The place is Berlin. The year is 2048. There was a strange car accident. You woke up in a medical facility with some slight memory issues, but after a quick checkup by the doctor and his robot assistant, you are sent home. You get there to realize that you have a robot of your own. The robot tells you that your wife and son are not there. Upset about the fact that you have a robot, even when your wife knows what you feel about them, sets up the events for the story for State of Mind.
In state of mind, you play as two characters: Richard and Adam. Richard is a renowned journalist because of his opinions about how the technologically advanced world they live in 2048. Adam is a family man who looks a lot like Richard, only his son is ill, but surprisingly he was involved in a car accident just like Richard. He knows where his family is but Richard has no answers about his wife and son whereabouts. Adam’s world is turned upside down when Richard contacts him throughout the story (not going to spoil anything, sorry).
Graphically, what struck me the most in State of Mind is the art style used. The low poly resolution made me reminisce of the days of Star Fox in the SNES and the FX chip. I honestly love how the game looks, and the setting is superb. Each area is so well detailed and full of life that you can see the care and polish the developers put into the game. I really like the details put to give a world vibrant with life, especially the little things like cameos found through the game like a certain blue gotta go fast hedgehog found in the room of Adam’s son. I like also how cool things look, including the food processor, for example. I was blown away a square that can make everything you want? Man I hope the future brings something like this for us. Richard and Adam is like night and day literally, while Richard’s scenes take place at night while raining.
There are some really interesting facets of Richard’s problems with his wife and the affair he’s having and the complications of his love triangle. Adam’s are more like every parents daily life more bright (or weird) robotic messages that can give the old brain some workout, trying to make heads or tails about them. Also include isthe daily struggles of a parent. For example, you need to take your son for a medical checkup, and he lost the remote of his jellyfish like robot. You need to find it before going out. As a parent, how many times have I found myself in this situation? So, little details like this are welcome.
Game play wise, I like the approach taken in State of Mind. While at first, you walk around exploring and interacting with several objects, the action changes to see you navigating through complicating hallways, around security cameras, or even using drones to spy or get objects. even as far as playing as other characters. There is a lot of variety. I like how things get shaken up, so there is never a dull moment. I really like that State of Mind feels more like an interactive movie than a game sometimes, and I find it refreshing. Some puzzles were a little too easy, but in any case, the story more than makes up for them,. I personally like that there weren’t that hard since I was most interested in the story than anything else.
Bottom Line: State on Mind is a really good game. The futuristic setting is very well done, and the low poly visuals just work. It has an interesting story that asks the real questions about life itself. If you are a fan of adventure games, State of Mind with blow your mind.