Twin Mirror
{{short description|2020 video game}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Twin Mirror
| image = Twin Mirror.jpg
| developer = {{ubl|Dontnod Entertainment|Shibuya Productions}}
| publisher = Dontnod Entertainment{{efn|Bandai Namco Entertainment digitally distributed the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.}}
| engine = Unreal Engine 4
| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|Xbox One}}
| released = 1 December 2020
| genre = Adventure
| modes = Single-player
| director = Florian Desforges
| producer = Jérèmie Poidevin
| programmer = Francois Karr
| designer = Ludovic Rouvière
| artist = Pierre-Etienne Travers
| writer = {{ubl|Hélène Henry|Matthew Ritter}}
| composer = David Wingo
}}
Twin Mirror is a 2020 adventure game by Dontnod Entertainment. Co-produced with Shibuya Productions, the game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 1 December 2020. It received mixed reviews from critics.
Gameplay
File:Twin Mirror Mind Palace gameplay.jpeg
Twin Mirror is an adventure game played from a third-person view. Players control the investigative journalist Sam, who has returned to his hometown of Basswood, West Virginia. The environment is interactive and its objects are obtainable. Whom Sam speaks to is optional and, based on the state of his investigation, there are multiple endings to unlock.
Players navigate between the real world and Sam's "Mind Palace" to discover clues.{{cite web |title=Twin Mirror gameplay reveals "mind palace" – and mystery figure, "The Double" |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/twin-mirror/mind-palace |website=PCGamesN |date=10 July 2020 |access-date=15 February 2021 |archive-date=5 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305163759/https://www.pcgamesn.com/twin-mirror/mind-palace |url-status=live }} Sam's inner voice, the Double, may aid or harm the investigation.
Plot
Samuel "Sam" Higgs, a former investigative journalist, returns to Basswood, West Virginia in light of his close friend Nick's death. He originally left Basswood following publication of his article about safety violations at the town's coal mines. The mines closed in the aftermath, ultimately he is leaving hundreds without jobs and angered townsfolk who despised Sam. During his stay in the town, Nick's daughter, Joan, asks him to check on the events leading up to Nick's death as she finds his activity before he died suspicious. Sam teams up with Anna, his ex-girlfriend who knew Nick well as they worked together at the newspaper Basswood Jungle, in hope that by following leads and investigating clues may lead to finding the source of Nick's death.
Development and Release
Partnering with publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, Dontnod Entertainment began developing Twin Mirror in 2016 with a separate team of senior developers. About forty people were working on it as of September 2018. Lead writer Matthew Ritter was influenced by adventure games like Beneath a Steel Sky and Space Quest.
Twin Mirror was announced in June 2018 during E3 2018, and was scheduled to release for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One the following year. In August at Gamescom, it was revealed to be an episodic title releasing in 2019, with Lost on Arrival as the first of three episodes.
Contrary to previous titles, Dontnod desired to have Twin Mirror be void of any supernatural elements. According to art director Pierre-Etienne Travers, the game's primary concept is duality. The decision to set it in a fictional American town, based on southern West Virginia, was to broaden its appeal.
In June 2019, Dontnod announced they would self-publish the game, with Bandai Namco Entertainment acting as the distributor for the console versions.{{cite web|url=https://www.dontnod-bourse.com/en/financial-information/press-releases.html?ID=ACTUS-0-63871|title=Twin Mirror, First Game Self-Published By Dontnod, Unveils Its New Teaser Trailer During PC Gaming Show|publisher=Dontnod Entertainment|date=15 June 2016|access-date=16 September 2020|archive-date=22 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122053905/https://www.dontnod-bourse.com/en/financial-information/press-releases.html?ID=ACTUS-0-63871|url-status=live}} Shibuya Productions would also handle production duties for the game. Bandai Namco decided to cancel the Japanese console versions of Twin Mirror shortly after Dontnod acquired the IP rights from Bandai.
The game was originally designed as an episodic game when it was first revealed. Following the delay, the game was reworked and the episodic format was abandoned so it can be played without any interruptions.
At the PC Gaming Show 2020 in June, a teaser trailer was shown. In September 2020, it was announced that it would release on 1 December 2020. The PC version was exclusive to the Epic Games Store for one year.{{cite web|url=https://www.vg247.com/2020/09/15/twin-mirror-out-in-december-new-trailer/|title=Dontnod's Twin Mirror releases in December, check out the new trailer|first=Stephanny|last=Nunneley|date=15 September 2020|access-date=16 September 2020|archive-date=22 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922082334/https://www.vg247.com/2020/09/15/twin-mirror-out-in-december-new-trailer/|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 65/100
(PS4) 60/100
(XONE) 62/100
}}
Twin Mirror received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.
Some reviewers criticised the game's gameplay mechanics and felt that the protagonist lacked personality. They noted it was too short. GameReactor praised the visuals.
