

I also appreciate how unique the environments are, especially during Sam’s many meltdown sessions and the surreal aesthetic of the Mind Palace. Despite a similar style, the character models are noticeably more detailed than in other games, much like Tell Me Why. Visually, Twin Mirror doesn’t look much different from other Dontnod titles. However, players should prepare to spend quite a bit of time in the Mind Place, as they’ll have to pay attention to find all the clues in the area and match them up till the outcome makes sense. The gameplay plays out not unlike the detective mode in the Batman Arkham games, albeit more stylistic. It helps him recollect memories and piece together clues to solve a problem. Aside from daunting decisions, players will also encounter puzzles in the game, however they’re too few and not interesting enough to be noteworthy.ĭuring investigations, Sam enters his Mind Palace, which is his solitary and illusionary state of mind. Players also have the option to ask their considerate imaginary friend to help out with some of these sections. Most of these decisions boil down to dialogue options, some taking a logical route while others a more social one. All in Your HeadĪlong the way, Sam will need to make decisions that will determine which of the game’s multiple endings you’ll get. Sam is forced to investigate a string of murders in his town, including that of his friend’s unnatural demise. This is where the game’s events really kick off. After a very dramatic gameplay sequence playing out his meltdown, he decides to investigate the source. The next morning, he wakes up to find his shirt covered in blood. Coupled with his grief, he decides to drown his sorrows in beer on the night of his friend’s funeral.

It doesn’t take long till he is quickly met with conflict due to an article from his past. Unfortunately, in the beginning, The Double isn’t available for Sam, forcing our protagonist to confront all his issues head-on. Luckily, he has “The Double,” a smartly dressed bespectacled man who lives in his head, helping him properly interact with the people around him and advising him during intense moments in the game. As a person who has difficulty interacting with others, it might make conversation a bit difficult. Sam is someone who’s still stuck in the past, and you can tell this from his constant blissful recollections upon returning to Basswood. Like in Dontnod’s previous titles, gameplay involves Sam interacting with the environment while his inner thoughts serve as a guide.

The game starts simple enough as you jump into the life of the misanthropic Sam. Dontnod’s talents tend to lie with paranormal and surreal plotlines, and Twin Mirror is no different. It’s also a game I’ve been anticipating due to Dontnod’s track record with excellent storytelling games. Twin Mirror is one of the most narrative-driven games in recent releases, and it’s quite a unique one at that. However, when he receives news of his best friend’s death, he’s forced to return to the same town he ran away from.
TWIN MIRROR GAME REVIEW SERIES
The game follows Sam, an anti-social investigative journalist who leaves his hometown of Basswood, West Virginia after a series of unfortunate events. While Bandai Namco helps out with the console versions, this is still a wonderful achievement for the studio. It also happens to be their first self-published title on PC. Twin Mirror is the latest psychological thriller from the developers of Life is Strange, Dontnod Entertainment.
