Mass Effect Andromeda

Mass Effect Andromeda tried to do a lot. It tried to tell a new story with a brand new cast, with the team behind Mass Effect 3’s stellar multiplayer in charge. It also opted for much larger play spaces and more build diversity. However, from the very outset, there were issues, whether it was the plan to have randomly generated planets, Frostbite being a mess, high-level departures, etc. Despite being decent in several ways, Andromeda flopped hard enough that publisher EA reportedly cancelled DLC and put the franchise on ice for a few years.

The last game Dontnod Entertainment released was Twin Mirror, which launched in December 2020 to lukewarm critical reception at best. That reception has been reflected in poor sales as well, with the company revealing that it has so far only managed to recoup 75% of its production investments. Due to a couple of factors, in fact, Dontnod doesn’t expect the situation on that front to improve too much. Specifically, the developer attribites that to “a market that is globally saturated by the end of 2021” and “the sudden closure of the Chinese market”- which, it says, it “not expected to be lifted in the medium term.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Vampyr, the Focus Entertainment-published action RPG that launched in 2018, seems to be doing rather well for itself. It’s hit another sales milestone, with over 2 million units sold worldwide, and was also downloaded 8 million times in 2021 thanks to a free Epic Games Story giveaway. At last count, in April 2019, Vampyr had sold over a million units.

Twin Mirror is available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, while Vampyr is available on those three platforms in addition to the Nintendo Switch.

Being from West Virginia myself, I can personally attest to the accuracy with which the old mining town aesthetic of Basswood was created here. Everything, from the vast wooded hills down to the cracked pavement of old roads that aren’t traveled enough to warrant regular repair feels right. This makes Twin Mirror’s outdoor areas its most interesting by far to me. The town of Basswood is full of faded buildings, dusty windows, grass and ivy creeping up from under old concrete, and the occasional well-intentioned graffiti. The town, like so many others from the region, genuinely feels like it harbors memories of a happier time but now barely clings to the last few threads of its former vibrancy.

"Being from West Virginia myself, I can personally attest to the accuracy with which the old mining town aesthetic of Basswood was created here. Everything, from the vast wooded hills down to the cracked pavement of old roads that aren’t traveled enough to warrant regular repair feels right."

Adding to the authenticity are Basswoods citizens; all with their own idiosyncrasies and quirks that take generations of life in a small, isolated town to form. The characters and setting were clearly created with a deep understanding of and sensitivity to the real issues that many towns like Basswood deal with. The dying coal industry, the opioid crisis, and how the former feeds into the latter are depicted without lazy stereotypes but instead, thoughtful nuance. Individuals are different, but the town’s troubles weigh heavily on everyone making some more closed-off and bitter than others with short tempers and long memories. The folks that Twin Mirror’s protagonist, Sam Higgs, talks with are all consistently well written and acted.

The only thing holding them back is their less-than stellar facial animations and somewhat mediocre amount of detail, both of which often rob the story’s more significant moments of the impact they were going for. A slightly more than excusable amount of texture popping and many objects, when held, awkwardly clipping through characters hands only add to the cracks of Twin Mirror’s otherwise well-executed gameplay and cutscenes. These visual hitches shouldn’t be a deal-breaker for anyone who enjoys a good story, but they do create a lower ceiling for the atmosphere than it deserves.

The soundtrack, while not outstanding, does help save some of the moods that the visuals seem determined to undercut. Whether it’s the impassioned orchestral chord progressions that accompany uncovering a major plot point or the light-hearted bluegrass playing in a humble coffee shop, the music generally gets it right.

Sam Higgs ends up being a far more interesting main character than he appears at first. He’s a flawed guy who has a tendency to give into impulse, and a bad habit of asking imposing questions when it’s not entirely appropriate. It’s a great personality type for his chosen profession in journalism, but not so great for getting along with everyone in a small town. The game often reminds you of Sam’s checkered reputation in the town with folks seeming divided on him due to the critical nature of a scathing article he wrote about Basswood’s last remaining mine failing to follow regulations. You can tell this weighs on him with every shop he enters, not always knowing if he’s walking into a friendly or hostile environment.

"Sam Higgs ends up being a far more interesting main character than he appears at first. He’s a flawed guy who has a tendency to give into impulse, and a bad habit of asking imposing questions when it’s not entirely appropriate. It’s a great personality type for his chosen profession in journalism, but not so great for getting along with everyone in a small town."

