MIAZMA or the Devil's Stone

Στα [-] • Κουτό, βαρετό καί μέ κακούς γρίφους. Συνοψίζοντας • Από τά παιχνίδια πού τά παρατάς στή μέση γιατί, σίγουρα, έχεις καί καλύτερα πράγματα νά κάνεις. http://adventures-index10.blogspot.com/2015/11/miazma-or-devils-stone.html

Definitely not as good as the previous Yoomurjak's Ring because it's half the length, has no world exploration and no FMV for the dialogue (only an image slideshow) but it has more action early on. Still a pretty cool puzzle adventure game that I enjoyed and would play again. P.S. You'll sometimes see Jonathan do some pretty funny stuff if you wait half a minute at certain locations!

Квест, реальные актеры, все сделано по старинке и это круто, с любовью к нулевым и людям, любящих этот жанр.

I like the slow story-rich games and loved this one. My only complaint is that imho some puzzles were too difficult (in easy mode.) The two walkthrough I found on YouTube end right at the point where it became (overly?) difficult. That said, I'm not a puzzle person and you might find them simple. The setting and characters are charming and you'll also have a school-like learning experience. I did not mind the "slideshow presentation" at all. I felt it was one of the ways the game entertained with subtle humor. I'll be looking for more games by this team. Hooray to FMV

Jezus wat slecht, lijkt wel een slechte p0rnofilm.

Smart fun. I really liked the style.

Miazma or the Devil’s Stone, developed by Private Moon Studios and published by M.INDIE, is a modern continuation of the classic live-action adventure format that blends mystery, science, and the supernatural through full-motion video storytelling. As a spiritual successor to Yoomurjak’s Ring, it revisits the investigative exploits of Jonathan Hunt, a journalist whose curiosity once again leads him into a labyrinth of strange disappearances and ancient secrets. Set primarily in Hungary, the game invites players to explore a world of cryptic scientific experiments, forgotten legends, and shadowy institutions, all centered on the mysterious “Devil’s Stone,” a meteorite shrouded in myth and danger. It’s an experience that wears its roots proudly, embracing the charm and ambition of traditional point-and-click adventures while translating them into an FMV framework that feels more cinematic than nostalgic. From the moment the game begins, Miazma establishes a tone that is both grounded and unsettling. Jonathan Hunt arrives at a research institute where one of the scientists has mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a trail of clues that connect to a centuries-old artifact with potentially cosmic implications. The narrative cleverly intertwines real-world science with speculative fiction, balancing rational inquiry with mythological intrigue. As the story unfolds, it leads the player through a mixture of laboratories, observatories, crypts, and local landmarks, each with its own visual texture and cultural grounding. The storytelling is patient and deliberate, allowing moments of quiet observation and reflection between plot revelations. The mystery doesn’t rely on sensationalism but instead on an escalating sense of unease, as Jonathan begins to realize that the truth behind the Devil’s Stone may be more dangerous than any scientific curiosity. What sets Miazma apart is its visual and stylistic commitment to realism. Every scene was filmed on location in Hungary, lending the game an authenticity that pre-rendered environments often lack. The live-action sequences are woven seamlessly into a point-and-click structure, with carefully framed camera angles, environmental details, and real actors giving the story a sense of tangible presence. The cinematography captures both the mundane and the mysterious with equal care—the sterile brightness of laboratories contrasts sharply with the eerie quiet of ancient ruins and candlelit corridors. Despite the modest budget, the production quality is commendable; Private Moon Studios clearly poured passion into the project. However, one unavoidable limitation lies in the dubbing. The actors perform in Hungarian, but the game features only English voice-overs, and the mismatch between lip movements and dialogue can be distracting. While the effort to make the game accessible to an international audience is admirable, many players have expressed a wish for an option to hear the original Hungarian performances with subtitles for a more natural experience. The gameplay adheres to the logic of classic adventure design, but with a focus on accessibility and coherence. Players interact with environments through a simple point-and-click interface, using a contextual cursor to examine objects, collect items, and engage in conversation. Inventory management plays a central role, with puzzles often requiring the combination of scientific instruments or documents to progress. The puzzles themselves vary widely—from decoding ciphered notes and repairing equipment to logical deduction and environmental problem-solving. Some of them are elegant and rewarding, while others can veer into frustrating territory due to obscure logic or missing hints. Still, the game maintains a careful balance between challenge and narrative flow. For those who prefer a more streamlined experience, an easy mode highlights interactive hotspots and offers optional assistance. This design choice makes Miazma approachable without diluting its puzzle-solving depth. The pacing of Miazma reflects its hybrid nature as both a cinematic experience and an interactive mystery. Conversations are often long and deliberate, requiring attentiveness to subtle details that may later influence progress. The inclusion of real science gives the dialogue a sense of intellectual credibility, though it occasionally borders on overexplanation. The game’s structure allows exploration of over thirty unique locations and interactions with more than twenty characters, each with a role to play in the larger web of intrigue. Some characters feel like archetypes—the skeptical scientist, the evasive bureaucrat, the kindly local—but the performances are earnest enough to make them memorable. While the overall narrative is engaging, the ending arrives too abruptly, resolving key plot threads in quick succession and leaving a few questions unanswered. It’s a flaw that slightly undercuts the carefully built momentum, but not enough to overshadow the journey itself. Audiovisually, Miazma does an admirable job of enhancing immersion through sound and score. The music shifts between ambient electronics, melancholic piano melodies, and occasional retro influences that evoke classic adventure games from the 1990s. Some tracks feel unconventional within the context of the story, yet their variety contributes to the game’s distinctive mood. The sound design heightens the atmosphere: footsteps echo through empty corridors, machines hum in sterile rooms, and the wind outside carries a faint, foreboding whisper. These small details make the world feel alive, even when the player is simply standing still, trying to piece together the next step. Miazma is not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of game whose imperfections are born from ambition rather than carelessness. The English dubbing can detract from immersion, a few puzzles can feel unnecessarily obtuse, and the narrative resolution could have used more breathing room. Yet beneath those surface-level issues lies a project crafted with genuine care for storytelling and design. Private Moon Studios demonstrates an understanding of what makes FMV adventures appealing—the intimacy of live performances, the immersion of real environments, and the slow-burning satisfaction of discovery. It’s a rare entry in a genre that has largely faded, and it stands as proof that full-motion video storytelling can still captivate when executed with sincerity. For fans of mystery adventures and FMV storytelling, Miazma or the Devil’s Stone is a quiet triumph. It’s a game that values curiosity, observation, and deduction over reflexes or spectacle, offering an experience that feels both nostalgic and contemporary. It’s not about grand cinematic twists or shocking horror—it’s about atmosphere, intellect, and the slow unraveling of secrets buried in science and myth. While its flaws prevent it from reaching true greatness, it succeeds in delivering a distinctive and thoughtful experience that lingers long after the credits roll. Miazma is a testament to the enduring charm of the adventure genre, and a reminder that even in an age of constant spectacle, there is still room for games that ask you to think, to watch closely, and to believe in the mysteries that hide in plain sight. Rating: 7/10

