the decent gameplay and soundtrack, and at times, freaky horror atmosphere even if the pacing at times is like pulling teeth.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability primarily through multiple endings and branching dialogue choices, with playthroughs lasting around 1-7 hours depending on the player's pace. However, opinions vary, as some players find the differences between runs minimal and the experience somewhat repetitive, suggesting that while there is potential for replay value, it may not be compelling enough for everyone. Overall, achievement hunters may find more incentive to replay, but casual players might feel the game lacks substantial replayability.
“The game is short but offers replay value with multiple endings.”
“Game probably will take you 6-7 hours in the most slow run, but because of the multiple endings and ways of finishing the game, it has lots of replay value.”
“The game has some replay value, with a bunch of endings and different paths in some of the chapters.”
“Pretty weird game that supposedly has a lot of replayability for branching paths, but I personally played through twice and didn't see much difference nor did I have much drive for a third.”
“There is some replay value for the achievements, but not much other than that as the game is always the same and the different endings are a text-only verdict based on the player's choices.”
“It does get a bit repetitive here and there and since replayability is key, perhaps some way to shorten certain sections might have helped a bit.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its clever details and amusing elements scattered throughout the levels, contributing to an enjoyable atmosphere. While some moments may elicit cringes, players find the humor to be a delightful addition, enhancing their overall experience. The presence of hidden comedic elements adds an extra layer of fun for those exploring the game.
“I like the style, I like the atmosphere, but I was laughing and cringing halfway through... are there supposed to be multiple endings?”
“The enemies spooked me on occasion, I have to admit... there's a lot of funny details in the levels and the lighting specifically is always fantastic.”
“I'm enjoying the little humorous bits I'm seeing scattered around the world - and all in all, I'm really glad I went ahead and gave this one a try.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it drags on longer than necessary. While the difficulty levels offer some balance, with 'easy' being straightforward and 'normal' providing a decent challenge, the overall experience can become monotonous, despite the ability to sprint to alleviate some of the tedium.
“It was tedious and frustrating by the time I got to the ending.”
“Some of it I relate to, but too often it goes on for far too long and becomes more tedious than interesting.”
“Thankfully you can sprint in this, so that things don't get too tedious, but then you are forced to direct a blimp through mountains for five minutes while nothing happens.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes a strong emotional response, successfully blending wholesome moments with deeper, more melancholic themes, leading to a poignant experience that can elicit tears. Its ability to be both comforting and unsettling within a brief playtime enhances its emotional impact, making it a memorable journey.
“First game that's made me cry in a long time.”
“The game was pretty wholesome at times and depressing at others, which was interesting for such a short game (~2.5 hours).”
“Comforting and scary both, touching and engaging.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay, particularly as an indie title. However, some users have reported slight performance drops on larger levels, especially when using Windows 7 Pro x64 with a GTX 1080.
“It runs smoothly and is just a great little indie game to play; highly recommend.”
“There are slight performance drops on larger levels when using Windows 7 Pro x64 with a GTX 1080.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate in expansive environments.”
“Optimization issues lead to noticeable lag during intense gameplay sequences.”
