10-30-2003, 09:45 PM | #1 |
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Black Mirror
well i just passed this game black mirror... there are some gk rip offs, as well as some laura bow rip offs here with the corpse close ups. The music is nice and dark, i hate dark games how bout you. The story was awesome and the mystery really hit me at the end. Game is extremely sluggish, and i mean that in every sense of the word. there is very little pixel hunting, though you can not interact with things unless your character has a reason too, like he has to talk to someone first then he can grab an item etc... this feature was introduced in runaway, believe me it is 50x worst in black mirror.
as for the dialogue it is more sluggish than the gameplay, the main character talks in a english accent, ok makes sense, but he talks extremely slow. Every conversation is started with "May i talk to you" or of the sort, with a reply from the npc, "yes you may". Considering the hours and hours of dialogue this gets really boring, and the voice overs are slooowwww, i found myself reading ahead and just skipping the voices. the gameplay is really redundant.. you will see an item and you know u need it, but you didnt talk to the npc to activate your need for that item, so you cant pick it up yet, very frusterating. Puzzles are easy but might need to do some internet surfing on some, might as well just use a walkthrough. Oh and every time you walk in a different area, the screen fades out... then fades in the new area.. sure you can double click areas and skip walking animation, but you still see a few seconds of walking out, then fading, then fading in, then walking in.. THEN you can start mouse moving, this process takes approxmiately 2.5 sec Navigation is used by a map, which is usefull, the map can be accessed any screen your on. Sometimes you may not leave areas which is a clue you have more pixel hunting to do, i like this feature. Oh and the saving!!! now i never really looked into it if there is a quick save which i doubt there is but.. to save you click the upper right corner, clikc click, screen fades out, fades into hte menu, 1.5 sec, you click save fades out fade in, 1 sec. then click on the save file (no pic, or date of current entry is stamped), type in or leave in current name save, then push ENTER on the keyboard,(2 sec) then it goes back to the gameplay screen automatically (fading), im surprised it didnt make you push escape 2 times to exit the menu. As for the story, ill sum it up in this spoiler right here Spoiler: If your gonna play this game, do yourself a favor, you dont have to listen to the voice overs, and don't it really is a waste of time. It is like listening to british robots playing golf in the rain. Some are ok but the main character is really lifeless in his voice over, and he talks ALOT and SLOOWWWW. Im not afraid to admit I almost fell asleep playing the game about a dozen times. This game is definately not for chronic players, probably should take a break after every chapter, but i didint because i just wanted to beat it. Graphics are good sound good, but nor important so i could care less about it. They DID get boring though, after seeing the same yellow'd sepia sunset colors i think im going insane. DO NOT buy this game cause the graphics are good. conclusion: Story is intriguing but will take a while to get juicy, as in the very end. Nothing comical in this game, like i said i almost fell asleep. voice over of main character sucked, he talks to everyone like they are 4 years old, in that bloody stupid accent. Some say he looks like michael jackson, he is a gabriel knight rip off through and through, its basically gabriel dyed his hair black with a italian mustache. Evern the intro to each chapter looks like the gk2 intro to each chapter title. music pretty much rips off laura bow music for scary music, but not much choices for murder mystery music. This game is easy, the frusteration will be in talking to npc's, because that is basically 70% of the games solving engine. Sorry making me walk back and forth to npc's every time i see something different in the screen, is NOT puzzle solving. should you get this game? if you can handle random urges to strangle the main character and every npc in the game, then ok, its a solid enough adv game. well wait till the price lowers to 20 bux, it will, if it doesnt dissapear first. I dont like to rate games but here goes for the story i would rate a b+, the game a C just for the torture factor. feel free to add anything.. this is just my opinion not really a review. |
10-31-2003, 02:09 AM | #2 |
I'm really Cookin'
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: New England, USA
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LOL Dave-- c'mon, tell us how you *really* feel!
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10-31-2003, 07:34 AM | #3 | |
gaybrush threepwoody
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To me, the game might "function" like some other games but that doesn't mean it's a ripoff. The graphics and sound are excellent. Sure the characters move a little slow but that doesn't detract from the experience. The Black Mirror is a dark, almost gothic supernatural mystery. Just because it doesn't have typical "murder mystery music" doesn't mean it's copying Laura Bow either. In fact, I'd say the music is completely different. What sounds like Laura Bow exactly? Can you elaborate? Why can't games pay homage to games past? And if one game takes place in the same type of setting, does that immediately make it a copycat? I won't even touch your Gabriel Knight comparison. Oh, he's got long hair, he MUST be a ripoff of Gabriel Knight. Puh-leeeeeez! He sounds and acts nothing like Gabriel. I, for one, love this game. It's a fun adventure with classy sounds, music, and graphics. It's the first graphic adventure I've played in a while that has kept me playing till 4am. |
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10-31-2003, 09:01 AM | #4 |
Munior Jember
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Texas
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that review doesnt make me feel very confident with my purchase.
ah well. gonna play it anyway. |
10-31-2003, 05:13 PM | #5 | ||
Cognitive Dissonant
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Quote:
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11-03-2003, 01:27 AM | #6 |
I create. Therefore I am.
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I'm playing Black Mirror now, and so far it's quite good. Nice mood, good gripping story (so far at least), and the intro was really intense!
If you haven't got it, I at least advice you to buy it. And davez82? One word: Upgrade It's not really slow at all. It's just you who's exaggerate.
