I was so interested in this game when I saw the first trailer/gameplay video years ago. Of course, it turned out to be totally different. Still, after a decade, I was able to play and finish this hidden gem.
The game itself have a strong vibe like Mirror's Edge, but darker and grimmer. While the trailer at the time gave a hint of stealth action, it turned out to be the other way. Remember Me is an action oriented game with a level boss and puzzle session at the end of episodes. The fighting mechanics is innovative, but falls short. There are set combos, but you can use Presens to change the outcome. I.e., you can set regeneration Presens in your basic combo for enemies that drain your health to compensate. And, you can change it on the go, no preparation is needed before the combat. There is also a small exploration/platforming part between the combats, where you are looking for updates, additional info about the world, or hunting a small creature for experience.
But, what Remember Me shines is the story, without giving too much spoilers, it is basically a journey towards the main characters trauma. The setting is enticing: In the future world of Paris, there is a company that can erase bad memories from your mind for a fee. So, you will always be remembering your achievements. Now, that seems like a good idea, isn't it, and I guess it came from an overthinker's mind (Believe me, I am one!). But our memories are also what makes us grow. The story became enticing from Episode 5 and onwards, where I got pulled into for final conclusion. I give best marks for the story and presentation. There were a few cringe moments, and missed opportunities, but in a game at this size, it is acceptable.
Visuals are tremendously well thought of, but future Paris is just a Cyberpunk city. The only reminder that we are in Paris is the Eiffel Tower, always showing itself in the background. Sound and music is also rather good. The downside began in gameplay. The combat is repetitive, with some sort of strategy required, like which special powers are good for which enemies. The platforming sessions are limited, due to camera angles changing erratically (which can also be a problem during combat). The camera could have been set a bit far from the character to easily see what I am doing. Also, the platforming is rather linear, so I can't understand why my character jumps to oblivion when there is a clear pointer on what is the next move. I have died a lot of times because she jumped a bit short. It is like this: The game doesn't allow you to jump anywhere, and there is designated spots where she can jump. Even there, the character can fall to her doom. Like...why? There wasn't any other option there. I wasn't able to try anything else, really, so why do you fail?
And replayability: This is one time only. The story concludes well, and you don't need the feel to go back. One thing could have been nicer: Checkpoints to go to, so you can re-live the main selling point of this game: The memory mixers. I was hoping there would be a lot more, and we would have seen more games using the same idea, but I don't know anything of sort. The mechanics was great, and I would recommend anyone to try the game just for that mechanic only.
But, at the time of this review, the pricing point is rather high. For a 10+ year old game, I would go for a 5-10 USD mark, so get this game when there is a big discount. You have to experience this hidden gem, but it doesn't worth what is worth right now.
