DontNod has been one of my favorite studios since the release of Life Weird. Then there was an imperfect but promising vampire and a dignified continuation of the strange life, although not as good as the first. Then Twin Mirror sees the studio take on the challenge of a psychological thriller.
The synopsis will be read: Sam Higgs graduated from Basswood, West Virginia, but doesn’t seem to have finished with him. When a former investigative journalist returns to his hometown to say goodbye to his best friend, it soon becomes clear that there are many more chapters in his eventful history. Forced to confront his past, Sam is torn between reuniting with his loved ones and using his unique intellectual abilities to reveal the city’s dark secrets. But how do you know who you can trust when you’re not even sure you can trust yourself?
My biggest problem with the Twin Mirror is predictability. That’s not good for a psychological thriller. Of course, from the point of view of someone who has consumed a lot of television, movies and books like that. But in my opinion, I put all the pieces of the puzzle together long before the game reveals them, which is very offensive because the developers don’t want to pay for it.
Twin Mirror gets rid of the episodic format and lasts about five hours. It may seem oxymoronic, but it’s also too short and too long. Too short, because there are interesting characters who feel underdeveloped. Too long, because the puzzle is so predictable.
If you come to his old town of Basswood, it’s obvious the citizens really don’t like Sam. In fact, you can sympathize with them: Sam is not only a very affectionate character. In fact, it’s because Sam’s revelation of the local mine has made many of them lose their jobs. In this context, there is no real development, and we are directly confronted with it. That’s why I didn’t care. They just tell us what happened, they don’t show us.
In the wake of your best friend, you will be introduced to most of the few people who really play a role in this story. Maybe you’ll see them before the final act of the game, but that’s it. There is no real time to give these characters or the city depth and development, so it all ends with a sense of underdevelopment. It doesn’t help that the dialogue is so difficult, and so much so that I really lose my mind.
Unlike other DontNod games, Twin Mirror eliminates the supernatural element. However, there is a ghost palace in Sherlock’s style that players can enter. It’s a somewhat fascinating aspect, but it’s actually just window dressing (literally). There are several chase sequences, but they are not only clumsy, but also completely useless. In an order you walk randomly along the mirrors before you stand with the right word in one of the mirrors. He’s just gonna… he’s going down.
One of the most interesting elements is Sam’s regular companion. I mean, Sam’s double or his imaginary friend. Sam’s doppelganger is a more emotional self, while Sam is an analytical self. When faced with decisions, you hear the reasons for both and decide with whom you want to choose the side of the decision. Some decisions seem to be effective, but I hardly ever had a debate in mind because there was always a good answer to two equal decisions that would make them more effective.
However, going back and forth between them is one of the strengths of the game, which shows how Sam struggles with social interactions. Depending on which side you’re on, this can change the way the game is played and the character you follow through the various chapters. It also means that there are several seals which, although not very different, add a layer of repeatability.
The highest praise I can give the Twin Mirror is its visual embodiment. These are the most suitable DontNod games so far. The Palace of Sam’s Spirit is beautiful in a crystal style, which really impresses. In general, however, the visual effects of the environments and character models are impressive and represent the greatest progress compared to other DontNod games.
Anyway, the Twin Myrror idea is promising. Unfortunately, that’s not true. Elements like the Spirit Palace and Sam’s look-alike represent some interesting points, but generally the impression fades. Besides, if you hold it in your hands, compared to other stories DontNod tells.
Related Tags:
cyberpunk 2077 how many weapons,cyberpunk 2077 legendary weapons,cyberpunk 2077 vindicator,arasaka "ronin" hs8,cyberpunk 2077 melee weapons,cyberpunk 2077 weapons trailer,cyberpunk 2077 multiplayer,cyberpunk 2077 pc specs