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11-03-2003, 01:34 AM | #7 | |
A search for a crazy man!
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Quote:
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Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
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11-05-2003, 12:57 AM | #8 |
I'm really Cookin'
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Actually, I have a 2.4 Gig CPU, 1 Gig of PC400 CL2 DDR, a Serial ATA 10,000RPM RAID array, and an ATI All-in-Wonder 9700 Pro, and I still considered the conversations slow. The NPCs have little routines (like the bartender polishing his mugs, lifting one up in the air to examine it, then putting it back down on the table) before you can even begin talking to them, and they tend to speak slowly with big pauses in between each statement (not to mention that the voice acting wasn't that great). It *was* continually annoying. And trying to get NPCs to do anything for you takes much longer than that; even when you can't find anything new to do or say anywhere, it seems you have to spend a long time just wandering from locale to locale while waiting for things to be done. That priest was the total worst with that.
Dave, upgrading is always cool, but I wouldn't bother for that game. |
11-06-2003, 11:43 PM | #9 |
I create. Therefore I am.
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Well, I didn't have any problems with the slow-ish thingy.
I've seen worse.
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Regards Atle Ragnar Jarnæs Lerøy ~Working on the upcoming adventure game, Roger Foodbelly~ Click the name, to join its Facebook Page! My Games |
11-10-2003, 02:49 AM | #10 |
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@davez: Funny review, but... wanted to "beat the game"? Missed a "quick save" button? Sounds like classic adventure games in general is not exactly your favourite genre.
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11-10-2003, 04:20 AM | #11 | |
gaybrush threepwoody
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11-10-2003, 04:36 AM | #12 |
Cannabis Connoisseur
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the game is exellent thus far. just take it for what its worth, face value. The music and sound are amazing, lots of work probably went into all the background arts. The voice acting could use some work, but heck, im sure good actors are not cheap to hire. The writers are doing an amazing job for this game. its gripping and compelling, makes me want to delve deeper in the game. Its very intregueing.
Definatly worth the money |
11-10-2003, 09:13 AM | #13 | |
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rofl!!! yah your part right i play fps's too much, but i loved adv games before that. Actually there is 1 part and only 1 part where you can do a sierra !OOPS if you save at the wrong path. but if you havent bought the game your not missin much, just saving some hairs on your head. I thought runaway was waay better than this game, from there you can make your own conclusions. |
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11-10-2003, 02:26 PM | #14 | |
A search for a crazy man!
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Quote:
__________________
Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright |
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11-18-2003, 02:34 AM | #15 |
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just finished it yesterday.
thats one mighty disappointing ending. they could have dragged it out a bit more. maybe told a little more story. |
11-19-2003, 01:37 AM | #16 |
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Yes, the ending was too short, altough it was loigical, but apart from that the game was waaay better than runaway, in my opinion.
And if you think Black Mirror is slugish, you obviously have never played Broken Sword 1. I did (again), yesterday, and maaan is it slow. Really good, but slow. Black Mirror is a lot faster, espacially since you can directly go to the next screen by double-clicking. As I said before, the only objective low point of this game is the multiplicity of open-door puzzles (I can't believe how many keys I've had in my inventory). Apart from that, it's very subjective, because it depends on the player and wether he is sucked inside the game or not. I was, and loved it. |
11-21-2003, 01:57 PM | #17 |
Junior Member
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The Black Frustrating Mirror
Well, i have to aggree with those that dislike this game. I guess I was disappointed in the "Logic path" that should drive any puzzle game. The problem was that there seemed to be no continuity in the things that had to be accomplished. All but a few challenges were mainly trial and error or seeing if you could find something (not knowing what) that could help you move along. And the dialogues were slooooooooooow!
All in all, i would recommend against buying this game. |
01-14-2004, 01:30 PM | #18 |
Dancing Ettin
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Belgium
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I really loved the game. Me and my sister played it for days (wel hours of several days since we're in the middle of exams: it's that good) So maybe the text wasn't that great at first, but we got over it. I saw the unraveling from a chapter prior to when i should have found out, but it was logic,
Spoiler: I really would want answers Last edited by VoodooFX; 08-28-2004 at 08:55 AM. Reason: added spoiler tags |
03-12-2004, 01:57 PM | #19 |
Jumping peanut on a stick
Join Date: Sep 2003
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Trix- please use spoiler tags.
Just finished the game. I really liked it. Can't remember when was the last time i was enjoying some classic adventure this much. Personaly i think it's much better than Syberia, not to mention Runaway... and, dare i say, even better than Broken Sword 3. I'm kind of surprised it got so many average, lukewarm reviews... Granted, it's no classic (of TLJ calibre), but it's still absolutely enjoyable adventure, with great story (while there are many cliches, they work in game's advantage- the whole thing really feels like those old B mystery/horror flicks), interesting characters and atmospheric music & graphics. Puzzles were, for the most part, easy and logical (which is a good thing, since this made the story flow) and i was especially enjoying those little "7th Guest" type logical riddles. Not that the game was perfect. There was some pixel hunting. Also, it was annoying how you were able to pick up some objects only after you'd performed certain actions... And the ending was too quick- i'd love to learn a bit more about what happened. But that's as far as my complaints go. I'd give it 4 out of 5 |
05-04-2004, 05:33 AM | #20 |
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Black Mirror - Merged from other thread (VoodooFX)
Do somebody know this game, I like it ... gretz Last edited by VoodooFX; 07-15-2004 at 04:43 PM. |
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