Heroes Reborn: Gemini Reviews
Gemini: Heroes Reborn is short, drab, and derivative, but it nevertheless generally remains fun throughout its five-hour running time. In its best moments, it mixes familiar elements from beloved platformers and puzzlers to create an experience that, at least for brief moments, captures the essence of the show.
Gemini: Heroes Reborn in itself is an enjoyable superhero simulator, but it gets by as a Heroes game in title and references only and is far too long winded and repetitive to be considered much else.
Were it built with more skill, with a greater flow of movement and one hell of a graphical upgrade, and then given a dose of writing that wasn't horribly reminiscent of its sister show, this could have been quite the thing. And yet, I enjoyed myself at moments, before wearying of its weaknesses toward the end. Fascinating that it came this close.
It isn't the best first-person adventure you'll ever play, but it does offer some fun in its combat and time travel mechanics to warrant your time.
In a way, it feels kind of cruel to mark Gemini down. For all its flaws and lacklustre looks, you can tell that Phosphor were really onto something in the way it experimented with superpowers here. Given more time and resources – and without being weighed down by the Heroes license – the studio could have created a truly special comic book adventure.
The story doesn't have a lot to offer and is pretty standard as far as these kinds of games go, but the game's fun telekinetic combat and stellar time-shifting mechanics make the experience a worthwhile one.
There is the odd glimmer of something greater in Gemini: Heroes Reborn. For whatever reason, you never get to see it very often. Combat can be gleeful fun, but a forgettable, pointless story, dull characters and uninspired design work are just some of the things that work against any potential.
For $15, this is a good game to burn through over a weekend. Expect anything more than a above average tie-in, however, and you'll be left disappointed. Good for fans of Heroes (both of them) and anybody who longs for the days of endless licenced media.
It also made me realize Gemini: Heroes Reborn offers up a layer of strategy and depth I never expected to get.
Gemini: Heroes Reborn is certainly not a bad game, it is just excessively forgettable.
Putting it all together, Gemini: Heroes reborn is a good game. It is not a great game, and there's certainly some areas that could have used improvement, but it's a far cry from as terrible as I've come to expect from TV spin-off titles or other licensed titles.
Gemini: Heroes Reborn has a bland and forgettable opening segment, but once it picks up and hits its stride, it turns into a surprisingly decent game.
A return to the licensed games of old, Gemini: Heroes Reborn provides players with a condensed combination of Bioshock and Portal that does more than just rehash, at least where gameplay is concerned.
Although it has problems going against it, Gemini: Heroes Reborn has some great ideas and fun gameplay that make-up for it's shortcomings. I recommend this game, and although it falls short it is definitely worth the $14.99 price tag.
Gemini had so much potential that is squandered by poor execution.
Cleverly designed combat may make up for the general content deficiency and lackluster story, but those interested should definitely do their research before diving in.
Set a game in a sterile underground facility, give the player physics-based powers and a first-person view, and it can be hard to stand out from the crowd of games inspired by Portal. Make it a tie-in to the Heroes Reborn television series and you're just piling on the red flags.
Gemini: Heroes Reborn is a pretty compelling first-person adventure that manages to borrow from bigger titles like BioShock, Mirror's Edge, or PsiOps to deliver a mix that can delight gamers in general, not just fans of the Heroes universe. Its adventure isn't the lengthiest, and the replayability factor isn't all that great, but you'll certainly enjoy bending time and flinging objects with your mind in this title.
Gemini: Heroes Reborn may be flawed, but it is fun while it lasts. The powers don't get old, and although there isn't much variety in terms of what you can do, they remain enjoyable due to the game's short length. Its brevity also makes the number of puzzles and the story more palatable. It could use some tune-ups in the presentation department, but it isn't bad for a game that's meant to be completed in an afternoon. Fans of the series will likely dig this, as will anyone who's looking for a brief first-person adventure.
The lack of actual Heroes content in Gemini: Heroes Reborn can be taken two ways. It's not caught up in the increasingly complicated timelines of the franchise and aside from a few collectibles and a one line mention of a plot point, there isn't enough to keep fans hooked solely on their love for the show. It does manage to pack a lot of surprises into a short game with its interesting mix of powers but excellence is prevented as it gets bogged down in not allowing its own mechanics to properly flourish.