We at Geeky Hobbies would like to thank beyondthosehills for the review copy of The Minims used for this review. Other than receiving a free copy of the game to review, we at Geeky Hobbies received no other compensation for this review. Receiving the review copy for free had no impact on the content of this review or the final score.
Overview
The Minims tells the story of Mii. Mii is one of the last members of his species the Minims. His life is peaceful living with his wife/life partner Mo. Everything is good until one day Mii discovers that Mo has gone missing. In order to find her, Mii must go on a journey of self discovery.
The Minims is your typical point and click adventure game. You move around the environment, pick up objects, talk with creatures, and solve puzzles in order to make progress in the game.
Pros
The game’s story is pretty good at times. I thought the game’s world/setting were interesting since the game tries to do something new with its’ characters and world. The main character is interesting enough that you want to see the end of his journey. The ending is also pretty heartwarming.
The game’s controls work pretty well. The game doesn’t revolutionize the genre but the controls work how they should. You select objects/locations with the left mouse button. You open up your inventory with the right mouse button. Finally you press a button while holding down the left mouse button in order to rotate the camera. Like most point and click games the controls are straightforward.
While most point and click games are meant to be relaxing, The Minims does a really good job creating a relaxing experience. The game doesn’t rush you at all and the puzzles are easy enough that you won’t feel stressed trying to find the solution. Unlike some point and click games you won’t be stuck looking through every nook and cranny for a clue or trying every single possibility in order to figure out what the designers intended you to do at a given point in the game. The game even includes a help button that gives you a hint if you don’t know what to do next. If you are looking for a really relaxing point and click game, The Minims may be it.
Cons
While the game’s world and characters are interesting, the game has some pacing issues in my opinion. The first act of the game moves kind of slowly as the player is pretty much just doing their daily chores. After the first act the story begins to pick up. The game has a good ending but does end a little abruptly. The story is also a little hard to follow at times and leaves some things up to interpretation.
Another issue that leads to the game’s pretty short length (more in the Bang for Your Buck section), is that the game is pretty easy. Quite a few of the puzzles are straightforward to the point that you know exactly what your next step is going to be. This is not necessarily a bad thing since the game is striving for a laid back feel and might be a good thing for people more interested in the experience than feeling really challenged. If you are looking for a challenge though, you will probably be disappointed by The Minims.
The Minims biggest problem is that it really doesn’t stand out in any particular way. The story is pretty average. Some of the puzzles are good while others are kind of obvious. The visuals are interesting but aren’t the best I have ever seen. The game is not bad in any specific way but there isn’t any element where the game really stands out and shines.
Bang for Your Buck
The Minims is pretty short for a point and click game. The game only took me around three to four hours to complete and I am guessing most other players will have a similar experience. If you really struggle with one of the puzzles it may take a little longer but it isn’t a game that will take you that long to complete.
Being a point and click game, The Minims doesn’t have a lot of replay value. Other than playing the story again, there really isn’t anything else to do with the game. If you like replaying games you may end up playing the game again. Otherwise I think The Minims is going to be a one time experience for you. I don’t plan on playing the game again.
The Minims retails for $9.99. For a three to four hour game that seems a little high. If you really like point and click games and find the concept to be really interesting, it might be worth purchasing at full price. Otherwise I think you are better off waiting for a sale.
Final Verdict
The Minims is a solid but unspectacular point and click adventure game. The story has some interesting elements, the controls work well and the gameplay is fun. The game is on the easy side though and is pretty short. The Minims is otherwise pretty average overall.
If you don’t like point and click games at all I don’t think The Minims is going to be for you. If you really like point and click games and like the theme of The Minims, it may be worth picking up at full price. If you only somewhat like point and click games I would probably recommend waiting for a sale.
