Info about 2064: Read Only Memories:

Official game description:
  
_**2064: Read Only Memories**_ is a cyberpunk point-and-click adventure set in the colorful future metropolis of Neo-San Francisco. Meet a huge cast of fascinating characters, solve a far-reaching mystery, and think carefully about your choices — you never know how they will affect this dynamic, branching narrative further down the line.  
**The world is changing.**
Genetic alteration of humans is now commonplace, with many choosing to radically alter their bodies to express their individuality. Virtual intelligences called ROMs (Relationship and Organizational Managers), created as simple digital assistants, are exerting greater control over people's lives. Some are terrified by this rapid change, and they are willing to go to extreme lengths to prevent it.
A lost ROM named Turing breaks into the apartment of a struggling journalist to ask for help. They claim to be the first sapient machine — not a simulation of life but a genuinely self-aware artificial being — and the technical genius who created them has gone missing. Can you unravel the shocking conspiracy that threatens to rock an entire society? Or will the darkness that lies behind the bright neon lights of Neo-SF consume you?
*   **Old-school, cutting-edge** — Classic point-and-click adventuring inspired by the likes of Gabriel Knight and Snatcher is melded with modern branching storytelling that delves into identity, individuality, and what it means to be human.
*   **People of the future** - Get to know a diverse cross-section of Neo-SF's population, brought to life by some of the best voice talent working in games today, including Melissa Hutchison and Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead), Erin Yvette (Oxenfree), Austin Creed (WWE's Xavier Woods), and SungWon Cho (ProZD).
*   **High tech nostalgia** — The city of Neo-San Francisco is rendered in beautiful pixel art, and your adventure is accompanied by a catchy lo-fi electronic synth soundtrack.
*   **Solve the mystery** — Over ten hours of adventure across exploration, dynamic branching conversations, multiple endings, and plenty of challenges to overcome.
*   **The complete edition** — Packed with years of improvements and additions including new characters and voice performers, additional facial animations, Japanese language support, and the "Endless Christmas" extended epilogue that lets you hang out with your favorite Neo-SF locals.
Note: Steam cloud saves currently only work on the same platform (i.e. Windows, Mac, etc.)

Release date: Oct 6, 2015

Categories: Point-and-click, Visual Novel, Cyberpunk, Narrative Adventure, Dialogue-based Gameplay, Choice-based Narrative, Pixel Art Style, Mystery


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that users find the game worth purchasing only when it is on sale, implying that the full price is considered too high. Multiple reviews mention that the game is not worth its full price, suggesting that a fair price range would be lower than the current base price. The general sentiment is that the game provides value primarily when discounted.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 9.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple direct references to the total playtime required to complete the game. The quotes mention ranges from 7-10 hours, around 8 hours, and 10-12 hours. These references consistently point to the total playtime for game completion. There is no strong evidence for story completion, session length, or endgame playtime, as the reviews primarily focus on the overall experience and total completion time.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts fun with a solid story buildup but becomes less enjoyable due to slow pacing and repetitive tasks.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Story buildup
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: slow pacing; repetitive tasks; lack of interactivity
  - Unlock drivers: story progression; character development
  - Conditions: engaging plot; cyberpunk theme
- Player Archetypes:
  - Retro Cyberpunk Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for retro-style cyberpunk games.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys games with a strong narrative and retro aesthetic, often comparing them to classic titles.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: old school visual novel-ish graphic adventure game fans; cyberpunk mania
    - Reference games: Snatcher; Policenauts
  - Story-First Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Engagement with a rich, dialogue-focused narrative.
    - Playstyle: Prefers games with deep stories and extensive dialogue, often enjoying interactive book-like experiences.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: book fanatics
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Casual Narrative Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and enjoyment of a casual gaming experience with a good story.
    - Playstyle: Prefers games with simple mechanics and a focus on narrative, often enjoying point-and-click adventures.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual gamer
    - Reference games: classic Lucas Arts title


