Title: Twin Mirror
Developer: DONTNOD Entertainment
Publisher: DONTNOD Entertainment
Released: December 1, 2020 (PC Game, PS4, Xbox One)
Platform Reviewed: PlayStation 4
Platforms Available: PC Game, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Article Reading Time: minutes
Dontnod’s Delays and Determination
Dontnod Entertainment, a video game development studio known for creating critically acclaimed titles such as Life is Strange and Vampyr, has been teasing multiple new projects for quite some time now. However, the release of these games has faced several setbacks, leading to prolonged waiting periods for fans of the studio. One of these projects was the highly anticipated story adventure game Twin Mirror, which underwent a tumultuous development cycle. Despite encountering various challenges, the team at Dontnod Entertainment persevered, ultimately succeeding in bringing the game to fruition. As a result, players were finally able to experience the captivating narrative of former investigative journalist Sam Higgs, which was eagerly awaited by fans of the studio and the genre alike.
Life is Strange Vibes
After playing for a while, it will become abundantly clear that this is the next installment from the creators of the Life is Strange series. Both the narrative style and the typical gameplay can’t be denied. This time, however, we don’t get to experience the drama of schoolgirls or the story of two brothers on the run. We’re looking at the story of Sam , who returns to his hometown of Basswood to say one last goodbye to his deceased best friend. Basswood is a typical small American town where people survive as best they can. Its atmosphere is handled excellently in the game. Sam didn’t leave it well, and many locals blame him for his decisions and work. Sam was an investigative journalist who was instrumental in shutting down the mine. But the main thrust of the story is something else entirely. The circumstances of his friend’s death don’t quite add up. I’m not going to tell you any more of the story. After all, this is an important element on which Twin Mirror is primarily based. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable whodunit you’ll get through in a day. You gradually uncover the circumstances of what’s currently happening in the town and Sam’s past.
When Textures Attack! (Or Just Sit There Blandly)
The developers have said they want to avoid falling into the same stereotype as Telltale Games and are trying to make their new projects more distinct. In the case of Twin Mirror, though, they’re still sticking with the old approach. You can clearly tell at a glance that this is the work of Dontnod. Slightly stylized graphics, inferior textures, and poor quality face art compared to competing adventure games of this type. What the characters do in Twin Mirror is weak compared to other big adventure games. After a few minutes of playing, I counted on that when the first conversations took place. Despite the lower graphical quality, they managed to create scenery that is a joy to look at in some parts.
However, Twin Mirror fits perfectly into the pattern of this studio’s work in other ways. Throughout the gameplay, you’re faced with several dialogue decisions, most of which only affect how the character in question will treat you. Very few critical decisions affect the ending of the game.
Supernatural Sleuthing in Sam’s Brain
But some exciting ideas also fit the classic pattern of the studio – supernatural abilities. We get several glimpses into Sam’s mind. It’s where memories are replayed, and he often has to deal with himself. His personality is more complex. More than once, Sam’s alter ego interferes in the story, which I’d rather not go into more detail about because it’s one of the most exciting things in the game, and it would be a shame to give it away beforehand. The story does have a few weaknesses, though.
Basswood Needs More Character Development
As I mentioned earlier, Twin Mirror didn’t escape problems during development either. Initially, the game was supposed to be split into 3 episodes. For Dontnod, this makes sense, given their experience with episodic releases. But in the end, it was released all at once. During gameplay, you can tell where each episode is supposed to end without any problem. Plus, the developers were pressed for time, so they had to switch to chopping the story.
The introduction is extensive. Everything is explained so you can understand everything as it should be. But halfway through, it breaks down, and the narrative takes a huge turn. Before you know it, you’re watching the closing credits. This was just an introduction, and the investigation continued for a few more hours. Unfortunately, it didn’t. As for the characters, if you expect them to develop significantly during the game, don’t count on it. They don’t even get much time to do so, and with almost every one of them, it’s evident at first glance what they are. Most of them treat Sam very differently than I initially expected. Despite the constant repetition at the beginning about how they don’t like Sam in Basswood, most residents welcome him with open arms. I find it odd that even those in the wrong way because of him don’t mind him hanging around their home.
Exploring? More Like Stumbling Around
Conversations and decision-making aren’t the only part of the game. Several times, you’re put in a situation where you have to go through a place, find all the essential elements, and then use them to piece together a scenario of what has happened or is yet to happen, all in the mind palace. It’s an exciting idea, but the execution is too straightforward. I would say. You must find all the information pieces to start putting it together first. You can always go right, even if you play through the different options in the mind palace. You will only be let in once you find the right combination. It could have been a challenge, but the developers clearly didn’t want you to think too hard when solving it. In fact, Sam often uses his predictions to tell you how to put the situation together. You’ll also spend some time exploring things and the environment in the game. It’s an absolute classic. Don’t count on collecting items or having an inventory to combine them. I encountered a puzzle once or twice in the entire game. The rest of the situations are solved through conversations or looking at things. Interactive items are labeled so you know where to go.
However, the interaction could be more nuts than an adventure game player would like. You have to angle yourself at the right angle to the interactive items even to see the menu of options, which sometimes means you have to set the character up for several tries before it does what you want it to do. However, it’s much worse when the interactive objects are loose in the environment. You have to approach them from the right side to make them appear. On one investigation, I spent more time doing this just because I came to the location from the woods instead of the road. They’re small things, but in a short game, where they make up a significant part of the gameplay, the developers should watch out for them.
Twin Mirror: Faster Than a Speeding Storyline
As a result, Twin Mirror feels like a rushed project that the developers wanted to release at any cost. Even with another released adventure game, Tell Me Why from Dontnod, it didn’t turn out stellar, albeit a big chunk better than Twin Mirror. Their latest games, like Jusant and the yet unreleased Lost Records, which we will review in the summer, will break the vicious circle that Dontnod has been mired in since the abandonment of the Life is Strange series.
Not Their Best Work, But Still Worthwhile
The story revolves around a former investigative journalist who visits his best friend for the last time. However, the overall story fails to impress due to its rushed pace and the need for improvement in the imaginative method of investigation. Additionally, even in the game Twin Mirror, the studio Dontnod has been unable to avoid its games’ recurring stereotypes. The facial expressions and texture quality are somewhat worse than expected.
Buy Twin Mirror
Steam: The game is available on Steam for $29.99. It features a single-player mode, Steam Achievements, and cloud-saving options (Steam Store).
Epic Games Store: Also available for $29.99, Twin Mirror on the Epic Games Store includes features like cloud saves. The game is described as a gripping psychological thriller with a narrative that lets you make choices that impact the story (Epic Games Store).
Xbox: There’s a significant discount on Xbox; the game is currently on sale for $4.49, down from $29.99. This sale ends in 5 days from the last update, so it’s a great opportunity for Xbox users to grab it at a lower price (Xbox.com).
PlayStation Store: Similar to Xbox, the PlayStation version is also on sale for $4.49, offering an 85% discount off the regular price of $29.99. This offer is valid until March 28, 2024 (PlayStation Store).