Birth ME Code
EDIT: Review updated to reflect the Feb 7th 2021 ending rewrite (version 1.2.1).
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Birth ME Code (BMEC) is solid second entry in the ABiMe series and sequel to Head AS Code.
Overall, an enjoyable experience, although not without its criminals cons. I would definitely recommend this game to anyone who enjoys darker, grittier plot-heavy mysteries and visual novels.
Disclaimer: From a gameplay perspective, BMEC does NOT offer fully integrated escape room puzzles like Zero Escape nor Classroom Trials / Endless Debates like Danganronpa, so if you go in expecting either of these from this indie game, prepare to be disappointed in that regard.
– Real player with 56.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Conspiracy Dark Games.
I rarely write reviews, but I felt compelled to write about this… experience, I think I’ll call it. I’m a huge fan of Zero Escape and having played this developer’s first game (Head AS Code), I was counting down the minutes until its release so I could have a solid excuse to ignore the giant pile of work sitting on my desk.
So was it worth it? Yes, absolutely, 100%, without a doubt, every penny.
Birth ME Code is an ontological mystery game wherein a bunch of people are dumped in a place and told they’ve gotta play a death game for the chance to MAYBE get out alive. So yes, same premise as Zero Escape. However, this genre is less about premise and more about world building, twists, and flowcharts. Flowcharts are essential because they allow the player to live the story from all perspectives. How many times do you play a game or watch a movie and think, “I wonder what would happen if that guy died instead of this lady?” I know, frequently. It was a rhetorical question.
– Real player with 39.1 hrs in game
P0
P0 is a fun, very challenging puzzle game. I got stuck not that far into the game and keep saying just one more try over and over. If you like challenges and puzzle games you will like P0. It was odd at first but after 5 minutes I got the hang of how to play.
I recommend using a controller you will find it easier than using the keyboard. Also when you open the game it is in a small window so you need a program called Borderless Gaming to play this in full screen.
7 out of 10
Find more reviews from me on my Steam curator page:
– Real player with 1.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Conspiracy Dark Games.
Rather annoying game concept, already at the 1st level. The movement system is rather janky, diagonal movement-inputs (such as W+A or Up+Left arrow key at the same time) get quite often registered as only a horizontal or vertical input, which causes you to basically instantly fail in some levels, forcing you to fully repeat them again.
– Real player with 0.6 hrs in game
Lost Cosmonauts ARG
A short game that involves very basic web searches (most of the time I didn’t even need to read any info on the pages ) in order to answer what amounts to quiz questions. Interesting content but not really much of a game.
– Real player with 23.1 hrs in game
Read More: Best Conspiracy Indie Games.
I’ll keep the review as short as the game:
There’s not much to this game. It’s a trivia game of sorts, with only 10 questions that don’t change. You’re presented with one riddle-like question at a time (which you must answer in order) where a lot of the challenge is to figure out what the authors are getting at in the first place. All of the questions focus on the Lost Cosmonauts conspiracy (if you’re not familiar with it, look it up). What’s unique is that it’s asking you to leave the game, do research online, and provide the answer based upon your findings. This might be interesting if the answers that the game seeks weren’t so rare, obtuse or redundant (e.g., looking for the name of a lake near some Gagarin tribute site? Well, this could be one of several lakes, depending upon the site…you’ll just have to type in each one until you get the right one).
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game
Retro Golden Age - The Abbey of Crime
Get ordained in The Abbey of Crime, THE most awarded Spanish graphic adventure game of the 80’s and solve the dangerous mystery that has been hidden among the dusty pages of history for more than five centuries.
Become the friar Guillermo de Mosce and return to your order to discover the reasons why you were imprisoned by the Holy Inquisition.
“_After being accused, deemed guilty and imprisoned by the very Pope John XXIII during the fourteenth century, Guillermo de Mosce flees from the jail in Avignon to seek asylum in the court of Emperor Ludwig of Bavaria. But after his death, Guillermo decides to come back to his order, accompanied by a young novice with the intention of meeting Bernardo Moi, head of the inquisition led by the pope.
Nobody never knew what really happened. There is only a disciple’s account left, which would shed light several years after upon those horrible and astonishing events, which remained secret ever since…_”
Features
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Original studio game
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Rewind option
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Original instruction manual
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Original material
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Development notes
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Trophies
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Steam/Nintendo Switch/PS4
The Fortress of Varnolis
personally hate puzzles, but can appreciate the style and atmosphere which are amazing. Can see this being a perfect game for a person who loves puzzles. For that i will put this as a recommended.
The “Old school” horror game save system i hate, like losing a lot progress after failing. Literally Was looking what to do next and randomly ran out of air/breath(?) and died. This put me back another 10-20 minutes and will happen every time until i find what to do. This to me is not a fun design.
– Real player with 7.0 hrs in game
really great game for people that love doing puzzles.
love the style and atmosphere that the game gives out
the graphics are amazing for players that are able to use the ultra graphics
and the lighting is amazing
I would recommend this game for people after puzzle games with a horror game style to the game
overall this game is enjoyable
– Real player with 0.3 hrs in game
Discolored
Very Nice game, good ambient music, I read somewhere it reminded to Twin Peaks. Yes it has that eerieness to it.