Some characters genuinely love Sam and are excited to see him again and some have an axe to grind. Some characters have personal history with Sam and some only know him from his work. These dynamics constantly come into play with how Sam’s newest investigation unfolds and is made all the more intriguing by an imaginary alternative version of himself that helps him sift through stressful situations despite many of their exchanges becoming a nuisance to Sam at times. This alter-ego character ends up being one of the games’ most interesting and perhaps illustrates Sam’s delicate mental health better than any other aspect of the game. It all adds up to a finely told story that gets its hooks in quick despite mostly being a bit of a slow burn and definitely on the predictable side.

I do feel a game like this is best experienced with as little plot knowledge as possible, so I won’t go into it much more than that. But suffice it to say, if Sam’s return to his hometown to attend an old friend’s funeral went perfectly as planned, we wouldn’t have much of a reason to play a game about it, would we?

While it is obvious that most who remember Sam have their reservations about him, how much he offends or pleases the people of Basswood on this particular visit, is often up to the player, as there are a lot of dialogue options that can nudge most situations into different directions. It’s standard fare for Dontnod games and the genre generally. Some choices are more consequential than others and it’s generally illustrated to you when you are about to make a particularly monumental choice. They’re done well enough that you’ll be more motivated to give in to the experience and see where your instincts lead you than trying to figure out the game’s inner-workings, which I suppose is the point of this type of game. Characters are all nicely catalogued for you in status menus that lets you keep track of Sam’s relationship with them. It’s fairly inconsequential, but it’s there if you want it.

The dialogue and exploration segments are just the bread of Twin Mirror’s gameplay sandwich though. The meat is mostly made up of puzzles where Sam must assemble important past events – or plot new ones – by analyzing evidence and piecing possibilities together to see how scenarios might play out. These investigative sections are mostly pretty fun to complete. While games like Detroit: Become Human arguably did them better, Twin Mirror does do a better job with them than I expected it to. The way Sam considers each possibility you construct with evidence around him makes his train of thought amusing to unfold, even when your first few hypotheses are wrong. Some of these segments are more interesting than others, but they’re generally well-done and kept me invested in discovering and understanding the scenario instead of just trying to guess the correct combination of things to complete the section.

"The dialogue and exploration segments are just the bread of Twin Mirror’s gameplay sandwich though. The meat is mostly made up of puzzles where Sam must assemble important past events – or plot new ones – by analyzing evidence and piecing possibilities together to see how scenarios might play out."

Sam’s abstract mind palace is also a clever method of illustrating the connection between his memories, his mental state, and the present situation. Unlike the real-world event construction segments, the mind palace segments are much simpler to play through, and mostly amount to just very well dressed-up exposition. They shed light on the present by showing you something relevant from the past. The mind palace rarely gets more involved than that outside of a few minigames and a longer section towards the end. If these were presented in a different way they could have easily felt like padding, but given the clever nature of personifying Sam’s abstract thoughts, which is just as thought provoking as it is visually striking, it’s hard not to appreciate these sections for what they are.

Walking down intensely reflective platforms as shards of Sam’s memories materialize is quite eye-catching when contrasted with the benign, grounded locations of Basswood. Going between the two is an effective tug of war that keeps Twin Mirror interesting. The mind palace, combined with other interesting illustrations of Sam’s surprisingly entertaining investigative sections make the gameplay of Twin Mirror a worthy companion to the well-told story.

Twin Mirror is a game that has a lot to say about small towns, mental health, and the value of truth over popularity. It’s just a shame it doesn’t present those ideas with less technical issues or let them breathe a little more than the short 7-ish hour campaign allows. If you’re already a fan of narrative adventure games like this, I’d say you have more reason to check it out than not. But given Dontnod’s past work on great titles like Life is Strange and Vampyr, you also wouldn’t be wrong for finding Twin Mirror’s uneven presentation and smaller scope a little disappointing. That said, it’s still a mostly well-told psychological mystery that, despite its flaws, plays well and manages to deliver a story worth experiencing for fans of the genre.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Dotnod Entertainment’s latest adventure title Twin Mirror is now available. It’s playable on Xbox One, PS4 and PC (exclusive to the Epic Games Store). Check out the release trailer below which sees protagonist Sam chatting with his alter-ego, the Double.

Set in Basswood, Virginia, the story has Sam returning to his hometown for a certain occasion. However, things quickly go awry – Sam wakes up with a bloody shirt and no memories of what happened. By venturing through the town and speaking to its various citizens, he must unearth the truth.

This is accomplished by using the Mind Palace, a special place inside of his mind that allows for investigating various cases. The Double also offers his own take on things though he may not always have Sam’s best interests in mind. Twin Mirror was previously meant to be an episodic experience like Life is Strange or Tell Me Why but shifted to a full-fledged title before launch so it can be played in one go. Stay tuned for more details on it in the coming days.

