State of Mind Reviews
State of Mind is an engrossing sci-fi thriller with a narrative so impressive that it often feels like a great season of a sci-fi tv show more than it does a video game
State of Mind's aspiration of telling a recognisably human story set in a believable near future full of society-altering technology is so close to being great, but limited animation, outdated gameplay and occasionally stilted voice acting hold it back.
State of Mind's setting and story, once they get going, do a lot to really sell the game. Some fun puzzles and a fantastic art style help too. This is a world I want to spend more time in.
Daedalic's fixation with transhumanism takes State of Mind and puts it in a similar bracket as many of its counterparts that have created an advanced tech-infused world.
All in all, I found the game to be interesting, and that there are few real action incidents the awkwardness of the avatar movements could objectively be viewed as another way to enforce the idea that the world is out of kilter.
State of Mind tells a compelling story about a futuristic world that can be very close to our on the next fifty years. Besides the wonderful narrative, low budget and scarce gameplay ideas are the only reasons why Daedalic game can't compete with the other famous competitor.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Cyber punk with a Money for nothing visual flair.
Like a sitcom with the occasional bad episode, instead of keenly anticipating what I'll uncover next in the story, I began to just long for the finale.
State of Mind's vision of future feels so real that it's frightening. Although it has some flaws, fans of the genre should keep it on the radar.
Review in Polish | Read full review
An intriguing sci-fi adventure with some neat concepts at its core, State of Mind's visual style and the prescribed nature of its action can be off-putting, but dig in for the ride, and you'll enjoy a smart narrative that eventually pays off. Definitely worth sticking with.
Overall, State of Mind is a good game if you are into a heavily narrative based title.
Style without substance, State of Mind never pushes the boundaries of its genre stereotypes.
In sum, it seems like the vision of State of Mind was bigger and more robust than its end result. The core idea is interesting, but the execution fizzles out early and doesn't recover. Still, if you're into sci-fi and are looking for a game to roll through on a lazy Saturday, you could do worse than State of Mind.
You're better off sticking to reality and avoiding this confused and cliched state of mind.
With a thrilling scenario that keeps the player spellbound until the epic ending, State of Mind, however, fails to captivate the player in the gameplay department, at least during the first half of the game. It remains a satisfying experience, with a real reflection on the excesses of a technology-based society.
Review in French | Read full review
State of Mind explores transhumanism, fiction becoming reality, and the separation between the two. It looks at what it means to fragmented, and not whole, which really is the essence of humanity. It also explores how the strive for perfection through technology, may truly be the downfall of what it means to be human. The game is story-rich and cinematic, with layers upon layers of truth to uncover and figure out how it all fits together. It kept me glued to my screen like it was a TV show I was binging. Like Blade Runner, it left me reeling with questions and conspiracies as only a thrilling adventure that examines what it means to be human can do.
State of Mind has its moments to shine - certain plot beats in the final act do offer some genuine payoff, and some of those visuals are a joy to see running in docked mode or in handheld - but they're too often lost in a mire of storytelling cliche and science fiction tropes you've seen done better countless times before. A set of in-game achievements do help break up the lengthy plot, but the awkward voice acting and lack of cohesion between its gameplay ideas ultimately make for a muddled experience at best.
State of Mind has some interesting ideas about the future. Those ideas are presented in a mostly by-the-numbers point-and-click 3D adventure game wrapper, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's an almost believable look and feel to the various environments Richard and Adam find themselves in, though the low-poly character models don't always work as well as intended. Still, for those who just can't get enough of futuristic adventure point-and-click games, State of Mind is worth the virtual trip.
State of Mind stands as the most ambitious brainchild of award-winning German game writer/designer Martin Ganteföhr and it executes its purpose as a satisfactory narrative-driven experience despite it uninspired setting and disappointing main character. The puzzles are benign enough as to not impact the pacing, and the questions raised aren't enough to ignite a wholly new philosophical discussion on transhumanism, but the plot hits more than it misses and remains entertaining enough throughout.
Daedalic Entertainment's State of Mind wants players to explore the idea of what is it that makes us us, but never provides the player any real opportunity to do so. You simply follow the path and mark off another check mark. In the end all you're really doing is little more than counting electric sheep.