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Urban Myth Dissolution Center

88%Game Brain Score
story, music
grinding, replayability
88% User Score Based on 374 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 5Playstation 5Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStation

About

In "Urban Myth Dissolution Center," become Azami Fukurai, an investigator at a unique organization that deals with paranormal urban myths. Gather evidence from social media and the real world to unravel each myth's truth and face unexpected consequences. This episodic adventure game offers captivating psychedelic pixel art and a blend of online and on-site research.

Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot
Urban Myth Dissolution Center screenshot

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 374 reviews
story112 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions

  • Stunning pixel art visual style that is stylistic, expressive, and charming.
  • Compelling storytelling with interesting characters and unexpected twists.
  • Engaging gameplay that allows players to piece together mysteries with a unique blend of social media research and deduction.
  • Controls feel clunky and dated, with no options to speed up dialogue or interrupt actions.
  • The story has significant plot holes and the final twist may feel convoluted and unsatisfying to some players.
  • Gameplay is linear with no real challenge, as players cannot fail puzzles or investigations.
  • story
    340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a compelling mix of urban legends and detective work, featuring engaging characters and unexpected twists that keep players invested. However, many reviewers noted significant plot holes and a convoluted ending that detracts from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Despite these issues, the intriguing narrative and striking visuals have garnered a positive reception, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Compelling storytelling with interesting characters that play off your expectations and perceptions.”
    • “The story beats and pacing were perfect for the narrative they were presenting.”
    • “The plot is complex and plays out like a soap opera with a truly grand ending.”
    • “The only real complaint I have is connected to the story, and it's a personal kind of thing since I am a writer who does not like plot holes or contrivances at all, and this story had... a lot of them.”
    • “The plot continuously shoots itself in the foot, the writing is sloppy at best and outright detrimental to the game at worst, and the narrative beats you over the head with the themes it's trying to impart only to do a complete 180 with the ending that completely invalidates all of the story beats and moral grandstanding that they've tried to impart on the reader.”
    • “There was no time or opportunity to learn about this world or enjoy the characters, just immediate back to back things that happen to move the plot forward.”
  • music
    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and memorable themes, particularly the end-of-chapter songs that players find themselves humming long after playing. While the soundtrack is somewhat limited in variety, it effectively enhances the atmosphere and complements the game's pixel art style, contributing significantly to the overall experience. Many players express a desire to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting its quality and the emotional impact it has during gameplay.

    • “The music is absolutely incredible to set up the mood, the pixelated scenes are absolutely great to look at, and even if the main investigation phases have a more minimalistic approach, it actually helps figuring out what's actually relevant.”
    • “The music is especially crucial and amazing here (turn that volume up!), and I'm going to keep an eye out for Murasaki and Ada-P.”
    • “While the OST is a bit sparse, the music manages to usually fit the atmosphere pretty well.”
    • “Music tracks and sound cues, despite a limited selection, add to the atmosphere, and the title track played at the end of each episode now lives rent-free in my head.”
    • “It might feel a bit too slow-paced for its own good—perhaps even boring at times for some—but everything else like the characters, visuals, and music come to the rescue.”
  • graphics
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, particularly for their stunning pixel art style and expressive character designs, which create a captivating atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the combination of beautiful visuals and effective sound design, noting that the art significantly enhances the overall experience. While some critiques mention issues with pacing and story progression, the visuals remain a standout feature that draws players in.

    • “The local art style is lovely--a clever mixture of bluish gray with small rare drops of red creates an amazing atmosphere of simplicity within complexity.”
    • “The pixel art style is done very well, with detailed character sprites and backgrounds that do a lot more with the style than you would expect for something so retro.”
    • “The graphics and presentation are top notch and are what immediately got me interested many months ago.”
    • “I am conflicted about this game; it has its strengths (art style, mood), but I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t have a very specific taste.”
    • “Mechanically simple, translation could use polish, and a bit on the shorter end; narratively, it stands among the best of Ace Attorney, Danganronpa, and Ghost Trick, with audiovisuals to match.”
    • “Again, I really admire what the team was going for, and I love the aesthetic, but this story needed a lot, lot more time in the oven.”
  • gameplay
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is generally described as simplistic and linear, often resembling a visual novel with minimal challenge and repetitive mechanics. While some players appreciate the engaging story, characters, and unique presentation, many feel that the lack of a fail state and the straightforward nature of the gameplay detracts from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the integration of social media elements and various mechanics like puzzles and quizzes adds some variety, making it enjoyable for those who prioritize narrative over gameplay depth.