Puzzles are good, real brain teasers. In a way its a bit like the Room, just one house and its close surroundings. But nicely layed out. And with a kind of glasses to show secrets/hints.
At some point I thought I was close to the end, but no, so that required some more thinking. I also saw already people making Walkthroughs, but for me that takes away the charm and the fun of solving it yourself. Its also got some hidden achievements, and I must admit the last one for me I wouldnt have found without some help from the community hahaha.
– Real player with 5.6 hrs in game
This puzzle game has a real feel for the nostalgic, which is something I appreciate, and its visuals provide a sense for the noir genre. I did also find it somewhat reminiscent of the Myst game series in style, especially while playing with the Point-and-Click mode (You can choose to play Free Roam or Point-and-Click, and are free to switch game modes anytime throughout the game). It is set in a different dimension, where symbols of triangles and eyes are everywhere, and color and light are essential elements to the game, all of which help to bring out a unique experience of game play. Discolored is, although a short game, also quite a challenging one (at times, frustratingly so), with a little “moon” logic thrown in.
– Real player with 4.1 hrs in game
The Black Watchmen
ALRIGHT, TIME TO CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
[olist]
- This game is NOT subscription-based! Think of it more like The Walking Dead series, where you pay for a season whenever it comes out. You can play any seasons you own indefinitely.* This game WILL take over your life. Like the slogan in the old ARG Majestic from EA: “It plays YOU” Will clarify later.* The game on Steam is only 25% of the actual game. It takes place in real-life, on websites created specifically for the game, and on social media.
– Real player with 165.2 hrs in game
**** Full Disclosure: I’m a volunteer Moderator on the official forums; however I’m not paid in any way, shape or form. ****
EDIT: Since I posted this review, I have been hired by Alice & Smith as PR/Community Manager. Therefore, I will no longer update this review as long as I hold that position.
Also; to make room for this update, I removed the “Updated” list at the end of this review.
Content:
While the amount of content seems limited, it is worth making a huge note that the Content of any ARG is not found primarily in what you are presented with - in this case, what you see when you start the EXE file - it is the secrets you can find based on that initial presentation.
– Real player with 164.5 hrs in game
Gordian Rooms 2: A curious island
Shortly after the events of the first game you, somehow, set sail to a mysterious island in order to become a full fledged member of the Gordian Society! Will you become one of the chosen few?
Various beautfiul locations and mind bending mysteries await you on the Isle of Lye, one of the many testing locations of the Gordian Society. Venture into underground caverns, make your way through dungeons and explore the grand mansion of Lye.
As you overcome various obstacles you will uncover not only the true origins of your uncle but other secrets as well. Exploration is your key to sucess so try to make the most of your uncle’s final gift!
Phantasma VR
Hello Everyone, I just finished this game.
I am glad I finished, If this was a Hard copy of a game I would of put it in a bucket of Gas, and set it a fire.
This was one of the most Aggravating games I have ever played on VR. If I didn’t pay so much for my vive, I would of smashed my Controllers into a wall a long time ago. Not only did I want to get to the next Head banging puzzle so badly, just to stop me from slamming my Headset into the walls, but I wanted to get to the end, to find out what kind of reward I would be greeted with since I went through all of this Madness. There was none, None end line story finish, no what is going to happen to me, NOTHING!!! it just ends…… I am searching for a highlight of my day into the night, back to the day Aggro blast, the only thing I can come up with is standing in front of the hall door listening to the couple Screwing.
– Real player with 7.6 hrs in game
I have decided to completley re write my review of Phantasma. when I first played this game I really wanted to love it but to be honest , and this is hard for me to say because I pride myself on my puzzle solving ability and proudly wear the “I solved obduction without cheating” badge. but before some updates and reworking this game had me beyond frustrated. The dev has completely reworked the second puzzle,. the infamous Paris and added a few clever hints in a couple of the other levels now that make this game much more accessible. The puzzles will still challenge you. But every thing you need to solve the puzzles are right there in front of you. you will solve and when you do you will feel pretty damn smart for it. Graphically the game is gorgeous. the sound is great and free locomotion works fantastic. Currently the dev is working on an update to fix the teleport from pushing players back from the edge of tables and the like. That’s another thing. This dev is listening to his customers and has been working like a madman to give us updates and fix anything that may have been over looked in playtesting. You should easily be playing the game for 3 to 5 hours depending on your puzzle logic,. I initially didn’t think there was any replay value but have found myself going through again and just absorbing the atmosphere of the game and feeling the narative. It’s really twisted. this is definitely worth your time and money! we need more interesting titles like this and less wave shooters.
– Real player with 6.4 hrs in game
Ricky did nothing wrong
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– Real player with 1.0 hrs in game
my full play through here: https://youtu.be/X3Xuc3aWowA
A pretty good school project point and click having to open the menu choose the correct interaction close the menu testing what option you need when the options aren’t really explained outside of a picture makes the game pretty clunky, until you get used to it a lot of the options only have one or two uses anyways having a system where you click an item and it just gives you the option needed when the time comes for that item’s interaction might have been better than having to open and close a menu not a big problem but since there’s quite a few objects it gets redundant. The story is pretty decent nothing crazy, but I like the fact you get a genocide mode or a pacifist mode sadly the ending doesn’t change regardless.
– Real player with 1.0 hrs in game