Cyberpunk 2077

After numerous delays, Night City Wire episodes and seemingly insurmountable hype, Cyberpunk 2077 is definitely, assuredly, 99.9 percent for sure releasing this month. We hope. There’s a lot to look forward to, whether it’s choosing one of three Life Paths and pursuing the story or simply cruising around Night City, completing Scanner Hustles and interacting with the citizenry. There’s an extensive arsenal of weaponry, cyberware and daemons to experiment with, not to mention an entire world of Braindance to get lost in, all while conversing with Johnny Silverhand played by Keanu Reeves. Cyberpunk 2077 releases for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Google Stadia on December 10^th. Hopefully.

Call of the Sea

Out of the Blue’s first person adventure title arrives next month, following the tale of Nora as she travels to a strange island in the South Pacific to locate her missing husband. Inspired by the works of Lovecraft, Call of the Sea focuses more on a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere as opposed to horror. Players explore locations, solve puzzles and take in the sights while piecing together the truth. Releasing on December 8^th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and PC, Call of the Sea will also be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch.

Chronos: Before The Ashes

Before one was traveling to different dimensions and dodge-rolling with firearms, there was the labyrinth. Set before Remnant: From the Ashes, Chronos: Before the Ashes sees players venturing into said labyrinth and defeating the evils within. The twist is that dying results in expulsion, which means returning a year later. Thus do players begin their journey as a spry, Souls-like adventurer before having to rely on their wits and magic to survive as they mature over the years. Chronos: Before the Ashes is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC, Google Stadia and Nintendo Switch.

Empire of Sin

Travel back in time to the Prohibition era, where syndicates and mob bosses battled it out for reign over Chicago. As a strategy title, Empire of Sin is all about recruiting gang members and expanding an empire, dipping into all kinds of illegal activities while evading the law. Other gangs will want a piece of you though, and when negotiations and deception fail, a turn-based strategy combat system lets you deal threats. With numerous perks and traits for characters, resource management and gang warfare, Empire of Sin looks to be a nice change of pace for publisher Paradox Interactive. It’s out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

Twin Mirror

Developed by a separate team at the Life is Strange studio, Twin Mirror is ultimately a tale of mystery and duality. It sees Sam, an investigative journalist, returning to his hometown in Basswood, West Virginia. Things aren’t what they seem though, and the player will interact with various towns-folk, deciding who to trust, while dealing with The Double, Sam’s “inner voice.” That also means investigating different events and piecing together clues with the unique “Mind Palace” while questioning the truth. Twin Mirror is out on December 1^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond

In the midst of new IPs, Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond is a familiar sight for long-time fans. Developed by Respawn Entertainment, it’s a VR title for Oculus Rift and Steam VR that sees players venturing through Europe at the height of World War 2. Afterwards, it may be worth watching interviews with veterans who experienced the conflict and learning more. Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond could be a dark horse when it launches on December 11^th.

Immortals Fenyx Rising

In the midst of more “serious” offerings like Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising is much less heavy material for Ubisoft. It sees a Greek soldier named Fenyx washing ashore off the Golden Isle and battling the titan Typhon to rescue the Pantheon. While exploring the lush, colorful world and battling mythical foes, players will also deal with Prometheus and Zeus as narrators, each offering their own take on events and humorously clashing. Immortals Fenyx Rising is out on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Google Stadia, PC and Switch on December 3^rd.

Haven

A co-op RPG about two lovers exploring a strange world isn’t quite what you’d expect from the team behind the twitch-based Furi. Nevertheless, The Game Bakers’ Haven has looked appealing since day one, focusing on the struggles of Yu and Kay as they scavenge for parts, battle the local wildlife and cook meals. Will their quest for freedom and love ultimately win out? We’ll find out when Haven launches December 3^rd for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC and Switch.

MXGP 2020

With many of the big-name racers out of the way this year, MXGP 2020 looks to round things out in its usual fashion. Sporting bikes and riders from more than 110 brands, while offering a track editor and dedicated servers for online play, the title is certainly looking to improve on past experiences. If previous games are any indication, it could end up being another solid racing title. Releasing on December 16^th, MXGP 2020 is coming to previous and current gen consoles along with PC.

Override 2: Super Mech League

Big mech battles are back with Override 2: Super Mech League. It features 20 robots with all kinds of over-the-top abilities and customization for players to mess around with. A new Career Mode allows for earning influence for one’s Club and taking on all challenges. Local and online multiplayer for up to four players also returns with modes like Free for All, Xenoswarm, King of the Hill and more. Battle it out on December 22^nd when Override 2 launches on Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Dontnod Entertainment have enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame in recent years, breaking out into the mainstream with Life is Strange and then continuing to grow further still with their subsequent releases. With a new studio in Montreal, Canada, Dontnod has set its sights on become an even larger studio- and it seems they’re set to become a lot more prolific in terms of how many releases they have in the pipeline.