= Sales =
In February 2022, Dontnod said it recouped 75% of the game's production cost and believed to only receive marginal revenue from it in the future.{{Cite web |title=Twin Mirror Only Covered 75% of its Investments, Vampyr Crosses 2 Million Units Sold |url=https://gamingbolt.com/twin-mirror-only-covered-75-of-its-investments-vampyr-crosses-2-million-units-sold |access-date=2025-02-03 |website=GamingBolt |language=en-US}}{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web|url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business/exclusive-bandai-namco-partners-with-life-is-strange-studio-dontnod-on-new-|title=EXCLUSIVE: Bandai Namco partners with Life is Strange studio Dontnod on new narrative adventure IP|first=Katharine|last=Byrne|date=22 August 2017|website=MCV|archive-date=23 August 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170823020320/http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/exclusive-bandai-namco-partners-with-dontnod-on-new-narrative-adventure-ip/0186186|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/8/17441854/twin-mirror-trailer-release-date-dontnod|title=Life is Strange studio reveals mystery thriller Twin Mirror|first=Michael|last=McWhertor|date=8 June 2018|website=Polygon|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612095617/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/8/17441854/twin-mirror-trailer-release-date-dontnod|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/twin-mirror/news/help-sam-find-the-truth-and-unveil-basswood%E2%80%99s-secrets-upcoming-psychological|title=Help Sam find the truth and unveil Basswood's secrets in upcoming psychological thriller game, TWIN MIRROR|date=8 June 2018|website=Bandai Namco Entertainment|archive-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180701111632/https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/twin-mirror/news/help-sam-find-the-truth-and-unveil-basswood%E2%80%99s-secrets-upcoming-psychological|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=http://nordic.ign.com/news/15747/e3-2018-twin-mirror-new-game-from-life-is-strange-dev-announ|title=E3 2018: Twin Mirror, New Game From Life is Strange Dev, Announced|first=Jordan|last=Oloman|date=8 June 2018|website=IGN|archive-date=1 July 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180701111928/http://nordic.ign.com/news/15747/e3-2018-twin-mirror-new-game-from-life-is-strange-dev-announ|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/2018/07/11/twin-mirrors-first-production-vlog-stars-dontnods-oskar-guilbert/|title=Twin Mirror's First Production Vlog Stars Dontnod's Oskar Guilbert|date=11 July 2018|website=Siliconera|archive-date=14 July 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180714080015/https://www.siliconera.com/2018/07/11/twin-mirrors-first-production-vlog-stars-dontnods-oskar-guilbert/|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2018/08/gamescom_2018_psychological_thriller_twin_mirror_is_episodic|title=Gamescom 2018: Psychological Thriller Twin Mirror Is Episodic|first=Sammy|last=Barker|date=21 August 2018|website=Push Square|archive-date=21 August 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180821145629/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2018/08/gamescom_2018_psychological_thriller_twin_mirror_is_episodic|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DONTNOD.Entertainment/photos/a.814516321932966/1980941411957112/?type=3&theater|title=Twin Mirror Producer Fabrice Cambounet and Writer Matthew Ritter answering questions from the community at gamescom! Check out Twin Mirror Facebook page tomorrow to watch the answers!|author=Dontnod Entertainment|date=23 August 2018|website=Facebook|archive-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180823171020/https://www.facebook.com/DONTNOD.Entertainment/photos/a.814516321932966/1980941411957112/?type=3&theater|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/22/10-minutes-of-new-twin-mirror-gameplay-gamescom-2018|title=10 Minutes of New Twin Mirror Gameplay - Gamescom 2018|date=22 August 2018|website=IGN|access-date=23 August 2018|archive-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827065730/http://www.ign.com/videos/2018/08/22/10-minutes-of-new-twin-mirror-gameplay-gamescom-2018|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/DONTNOD.Entertainment/videos/236730020371673/|title=Twin Mirror - Q&A with the community - Gamescom 2018|author=Dontnod Entertainment|date=28 August 2018|website=Facebook|access-date=29 August 2018|archive-date=15 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215174103/https://www.facebook.com/DONTNOD.Entertainment/videos/236730020371673/|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/24/twin-mirror-hands-on-preview-and-interview-we-wanted-the-game-to-be-plot-first-7975061/|title=Twin Mirror hands-on preview and interview – 'We wanted the game to be plot first'|date=24 September 2018|website=Metro|archive-date=24 September 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180924213717/https://metro.co.uk/2018/09/24/twin-mirror-hands-on-preview-and-interview-we-wanted-the-game-to-be-plot-first-7975061/|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.trueachievements.com/n34847/twin-mirror-interview-discusses-the-darker-side-of-dontnod|title=Twin Mirror Interview Discusses the Darker Side of Dontnod|first=Rebecca|last=Smith|date=18 October 2018|website=TrueAchievements|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20181020102217/https://www.trueachievements.com/n34847/twin-mirror-interview-discusses-the-darker-side-of-dontnod|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/dontnods-twin-mirror-delayed-will-launch-next-year-as-an-epic-store-exclusive/|title=Dontnod's Twin Mirror delayed, will launch next year as an Epic Store exclusive|first=Andy|last=Chalk|date=13 June 2019|website=PC Gamer|archive-date=15 June 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190615012642/https://www.pcgamer.com/dontnods-twin-mirror-delayed-will-launch-next-year-as-an-epic-store-exclusive/|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/notice/?q=TWIN_MIRROR|title=お客様各位|date=17 June 2019|website=Bandai Namco Entertainment|language=Japanese|archive-date=27 August 2019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190827035452/https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/cs/notice/?q=TWIN_MIRROR|url-status=live}}
}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
Further reading
- {{cite web |last1=Gehin |first1=Nicolas |title=Twin Mirror, le jeu vidéo dont vous êtes le héros - Monaco Hebdo |url=https://monaco-hebdo.com/culture/twin-mirror-shibuya-productions/ |website=Monaco Hebdo |language=fr-FR |date=16 December 2020}}
External links
- {{Official website|twinmirror-game.com}}
- {{IMDb title|10631730}}
{{Portal bar|Speculative fiction|Video games}}
{{Don't Nod}}
Category:Detective video games
Category:Video games about murder
Category:PlayStation Network games
Category:Psychological thriller video games
Category:Science fiction video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Unreal Engine 4 games
Category:Video games about amnesia
Category:Video games about the paranormal
Category:Video games about dissociative identity disorder
Category:Video games developed in France