Shadows on the Mirror

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs

GAME DESIGNER:Chrysoula Tzavelas
GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware
GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware
Copyright 2003, Chrysoula Tzavelas

Shadows on the Mirror is a fun one-room conversation game in the same vein as Emily Short’s Galatea, although with more emphasis on plot. What I like most about this game is the fact that you must talk to the game’s lone NPC to be able to weave different threads of information into a whole, coherent story. There are even different endings, which comes to me as a pleasant surprise, given that this is a one-room game.

Shadows on the Mirror is the type of game that “grows on you,” becoming more impressive with each replay. After replaying the game several times to see what I missed, it became apparent that the same questions I ask the NPC evoke different responses, depending on context of the conversation.

In terms of the writing and plot development, there is quite a bit of room in both departmenrs for Shadows on the Mirror. The writing in general is good, although there are some awkward sentences and certain reactions are a bit “over the top.” The game could have spent more time exploring the player character’s agenda – he seems to have a lot of superhero powers, but it is not clear to me what they are or how they relate to his dreams. All in all, though, Shadows on the Mirror is a great entry in the annual IF competition and one that definitely merits several play-throughs. Recommended!