Speaking in an interview with GamesBeat about the studio’s growth and what they have their sights set on for the future, Dontnod CEO Oskar Guilbert said that the developer currently has as many as half a dozen games in development at the same time. “Our studio is growing, with six games in production now,” he said. “Our recent releases have been very successful in terms of press reception and player reception. I’m very proud.”

One of the six that Guilbert mentions is probably Twin Mirror, which will be Dontnod’s first ever self-published game and will release on December 1. Beyond that, we also know Dontnod and Focus Home Interactive – who previously worked together on Vampyr – are collaborating on another project, which is said to be “one of the most ambitious in the history of the publisher and the studio.”

Recently, Dontnod Entertainment launched Tell Me Why in three episodes for Xbox One and PC in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios. You can read our review of the game through here.

With all of the buzz around next-gen consoles and titles, it’s easy to forget that Dontnod’s Twin Mirror is releasing next month. The adventure title recently became available for pre-order on all platforms with a new trailer teasing some of the mysteries to come. Thankfully, there’s more extensive footage (courtesy of Shack News) that provides a better look at the gameplay. Check it out below.

Twin Mirror is the story of Sam, an investigative journalist who returns to his hometown of Basswood, Virginia under strange circumstances. Which is to say he wakes up with no memory and a bloody shirt. Using his Mind Palace and communicating with the Double, an alter-ego, Sam has to unravel exactly what’s going on.

Twin Mirror is out on December 1st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. The PC version will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store when it launches. Originally, it was meant to be an episodic game like Dontnod’s previous titles but was changed to be a full experience. Stay tuned for more details en route to launch.

The latest game from Dontnod, Twin Mirror, has had quite a journey getting here. The game was originally announced in 2019, but was then delayed and rearranged from an episodic game to a single narrative experience. It’ll help round out the year in December, and today we got a new trailer to celebrate and encourage pre-orders.

The trailer is a short affair, only about 30 seconds, to give you a taste of the small town setting as well as the mystery you’ll have to solve. While this trailer doesn’t show, one of the key aspects of the game will be going into a type of mind space, like seen in the banner above to help solve the town’s dark secrets. Much like Dontnod’s previous few games, it seems to be very narratively driven and about choice and consequence.

Twin Mirror will release December 1st for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Pre-orders are now opening up as of writing this, though the PS4 version does not seem to be live just yet, keep your eyes open.

Dontnod Entertainment first announced Twin Mirror in 2018, and since then, anticipation for the game’s release has been high. There’s been a couple of delays, and periods where there have been next to no updates on the game, but now we finally know when it’ll be out.

Dontnod Entertainment have confirmed that Twin Mirror will be releasing on December 1. Unlike the developer’s previous games, this won’t be an episodic affair, and will instead be releasing as a single package in one go.

In Twin Mirrors, players will take on the role of former investigative journalist Sam, who travels to his hometown of Basswood, West Virginia for the funeral of his best friend. Upon arriving in the town though, he quickly realizes that things aren’t what they seem, and he must uncover Basswood’s many dark secrets. Players will make narrative-shifting choices, collect clues, and head into Sam’s mind palace to piece them together and figure out the truth.

Twin Mirror will be releasing on December 1 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, where it will be an Epic Games Store exclusive. There’s no word on whether next-gen versions of the game are planned.

Dontnod Entertainment first announced Twin Mirror back in 2018, so people have been looking forward to get their hands on the studio’s ambitious narrative adventure title for a while now. Originally scheduled for a 2019 launch, the game was delayed to 2020 last year, following which updates on it have been few and far between.

It will, however, be getting a major new update soon. Dontnod Entertainment recently took to Twitter via the game’s official page to confirm that a release date announcement for Twin Mirror will be coming tomorrow, at 6 PM CEST. Given the fact that we’re already halfway through September, it’s looking likely that the game will be delayed once again, into 2021, but you never know.

Unlike previous Dontnod titles, though Twin Mirror was originally also planned as an episodic release, the developer confirmed in June that it will now be released as a single package. The game is due out on PS4, Xbox One, and PC (where it will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store), but it’s likely at this point that PS5 and Xbox Series X versions will also be announced.

Dontnod Entertainment recently released Tell Me Why for PC and Xbox One with Microsoft. You can read our review of the game through here.

Tomorrow. 6:00pm CEST. pic.twitter.com/FeF7ltEDBM

— Twin Mirror (@TwinMirrorGame) September 14, 2020