Massira Reviews
Massira Whispers from the desert is a game about syrian refugees, which is quite simple in its mechanics, but displays a strong message and an interesting artistic approach.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Massira offers up nothing for an adult looking for a new narrative-adventure game to sink their teeth into. It's narrative is intriguing but has no payoff and its gameplay is bland and, at times, poorly designed. However, if you have a child, sit down with them and play Massira for a few hours. The game will give them an insight into the Syrian Refugee Crisis in an approachable and kid-friendly way.
You'd expect this tale of human hope and loss to affect all who play it, but not when the message's delivery system is an empty and unengaging game.
Full of good intentions to show a harsh reality, Massira can be touching and lovely, even if the visual style, technical limitations and gameplay may say otherwise. The message that we need to be better human beings is still understood despite all the flaws that the game has.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Massira comes across as a immature project. Not "immature" in the sense of being juvenile - it's actually achingly sincere and I wish it didn't deserve criticism, but "immature" in the sense that the developer clearly lacked the confidence to create something outside of standard gameplay tropes, and those tropes really let Massira down in the end.
Massira is a game for those who see beyond the surface. It is not a game that is going to be GOTY or anything like that, but it's a game that has opted for a story to reach a small audience but sensitive to social problems. Massira will conquer you if you care more about a story than the gameplay.
Review in Spanish | Read full review