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- Star Maid Games
- Star Maid Games
- Star Maid Games
- Star Maid Games
Cibele
Released On: Nov 2, 2015
71
4.1
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 7 Critic Reviews
71
29% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
43% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
14% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 7 Critic Reviews
71
29% Positive
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
43% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
14% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
So many games either waste or misunderstand their medium as a storytelling device while Cibele thrives inside of its own technology. By no coincidence, it’s one of the most human and relatable games, too.
Cibele shows an intriguing direction for games to become representations of their creators' real lives, almost like confessionals. As we've seen more in recent years, developers are confronting tougher topics, such as sex, depression, and death. This is an enlightening movement that's still in its infancy. Much like Cibele, these early lessons have revealed a few stumbling blocks, but I'm glad they're happening.
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 32 User Ratings
4.1
22% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
25% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
53% Negative
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
User Score
Generally Unfavorable
Based on 32 User Ratings
4.1
22% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
25% Mixed
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
53% Negative
17 Ratings
17 Ratings
Despite actual gameplay being somewhat lacking and only taking one hour to complete, many will find the story of Cibele relatable or even enlightening when it comes to the dynamics of online relationships and of those we play computer games with.
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PC
Cibele is a genuinely unique game that tells the age old tale of first love from a modern, geek culture perspective, something that is criminally untouched in film and virtually non-existent in the games space. It is one of a kind, and should absolutely be a video game instead of a short film. That said, as emotional and empathetic as the game can make the player feel, the entire package is too clunky for this to be anything more than a great first step.
Gameplay consists of clicking around a desktop for some subtext and fun nostalgia and then playing a spoof MMO that is nothing more than clicking on enemies and then standing still for 15 minutes. Gameplay adds to the experience by creating an MMO vibe for the character conversations, but is so surface level and duct taped together that it ends up being distracting. If this whole game were reworked into a visual novel, I might bump this to a 7 or even 8. Luckily the game is short, so it is worth sitting through the 'MMO' to get to the story which is overall satisfying, even if the performances aren't Oscar winning.
An autobiographical game about young love in an MMO is a fantastic, personal story that the game's lead Nina Freeman does expertly, and I'd love to see other deep cut, personal stories (FMV or not) told through gaming in the future.
6/10 — 1 hour playtime
+ Great, relatable, and realistic story with a unique spin
+ Does not overstay its welcome
+ Pulls the nostalgia card for the 2010s
- Bad gameplay through and through
- Buggy and clunky
- Game crashed without autosaving
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PC
With disarming simplicity, Cibele sets a new course for video games as a medium for telling short, intimate, personal stories.
There’s a kind of sincerity in Cibele that we rarely see in games and I would love to play a longer, more developed version. [01/2016, p.59]
Cibele has some things going for it, such as a narrative structure based on interaction with the main character’s computer. It’s a fairly predictable story told in a new way. Some parts of it were intriguing, but overall it didn’t really wow me.
Cibele is much more of an interactive movie than it is a game, but neither the plot nor gameplay engage on enough of a level to make the short title – which we finished in an hour – worth the $7 price it comes with.
It invites the player to commiserate the way they would if a friend showed up and spilled their darkest secrets. Even if you can’t relate, Cibele still insists on a personal response.
I'm giving this 1 extra point for being on humble bundle for a very reasonable price, and one extra point for not drawing it out as so many other video games do nowadays. Very good way to tell the story. A+ on the concept of the means by which you tell the story, B- on execution (would have been higher if the in-game was not so drawn out and boring, though I understand part of that was on purpose so you'd keep checking your email for lack of anything better to do), C on story, and F on the last 5 minutes. Did your writer quit without notice? Because I was expecting a wrap-up, not a 3 second sound byte and roll credits.
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PC
Not much to this game - it's super short, and it has a cool message but at the end of the day it's not anything special. -----------------------------
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PC
Summary Cibele is a game based on a true story about love, sex, and the internet. You play as a 19 year old girl who has become close with a young man she met in an online game. Her relationship with him heats up, becoming more and more intimate with each phone call and private chat.
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date: Nov 2, 2015
Developer:
- Star Maid Games
Publisher: Star Maid Games
Genres:
