The game key for this review was provided by the publisher.
If the demo review has made you interested in the game, check it out here: MIRAGE 7
Mirage 7 is a dark fairytale third-person adventure game that blends fantasy and sci-fi elements. Nadira, a young girl, journeys through a desert with her pet lizard, Jiji, in search of a lost oasis, hoping to find a way to save her sister. The game is developed by Drakkar Studios, an Italy-based developer.
Story and Worldbuilding
The game opens in the Jahenazir desert, with a cutscene taking place at a secret military base. A drone patrolling the area is intercepted, triggering an EMP charge hidden within it. The blast disables a transmission tower, awakening a mysterious woman with an unsettling appearance.
As Nadira progresses, she discovers scattered diary pages and tablets detailing various events, from an employee’s struggle to survive after getting lost in the desert to sinister experiments on able-bodied individuals aimed at extending human life. Later, a man awakens Nadira and introduces himself as the Vizier to Taishma, the lost princess. He has been tracking Nadira’s journey from the start. Lost in the desert, Nadira requests assistance, but the Vizier questions her intentions before offering help. Nadira seeks Princess Taishma, fabled for granting any wish, to rescue her sister, Rasha, who was abducted by soldiers. Offended by Nadira’s directness, the Vizier demands respect and a gesture of service. He instructs her to play a tune for the princess, who loves music, but insists it must be with a magical lute. Nadira learns of the Celestial Chanter, located in the dangerous Temple of Aranya, and the Vizier warns that the journey will be perilous. This setup establishes the desert setting, key characters, and Nadira’s quest to save her sister.
Gameplay
In the style of classic action-adventure games, you explore environments, collect items, navigate treacherous heights, and battle various enemies.Accompanied by her pet lizard, Jiji, Nadira gains access to a unique gameplay feature called "Lizard Eyes." This ability allows you, the player, to detect nearby items and uncover hidden ones within a short range. Some items can be combined, reminiscent of traditional point-and-click adventure games. For example, Nadira discovers a campsite but lacks the means to light a campfire. By searching the area, you find dry wood and use Lizard Eyes to locate a flintstone to spark a flame.
Hunger sets in, as Nadira hasn't eaten in a while, but the fruit on nearby trees is rotten. Fortunately, you spot a tree with edible fruit, though it's out of reach. To solve this, you search for a stick to craft a slingshot. However, a slingshot needs a sling. Recalling an earlier encounter, you use a tendon from a defeated Sandigger to complete the slingshot. With it, you shoot down the dates, securing a meal.
Combat is quite simplistic, you have a dagger and attack the enemy while dodging the attacks. That's it so far.
Sound
The voice acting is adequate but has room for improvement, with some performances sounding amateurish, slurred, or mumbled. The soundtrack is good, featuring a distinct Arabic theme. The oud is prominently used, enhancing the game’s atmosphere.Difficulties
The game offers standard difficulty options, with no unique variations. It’s too early to assess how well-balanced these difficulty levels are.Story Mode (Easy)
Normal Mode (Normal)
Challenge Mode (Hard)
Enemies
The current version of the game has two enemies:The Sandigger has two attacks: a lunge directly at Nadira and a burrowing move, where it digs underground and emerges beneath her.
In the "Protect Nadira" segment, scorpions move directly toward Nadira without a specific attack pattern. The objective is to prevent them from reaching her, as the game ends in a Game Over if they do.
Characters
Nadira is a young woman embarking on a journey to find her younger sister, Rasha. She is accompanied by her pet lizard, Jiji. No further details about her background are provided at this point.The Vizier is a mysterious and sickly looking man, who shows up out of nowhere; he serves Princess Taishma.
Rasha is Nadira's younger sister, who was taken by the military.
Visuals
The graphics are good, with detailed, stylized character models. The environments are high-quality, bringing the desert to life through visible heat effects and footprints in the sand, left by both Nadira and Jiji.