AMEN 11 11

[H1]Alice escaped, the uncanny psychological fog didn't[/H1] Thanks to Sons of Welder and FM Simple Games Studio for this curator copy. This is still an impartial review. Back into the uncanny rabbit hole we go, but this time the structure is a bit looser and more abstract. Instead of a clear narrative like in [url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/3355430/Alice_Mesmerizing_Episodes_of_Neurosis_AMEN/?curator_clanid=45639970]AMEN[/url], the experience goes like scattered memories stitched together after all the Wonderland chaos. 7 levels, each requiring to search between 41 and 80 moths, all buried through increasingly surreal environments. The creepy hand-drawn art remains the star of the show, paired with atmospheric audio that fits perfectly the uneasy tone. Controls are simple with both mouse and (new) keyboard options, sound sliders are available, and the save system works both inside levels and between them. Achievements mostly follow normal progression, though a couple seem tied to avoiding hints (which is also new compared to the first game). I really like the little flying animation each time you find a moth which adds a pretty cute touch in contrast to the whole darker imagery. It's not a perfect game though : achievement clutter appears quickly since one pops every few finds, and secrets from the previous game are now part of the search pool, visibility changing once you hover those spots. Inner zoom works great, but there’s still no full-picture view, and movement becomes extremely sensitive at max zoom. Completionists may also need to avoid hints entirely (though I can't confirm since I haven't used any myself, but it would make sense for all the “Heightened senses” hints). Overall, it’s another strange and stylish HOG from Sons of Welder. The surreal atmosphere, music, and evolving visuals make it a great follow-up, especially if you already enjoyed the first entry and want more eerie Alice-inspired exploration. Big recommend to all fans of eerie hidden object games (but do play the first one if you didn't already). [quote]For more reviews like this one, please check out [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45639970-Ele%2527s-Little-Recommendation-Corner/][b]Ele's Little Recommendation Corner[/b][/url]![/quote] [quote]For reviews covering all types of indies, recent and old, don't hesitate to drop by [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32732116-IndieGems/][b]IndieGems[/b][/url]![/quote]

[h1]When Alice tries to put the pieces of her life back together, only for chaos to ensue... :o[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]AMEN 11 11[/i] is a psychological horror, dystopian hidden object game developed and published by Sons of Welder and FM Simple Games Studio. It is the spiritual successor to [i]Alice Mesmerizing Episodes of Neurosis (AMEN)[/i]. (For my review of that game, please click [url=https://steamcommunity.com/id/skyeraye/recommended/3355430/]here[/url].) For story progression purposes, I would recommend playing the previous game before getting into [i]AMEN 11 11[/i] although the latter can certainly hold as a standalone game. Anyway, Alice is back in the real world although it's an alternate reality in which the Cold War ended with lots of nuclear attacks (according to the store page description XD). Alice is living in one of the countries affected by the attacks, and despite that she's trying to get her life back together, events keep happening that draw her back into Wonderland. With the gameplay, it consists of seven levels, and you have to proceed in a linear fashion. In each level, there are a set number of moths to find and you can't move onto the next level until you do so. There is a hint function that recharges after you use it, so if you have difficulties finding one or two of those moths, it can help. You use the left mouse button to click on moths as well as to drag the scene around, and you can choose to play either in full screen or windowed mode. (However, in windowed mode, you can't adjust the screen size, so it's almost like playing in full screen mode.) Lots of Steam achievements are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game". [h2]Review[/h2] Having just finished [i]Alice Mesmerizing Episodes of Neurosis (AMEN)[/i], I really wanted to dive into [i]AMEN 11 11[/i] next. Thanks to the wonderful developers, a review copy was sent, so I had the chance to check out the game and give my thoughts. ^^ As I mentioned earlier, the story is a sequel, and I like that the devs explore what happened to Alice after she escapes from Wonderland. There are plenty of metaphors that can be made here. Even though it's explained more through graphics than words, I was able to get the gist of the story. Wonderland is sort of like Alice being trapped in a prison of her mind, and [i]AMEN 11 11[/i] explores how Alice copes with the aftermath. She definitely has difficulties at times from completely escaping that place, but I think that's pretty natural for people who have been exposed to traumatic places and whatnot. As for the ending, gosh, it blew me away, and I can't help but ponder as to whether there might be a future game in the works. Of course, it is the gameplay that's the main focus. Compared to the previous game, it's a bit simpler. There are no secret items, so you simply have to find moths. (In the previous game, it was keys.) Also, I like that a hint function is available, which was a complaint I had in the previous game. However, I should caution that if you use the hint function at any point in a level, you won't get the achievement "Heightened senses". The description doesn't state this, but it's basically for completing a level without using hints. Even though it's possible to obtain all achievements in one playthrough, it can be difficult to find all the moths, especially without a guide. However, the usual gameplay functions, like zooming in, are available, so they can help. One gripe that I have is that when you're in Alice's room, which is where all the levels are, it isn't made clear which level you're supposed to start, as the levels are indicated by objects in Alice's room. Although I like that it isn't your standard map level, I wish that the order of levels was somewhat clearer (despite that I eventually figured it out). As for the art, I love that the same style has been kept as in the previous game. It gives off that hauntingly dark, psychological horror vibe. Although the majority of scenes are on the dark side, there are a couple that have more color in them. Even then, those seemingly lighter scenes end up having a more disturbing purpose. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3667253521 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3667253272 With the music, several tracks are present that, like with the art, give off that psychological horror vibe. Listening to them makes you feel like you're in a twisted version of the real world. Each level has its own track, and the tracks will loop if you take a while to complete levels. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]AMEN 11 11[/i]? If you enjoy hidden object games, especially want ones in which there are darker tones, and/or like getting all those Steam achievements, then it's definitely worth checking out. I enjoyed this wonderful successor to [i]Alice Mesmerizing Episodes of Neurosis (AMEN)[/i], and for the asking price, it's worth it, as all the art is hand-drawn and it's obvious that plenty of care was taken into making this HOG have great gameplay and an entrancing story. Of course, you can choose to wait for a sale, and it's in a few Steam bundles. Finally, I'd like to thank Sons of Welder and FM Simple Games Studio for the review copy. It was such a crazy journey with [i]AMEN 11 11[/i], and I definitely would love to see more HOGs in this style. ^^ [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]

Another brilliant hidden object game, in this case moths, which will fly out of the artwork when you click on them. The theme is nuclear catastrophe, pure unsetling psychological horror drawn by hand and full of symbolism, as we have become accustomed from these developers from Poland. As I always point out, unlike other cosy hidden object games with cute animals, Alice Mesmerising Episodes of Neurosis has a unique, uncomfortable atmosphere and tells a sort of story through its seven levels. Thumbs up. [quote] [i] Follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44959158-Critiques-Sans-Frontiers/] our curator page [/url] to discover more underrated indie games like this one. [/i] [/quote]