I would like to start this review by congratulating the developers for a job well done. I have seen this project come to fruition ever since its early development and have been waiting for the finished product ever since; it is safe to say, I am glad to have been excited about it. This is a project that never sought to be anything it wasn’t, and since its inception, it has been loyal to what it drew inspiration from. So once again, props to the developers for a job well done.
Myristica took me back to a time when things were much simpler yet engaging. I remember playing through the original Slenderman for the first time and how scared and shocked I was to experience a game such as that one. With time and much experience playing horror games, I have become somewhat desensitized to jump scares and shock. However, one thing I will never get used to is the pleasant experience of a simple game that does its job very well. Out of all the things this game does well, I would like to highlight the following: gameplay, graphics, and setting.
Myristica has very simplistic gameplay, reminiscing of the aforementioned original Slenderman from the early 2010s. The gameplay is very streamlined, yet fun and engaging on the user’s first run. Maneuvering your way through the world and finding the pieces to the main puzzle of the game is a very rewarding and simple endeavor. Never did the game ever feel dragging, unfair or confusing to me, other than maybe the very first time I booted the game. The nature of the game forces the player to die a minimum of 3 to 4 times (if played perfectly) to know the direction in which it takes you. The game lays itself out very well and will point you to the destination of the next puzzle piece in its way. If you don’t like simple games that don’t offer much beyond your first successful run, I cannot recommend this game to you. However, if you like short experiences that are worthwhile, you should give them a try. In my opinion, the experience you get from it is beyond the 5.99 I paid for it. With a few additions such as alternative game modes once the base game is completed, I see a bit of life beyond the first successful run.
I might be biased when it comes to the graphics, but I love the aesthetic of Myristica. I for one am a HUGE fan of retro video games, and as such adore the artistic direction the developers chose for their first game. Myristica has the classic look of a Playstation one game, and it is executed well from the items to the text boxes, ambiance, and characters within the game. If you enjoy retro graphics (especially from the PS1 era), I highly recommend you give this title a shot.
Lastly, I want to talk about the environment of the game. Myristica creates a world that makes sense with the environment it tries to convey whilst simultaneously making it easy for the player to maneuver around. It never feels like certain parts of the map were designed to make it easy for the player to get there, nor does it feel too complex in comparison to the magnitude and style of the game. I believe the map is just right as far as design goes. Myristica also manages to create a world and a setting that matches beautifully with the aesthetic and graphics of the game. Playing this game just for the visuals would have been a fine experience in it for me. Games like the old Slenderman, Iron Lung, and Myristica already earn a fine mark in my book because of their inherent design.
Overall, I think this game is a great entry for a developer's first game. They came through the door with a game they knew they could execute and didn’t try to shoot for more than they had the time and resources to pull off. I enjoy a simplistic, especially if it comes at the low price of 5.99$.
Thank you to Sangin and the team for a good experience, and I look forward to what they have in stock for the future!
