Memoranda Reviews
Though it has an intriguing premise, Memoranda is held back by its obtuse puzzle design and vague storyline
Teeth gnashing frustration prevents Memoranda from being the great game it appears to be, despite its wonderful story and puppet-like art style.
You can’t forget to put in good game design. If you do, players will actually want to forget the name of your protagonist, not to mention the rest of their frustrating experience.
Memoranda is an enjoyable game that simultaneously benefits from the exploratory nature of the adventure genre whilst being held back by the inevitable repetition that puzzle-solving requires.
Memoranda is a game for those looking for something a bit different. It’s only likely to take you an afternoon to reach its conclusion, but spending a few hours exploring this beautiful world is a unique and memorable experience. But be aware that you will likely have to resort to a guide during some of the game's more surreal moments.
There is an undeniable charm to the game. You call tell that real effort has been spent on trying to craft a unique world with interesting characters.
The word "illogical" has always been the bane of adventure games, but Memoranda takes it to new extremes by extending it to its setting and narrative in addition to its gameplay.
Memoranda is a stunning game with beautiful graphics and amazing music, only to fall short with lackluster gameplay and an incomplete story.
Too many of the old adventure game stumbling blocks (inconsistent progression, unclear or obfuscating clues, unmarked dead ends) prevent this homage to Murakami’s short stories ever hitting the stride its aesthetics deserve.
Memoranda means well, but fails to execute by relying on verbatim Murakami references and contrived logic.
Memoranda could be a lovely adventure, but it fails to propose an intriguing narrative and a fair challenge. Most of the time, it seems that the puzzles lie on a logic that does not fit entirely with what the game is showing, nor with what the characters are doing or saying. All in all it is a sufficient adventure, but it could have been much more.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Memoranda is a unique and interesting game. There is something both beautiful and sad to this story which draws you into its surreal world. With over 30 different characters and locations there is plenty to explore, and I definitely enjoyed it the more I played it. However, just make sure you have a pen and paper handy for those puzzles!
Memoranda had so much going for it, but in the end it misses the mark on too many occasions and lacks that gripping nature that the best point-and-click adventures have. From the story that really does not make much sense or give any real sense of satisfaction at the end, to the awkward voice acting of the lead character, and the disappointing nature of most puzzles, what seemed like a great concept fades away from the memory quite soon after completion.
Just like the fluent and realistic prose of Murakami, Memoranda has built a colorful world that despite its flaws, never fails in fascinating the gamer. if there were more hints in solving puzzles and more background for characters, we had no reason for not calling it a masterpiece.
Review in Persian | Read full review
If Memoranda could become a good point and click game before portraying Haruki Murakami works, it could do so much better. The game is lost in its own surreal world and it cannot provide an entertaining experience for gamers. Some of the puzzles are very illogical. The design of the scenes and game's music are perfect but they are not enough to make Memoranda a memorable experience.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Memoranda's very illogical puzzles hits the game real hard and casts a shadow above it's gorgeous art design, rich story and great soundtracks. Still, if you really enjoy a hard challenge, Memoranda might be fun.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Memoranda has a nice art style with a story that features a few intriguing concepts, but the high level of difficulty and the nonsensical nature of the puzzles will frustrate all but the most dedicated adventure game fans.
I wanted to love Memoranda. It comes across as a quirky, slightly dark, and fun little point-and-click game. While the story was a little strange, it was also fun and interesting without being too long. The graphics and sound design were spot-on for the tone of the game, instilling a subtle sense of unease all the way through. Unfortunately, the obscure nature of the puzzle solutions lowered my enjoyment a lot. They were just too bizarre, and as a lover of logic puzzles this went completely against what I enjoy in a puzzle. All in all, a nice little experience, but expect to be scratching your head more often than not!