Gemini Rue

My first wadjet game I did not only not like but actually disliked... a lot. The combat system is a bloody joke, the way it is explained to the player makes no sense in the context most fights take place, ever, everytime this game reloads, after death or even when you just load a saved game, half my screen is black, no matter what I do in terms of presets or full/windowed mode. Altogether a story that tries too hard to be intriguing while failing hard to do so, in my eyes. Nothing compared to Primordia, Shardlight, or other Wadjet titles in terms of storytelling. The way you interact with the environment is also finnicky and worse for wear. After all, an extremely disappointing title in the series, I don't get the good reviews compared to other, better games by the same creator. Music, for the first time in Wadjet games so far, is also non-existant or just average/bad.

When I first played Gemini Rue I wasn't a huge fan of the adventure genre, I played a ton of them as a kid but I kind of lost interest and stopped following them. I picked this up as a part of the Indie Royale and played through it and I was blown away. The art is great, the atmosphere is outstanding, and the story is really intriguing. It unravels in a great unique way. It turned me back on to adventure games and now I love them again. Even the actiony sequences are fun!

I think, for adventure games a good story with a twist is the most important part and Gemini Rue (GR) definitely has it. Atmosphere of the game is a bit depressing and tense, but in a right amount. So it will set you in right mood but won't pressure you in the same time. Old fashioned graphics fit in perfectly. I came across GR accidentally this year and was not disappointed. Must play, for any adventure gamer!

Gemini Rue was the first Wadjet Eye published game I bought and finished, and it started my decade long love for the publisher. Here are some of my favorite features. As a point-&-click adventure, you get logical puzzles and captivating story progression that are motivated by sensible hints picked up naturally while you play. Even when I used a guide a few times, it was always "Ok. That makes sense." Never "What the hell?" The level of interactivity with the game world feels just right, neither too restrictive nor bloated. As an indie game, it's the perfect length: enough to flesh out the story but not so long that it drags. The developer commentaries provides some great insight from the game creator on the creative process of making games. It feels innovative, both in its plot and in its cover-based shooting combat. As a Wadjet Eye game, it has the same feel that I find appealing in the others games they publish. Although the presentation feels retro, it's also fully voice with detailed and stylized character portraits. The story has just the right amount of quirky strangeness rooted in relatable human feelings. The game always feels like an adventure or a journey with obstacles to overcome, never a collection of puzzles strung together by a mandatory plot. If you like Wadjet Eye kind of games, you will like Gemini Rue. If you are interested in what I described above, this game is a must-try.

A very down-to-earth game. The plot is enticing and well structured, and you do not come across absurd moments or actions: you have a clear idea of what you have to do to proceed (no moon logic whatsoever, the plot always commands your actions), but at the same time it's never too obvious what precise actions you have to follow. The atmosphere is well represented, with its noir+cyberpunk feeling, but it also has its ironic moments. I even enjoyed the fighting, which I normally don't in any game, and making its difficulty level custom is another big pro. It has some minor flaws - a couple of things that required a bit of trial and error and such - but all in all, especially for a game made by just one person (and their only game!), it is an amazing experience.