This game is a bit hard to describe, its FMV point and click puzzle mystery game set in Hungary. Its also a sequel to another game I haven't played called Yoomurjak's ring and hasn't been ported to PC as far as I could find. But the lack of knowledge didn't affect my time with this game. You play Jonathan Hunt a New York journalist who settled down in Hungary and has a bit of reputation because of the first game. He's asked by a friend for a nuclear researcher insitute where he's asked to find her missing brother, but as you get to know the characters and enviroment, you realize there's more going on. And there are a lot of characters and enviroments to find, the majority a bit of charm to them while others are pretty forgettable and only seen a few times in the game. It feels like one of those B-Movies that take themselves a bit too seriously and maybe that was the charm of this game but its hard to say exactly what they were going for? It never gets too grim, and there's a lot of use of scienctific principles for the puzzles, which would have taken a lot longer to solve if I didn't have hints helping me. But their a clever of point and click adventure game logic puzzles with actual science behind their use, though the exact accuracy is better left to someone who understand it better. The game is also in a different language but was dubbed in English and its the only option to play it in, the actors are mix bag, some do the voice work well and you can tell others were recording in a closet. There isn't any stand out performances but the actors emote well enough to get the feel of the characters personality though I was having trouble remember who was who even later in the game? The only real grip I have about this game is the interface. Like any other Point and click game you have to click around the screen and combine items to make progress, but for some reason the markers for seeing the objects fad away after being pointed out and to see it again you have to push a button at the bottom of the screen in order to point it out as its giving you a hint. I dont really see how its a hint more so point to what you can click as the game doesn't tell me what I can do with the items it could at least point to where items are so I can work it from there. On top of that every time you transition from one place to another it shows a short shot of the John entering the room or building, the first time made sense since there are real locations aside from the sets but the movie part of the FMV felt undeeded and seemed like it was meant to pad out the time, granted you can skip them as soon as they show up so its less of an issue. The only time it felt undeeded was when your in the apartment and you click on the bathroom for john to use and the screen will just show the room for a minute while you hear showering in the background, no idea why it was in there? And I think that is the main demographic for this game, people interested in science, history and Hungary. It takes a lot inspiration from old adventure games and can feel like one too for better or worse. And while it isn't bad, I can easily see people being bored by the beginning of the game and not seeing the work put into the later half. But once you get past you still get convoluted puzzles. That aside it was charming, a nice FMV that'll get a good number of hours out of but only if you go in already knowing what your in for.

The storyline is pretty interesting, and the visuals and acting are highly amusing. There are some funny parts, and some serious parts. If you like puzzle games and listening/reading dialogue, you'll enjoy this!