    • “I played the demo of UMDC a few months ago and knew immediately that I wanted to buy the game as soon as it came out, because it had all the ingredients that I love in a game: good story, engaging characters, awesome pixel art, and fun gameplay that was reminiscent of one of my favorite games: Ghost Trick.”
    • “The main gameplay is simple; the main character is placed in a specific room depending on what is being investigated in the story currently, and your job is to find all of the clues that can be gathered in that room.”
    • “I appreciate the fact that the game mechanics are varied between social media investigations, fill-in-the-blank puzzles, multiple choice deduction quizzes, and more stereotypical adventure game point-and-click mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is non-existent: you can retry any question any number of times (and usually you only have 3-4 answers), so you can just brute force and play it like a kinetic visual novel.”
    • “This is simply mind-numbing, and I don't see how it's salvageable if this is the gameplay and narrative structure for the rest of the game.”
    • “Gameplay is repetitive and doesn't have any challenge or variety to it, but is fun at least for the first few episodes.”
  • atmosphere
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning art style, characterized by a clever blend of bluish gray and rare red accents, which creates a unique and complex aesthetic. Reviewers note that the atmosphere effectively balances elements of conspiracy and paranormal mystery, leaning towards a more cynical tone. The limited but fitting soundtrack enhances the overall experience, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and somewhat creepy ambiance, making it a standout feature that keeps players engaged throughout.

    • “The local art style is lovely—a clever mixture of bluish gray with small rare drops of red creates an amazing atmosphere of simplicity within complexity.”
    • “From beginning to end, the atmosphere and the characters have kept me coming back for each and every episode.”
    • “Difference between the environment, the character sprites, and the close-up view creates a unique, somewhat creepy atmosphere, very fitting for the mystery novel about urban myths.”
    • “It has a similar atmosphere of striding the edge between conspiracy and paranormal mystery, although I think this one is less hopeful and leans more towards the cynical side of things.”
    • “This game is 50% atmosphere, 40% social commentary, and 10% mystery.”
    • “While the OST is a bit sparse, the music manages to usually fit the atmosphere pretty well.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and variety, with players noting that the character designs effectively convey distinct personalities. The pixel anime art style enhances the overall experience, making characters memorable and engaging, particularly through their interactions and dialogue. Overall, the combination of strong visual design and narrative elements contributes to a compelling character-driven story.

    • “However, the story delivers up to the end, UI, graphics, character development, and sound design are amazing, and I can't seem to stop thinking about Azami and her friends from the UMDC.”
    • “The art is beautiful, a great example of using colors to highlight important objects, and the character design is incredible.”
    • “The character designs are so good, you can immediately tell what sort of personality they are supposed to have a lot of times.”
    • “Character designs are very, well... varied.”
    • “Azami even mentions that the 'director in her head' had character development or something; I don't remember the exact words.”
    • “I really love the look of this game, its high concept, its character designs and dialogue.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the repetitive nature of social media research and the need for backtracking to find clues. While some appreciate the depth and eventual payoff of the story, many feel that the execution of these elements detracts from the overall experience, making certain sections feel overly drawn out.

    • “Clicking through a visual novel at all times is very tedious.”
    • “It gets a bit tedious during certain sections, but if you push past all of it, you will find a satisfying conclusion to the mysteries that have been built up throughout the story.”
    • “It requires you to backtrack multiple times searching for clues, which made it tedious after a while.”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted as a key element, with players enjoying the interactive dialogue that blends valuable information with comedic moments. Additionally, the restriction on streaming chapter 6 until April 1st adds a layer of humor to the experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the visual novel.

    • “It's a visual novel that's more than clicking a textbox; you actually have to interact and discern which dialogue is valuable or just funny to solve the mysteries.”
    • “Also, this game can be really funny!”
    • “I've read that we aren't allowed to upload/stream our gameplay of chapter 6 until April 1st (kind of funny).”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game has limited replayability due to its nature as a point-and-click adventure and mystery title, which typically offers a fixed narrative and puzzle solutions. Players may find little incentive to replay once the story and challenges have been fully explored.

    • “As it is both a point-and-click adventure/puzzle game and a mystery game, it doesn't have a whole lot of replay value.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game resonates deeply with players who have experienced emotional deprivation in childhood, offering a unique sense of validation and praise that many find fulfilling. It effectively taps into the emotional needs of those seeking connection and affirmation.

    • “If you’ve experienced emotional deprivation as a child and find yourself constantly craving validation and praise, this game is tailor-made for you.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally praised, with users noting that performance is smooth and not resource-intensive, which is expected for a title of its nature.

    • “The performance is also smooth, though it would be a real surprise if a game like this ends up being resource heavy.”

Buy Urban Myth Dissolution Center

25h Median play time
25h Average play time
25-25h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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