Developer: MistyMountainStudio
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG
Publisher: Gamirror Games
The Rewinder 2 is a standalone sequel action-adventure game inspired by Eastern mythology. The game was developed by MistyMountainStudio and published by Gamirror Games.Â
The Rewinder 2 is a single-player game where you follow the story of Qiyun, who is known as the last ‘Rewinder’. Qiyun explores cursed ancient ruins and villages to unlock new charm and encounter restless spirits. Qiyun has the ability to enter people’s memories and alter their fates. Compared to the first game, the Rewinder 2 offers much more exploration value with the traditional Chinese aesthetics.
The controls for Rewinder 2 are nice and easy to follow. Most of the interactions and pop-ups can be seen on the screen. As you begin the game, you follow a tutorial that plays out with the story and thoroughly describes each mechanic in detail. The game does have controller support, but I played on the keyboard/mouse, and the controls had no noticeable delay, which worked like a charm for the combat aspect of this game. I did like that the game offers two accessibility options: Recommended and Story Mode. Story mode allows for players to not die, and damage is increased. Playing with the recommended setting is played for the best experience as intended by the developers.
The art style for The Rewinder 2 displays a distinct fusion of traditional Chinese ink-wash painting and pixel art. The level of detail in the visually compelling combination between these two art forms truly pays homage to classical Chinese aesthetics. The visuals for The Rewinder 2 are extremely captivating, and the fluidity that comes from cutscene sequences to in-game animation is stunning. The subtle animations truly bring the environment to life, from foliage falling to little waves in the river. I especially enjoyed the layering of detail when it came to folk-lore elements and traditional Chinese elements, from clothing and names to items and scriptures. Character designs are expressive in their still-life portraits, adding another layer of immersiveness to the game. Something players can truly appreciate is the deeply rooted Chinese mythology that is reflected in the art style of The Rewinder 2. You will notice all sorts of symbolic meanings, to an enriched storytelling that serves for cultural expression.Â
The audio design for The Rewinder 2 does not fall short at all. The atmospheric noises, from running on grass to walking over a wooden bridge, are little details that are appreciated. It truly captivates the player into the game, and with the traditional instrumentals playing at the back whilst you explore the vastness of the world is beyond beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the switch in music from casual exploration to battles or a more eerie atmosphere. The visuals go hand in hand to create a moody environment that enhances the narrative for The Rewinder 2.Â
I am someone who has not played the previous game, but even without having played it, The Rewinder 2 is a great game for new players to jump into as it seems to expand older mechanics. The heart of the game lies in entering people’s memories and reshaping events. Reshaping events can lead to a series of timelines that can allow players to reach several different endings. This adds a great replayability factor to the game if players wish to explore other ending options. By entering the people’s memories, you will have the ability to solve puzzles by manipulating emotions to alter the character’s behaviours and unlock new outcomes. I found this to be such an interesting mechanic as you would explore puzzle elements in the game that would not be as difficult as presumed. This also gives great insight into the narratives of the characters, which adds great depth to the story. Exploring the stories of unique individuals is very fun to read upon.
As said previously, the storytelling is rich, and the environments that you explore are nicely detailed, each filled with all sorts of characters that you can meet. From what I have seen about the first game in the series, The Rewinder 2 adds light combat as a secondary mechanic, which I found was quite a nice change in pace for the game. Qiyun has the ability to fight corrupted spirits using the charms that he has acquired that provide special attacks and buffs. There are several buffs that you can choose from. I especially enjoyed the boss battles that you would encounter; they added a soul-like feel to the game and broke up the exploration and memory mechanic.Â
The Rewinder 2 was a game that allowed me to slow down and reflect on the narrative being told. What struck me most was not just the clever puzzle and design but, it was the mesmerizing art style that encapsulated the stories you got to uncover as Qiyun. There is a sense of horror, thrill, and reflection whilst embodying ancient Chinese folklore. Mechanically, the memory manipulation is really interesting, and the addition of combat was a nice change to the puzzle-solving.Â
The Rewinder 2 is a beautifully crafted narrative adventure inspired by Eastern mythology, where you dive deep into haunting memories and reshape the fates of lingering souls. With its unique blend of ink-wash pixel art, atmospheric exploration, and emotionally resonant storytelling, the game pulls you into a world of mystery, sorrow, and redemption. Engaging puzzles and subtle combat make this a journey worth taking. Be sure to check out The Rewinder 2!
Overall: 8/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