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Retro pixel art style praised (weight 0.78): The game's retro pixel art style is widely appreciated for its nostalgic and visually appealing design. Players find the colorful and unique pixel graphics beautiful and well-done.
- Engaging story and characters (weight 0.51): The story and characters are highlighted as engaging and interesting. Players enjoy the well-developed characters and the intriguing narrative.
- Great music and soundtrack (weight 0.44): The game's music and soundtrack are frequently praised as great and catchy. Players appreciate the excellent chiptune music and delightful soundtrack.
- Phenomenal voice acting (weight 0.36): The voice acting is noted as phenomenal and excellent. Players find the full voice acting helps with comprehension and enhances the narrative.
- Well-written and smart dialogue (weight 0.32): The game is praised for its well-written and witty writing. Players appreciate the smartly written dialogue and well-composed narrative.
- Well-executed cyberpunk themes (weight 0.29): The cyberpunk setting and themes are well-executed and believable. Players enjoy the interesting cyberpunk world and its thoughtful story.
- Charming and cute game (weight 0.25): The game is described as charming and cute, with good animation and a delightful adventure. Players find the graphics and story charming.
- Multiple endings add replay value (weight 0.24): The multiple endings provide replay value and additional content. Players appreciate the replayability offered by the different endings.
- Great for visual novel fans (weight 0.2): The game is recommended for fans of old-school visual novels and point-and-click adventure games. Players enjoy the visual novel elements and gameplay.
- Deep and thought-provoking themes (weight 0.2): The game explores deep and thought-provoking themes, including unique LGBT themes. Players appreciate the topical and meaningful dialogue.
- Interesting world-building (weight 0.2): The game has interesting and immersive world-building. Players enjoy exploring the well-thought-out world.
- Inclusive LGBTQ+ representation (weight 0.2): The game features inclusive and well-handled representation of LGBTQ+ characters. Players appreciate the diverse gender non-conforming characters.
- Explores moral viewpoints on robot consciousness (weight 0.15): The game explores different moral viewpoints on robot consciousness and genetic modification. Players find the themes of rights activism and trans-humanism interesting.
- Reminiscent of Snatcher and Policenauts (weight 0.15): The game is reminiscent of classic titles like Snatcher and Policenauts. Players enjoy the similarities to these games.
- Choices matter in gameplay (weight 0.15): The game features consequential and impactful choices. Players appreciate that their decisions matter.

Common complaints:
- Puzzles lack challenge (weight 0.38): Many players found the puzzles to be too simple and lacking in challenge, often describing them as boring or effortlessly easy.
- Minimal gameplay interactivity (weight 0.29): The game was criticized for having very little interactivity and minimalist gameplay, making it feel more like a visual novel.
- Text display and skipping issues (weight 0.28): Players reported delayed text display and slow text skipping, which can be frustrating during dialogue-heavy sections.
- Outdated UI and slow operation (weight 0.25): The UI was described as outdated and slow, detracting from the overall experience.
- Uninteresting plot (weight 0.22): The plot was described as not interesting, boring, and not memorable by several players.
- Save system issues (weight 0.21): The game lacks an auto-save feature and has limited save slots, which can be inconvenient for players.
- Not worth full price (weight 0.12): Several players felt that the game is not worth purchasing at full price.

Gameplay feedback:
- Visual novel with point-and-click elements (weight 0.97): The game combines visual novel storytelling with point-and-click adventure mechanics, offering a mix of narrative and interactive gameplay.
- Interactive objects and puzzles (weight 0.51): Players can interact with various objects and solve puzzles, although the puzzles are generally simple.
- Dialogue and narrative-driven (weight 0.5): The gameplay is heavily focused on dialogue and story, with choices driving the narrative forward.
- Story involving journalist and robot (weight 0.26): The narrative revolves around a journalist and a robot companion, exploring themes of identity and technology.
- Science-fiction and world-building (weight 0.22): Set in a science-fiction universe, the game focuses on world-building and exploration of its futuristic setting.
- Mystery and detective elements (weight 0.2): The game features a mystery-solving narrative with detective story elements, adding to the adventure gameplay.
- Cyberpunk setting (weight 0.2): The game is set in a cyberpunk world, featuring high-tech elements and a futuristic atmosphere.
- Pixel art and retro style (weight 0.2): The game employs a pixel art style, giving it a retro aesthetic that complements its adventure gameplay.
- Exploration and movement (weight 0.17): The game features exploration of various locations, including a semi-open world and linear plot segments.
- Inventory and item management (weight 0.15): Players can collect and use items, managing an inventory to solve puzzles and progress through the game.
- Includes mini-games (weight 0.14): The game features mini-games, including an arcade mini-game and others used in the final chapter.
- Multiple endings and choices (weight 0.12): Players can make a variety of choices that affect the story, leading to multiple possible endings.
- Themes of social justice and LGBT (weight 0.11): The narrative includes themes of social justice and LGBT issues, adding depth to the story.
- Psychological horror and combat (weight 0.1): The game includes elements of psychological horror and combat events, adding tension to the narrative.
- Role-playing and character interactions (weight 0.1): The game includes role-playing elements and a focus on character interactions, enhancing the narrative experience.

Performance notes:
- Game stability issues (weight 0.13): Several players reported crashes and glitches affecting gameplay. These issues seem to be prevalent and impact the overall experience.
- Save functionality concerns (weight 0.13): There are reports about the save button being inaccessible and audio levels not saving, which can be frustrating for players.
- Mouse interaction problems (weight 0.07): Some players experienced issues with mouse interactions, which could hinder the game's playability and user experience.
- Lack of resolution settings (weight 0.07): Players have noted the absence of resolution settings, which could affect the game's visual quality and customization options.

Recommendations:
- Appeals to VA-11 Hall-A fans (weight 0.22): This game is highly recommended for fans of VA-11 Hall-A due to its connection to the same universe and similar cyberpunk themes.
- Old-school adventure game appeal (weight 0.13): The game is suggested for fans of old-school visual novel-style graphic adventure games, offering a nostalgic experience.
- Unique story and features (weight 0.08): The game stands out due to its unique features and engaging story, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
- Futuristic detective visual novel (weight 0.07): The game offers a pixelated futuristic detective style, appealing to fans of visual novels with a detective theme.
- Recommended for SF drama fans (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for fans of science fiction drama, indicating its appeal to this specific genre.
- Cozy gaming experience (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for those who enjoy cozy games, making it a good fit for relaxed and comfortable gaming sessions.
- Good for winter holiday gaming (weight 0.07): The game is suggested as a good option for gaming during the winter holidays, providing a seasonal appeal.

Other player notes:
- Includes LGBT content (weight 0.07): This cluster highlights the inclusion of LGBT content in the game, which may be important for players looking for diverse representation in their games.
- Mention of Humble Bundle release (weight 0.06): This cluster mentions the release of the game on Humble Bundle, which could be relevant for players interested in purchasing the game through this platform.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players are frustrated primarily due to technical issues such as game crashes, lack of auto-save, and unclear puzzle mechanics. Additionally, the lack of player agency, excessive dialogue, and unlikable characters contribute significantly to this frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.31): The game's story, characters, and writing are highly praised for their depth and engagement. Players also enjoy the art style, music, and voice acting, which enhance the overall experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.26): Players express disappointment with the game's writing and character portrayal, particularly in the final act. The lack of player agency, predictable story, and poor handling of political themes also contribute to this sentiment.
- Joy (weight 0.1): The game's unique setting, engaging story, and positive aspects such as voice acting, music, and humor bring joy to players. The charming characters and good puzzles further enhance this positive experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.08): The game's retro aesthetic and references to 80s culture evoke a sense of nostalgia. Players also appreciate the old-school interface and cyberpunk vision, which remind them of classic games.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players are satisfied with the game's polish and overall experience. The story and characters are particularly noted for their quality and depth.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): The game's story, world-building, and thrilling sequences generate excitement. Players also look forward to future playthroughs with fully voiced dialogue.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's treatment of identity and its unique, inclusive approach to themes. The story, pixel art, and music are also highly valued.
- Love (weight 0.04): Players love the game's characters, art style, and story-based gameplay. The emotional attachment to characters and the overall world contribute to this strong positive emotion.
- Boredom (weight 0.04): The game's slow pacing, lack of engagement, and excessive exposition lead to boredom. Players also find the lack of interactivity and clunky writing unengaging.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.03): The game's unique atmosphere and engaging story generate enthusiasm. Players are particularly drawn to the game's features and qualities.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's quality, finding it better than expected. The overall experience exceeds their initial expectations.
- Discomfort (weight 0.03): Some players feel discomfort due to the overemphasis on LGBT themes and the heavy, dark atmosphere in certain parts of the game.
- Delight (weight 0.01): Players delight in the game's characters, story, and overall experience. The combination of these elements creates a highly enjoyable experience.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): The cheekiness and repetitive voice lines in the game annoy some players, detracting from their overall enjoyment.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in unique interactions, such as using a carton of spoiled milk on various objects and characters.
- Pleasure (weight 0.01): The game's stress-free and enjoyable nature brings pleasure to players. The overall experience is relaxing and fun.}