Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 21
  2. Negative: 5 out of 21
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  1. The beautifully detailed graphics make exploration a sheer pleasure and the music and ambient sounds combine well to heighten the sense of something evil waiting, patiently, watching your every move.
  2. It’s just the details of the game I didn’t get along with, all the unnecessary walking back and forth, and the general simplicity of the puzzles. So The Black Mirror earns a borderline recommendation from me.
  3. A worthy addition for anyone looking for a solid mystery/horror game. The interesting story line, easy to use control system, and detail graphics makes the game stand out.
  4. Did you enjoy “Sanitarium” and Agatha Christie's first mystery? If you can answer "yes" to these questions, then I highly recommend The Black Mirror as a "journey into darkness" well worth your time and effort.
  5. Perhaps the biggest failing in Black Mirror is that the ending comes too soon. After spending so much time building up this great story, the end, while logical, doesn't have the same narrative buildup as the rest of the game.
  6. The slow pace and ridiculously formal dialogue will certainly repel some players, even patient ones – but the rest of us will find a detailed, suspenseful story brought to life by alluring graphics.
  7. PC Gamer
    72
    It offers roughly 20 hours of compelling play, with a mystery that's genuinely worth solving. [Feb 2004, p.81]
  8. 72
    Just a mediocre adventure game. It takes a generic story and adds some twists to it, but the twists and the ending really aren't worth playing the game through.
  9. If you switch off the appalling speech, turn on the subtitles and switch on your brain, then we are confident you’ll enjoy uncovering the dark mystery that lies within the walls of the Black Mirror.
  10. netjak
    63
    I realized that in addition to a good interface, story and puzzles, I needed a matching presentation to fully enjoy the game. Unfortunately, this is not the case, and Black Mirror thus ranks barely above average.
  11. It’s a murder mystery with a twist everyone will see coming from a mile away, and the puzzles and slowness don’t do it any service. This could have been a classic.
  12. This game is terribly flawed, but it has really pretty graphics, excellent voice acting, and great sound. I tried to like this game. I really did. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn't. I suffered through the cliched puzzles, game-killing bugs, and constant crashing, because the story is actually fairly interesting.
  13. It's true that the game has some real strengths, too, but the lousy voice-overs, clumsy writing, and glacial pace make it too hard to appreciate them most of the time.
  14. The heart of a point and click adventure is its puzzles and Black Mirror does this badly forcing players to go backwards and forwards in seemingly pointless treks and it all adds up to a feeling that you are simply playing a role in a very boring movie, you don’t control your character, just guide him through the motions.
  15. It's slow, steady and pretty dreary - but it's got enough intrigue to keep you clicking away for a few hours.
  16. Computer Games Magazine
    50
    Let's be kind and say that it looks lovely in its plumed cap of mediocrity. [Feb 2004, p.84]
  17. Frustrating array of random pointing and clicking.
  18. Even the most patient gamers will be bored to tears for the first few hours of this adventure. [Jan 2004, p.157]
  19. Sub-par voice acting, somewhat annoying puzzles and an overall dated look will not put this game on many people's Christmas list.
  20. Computer Gaming World
    40
    It will always be clear what's expected of you - in fact, you'll likely identify the killer long before your character does. [Feb 2004, p.87]
  21. 30
    One long exercise in frustration.
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 101 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 101
  2. Negative: 6 out of 101
  1. Nov 13, 2015
    10
    One of my favorit game all time! I like point & click adventure games, when i was younger i play lot of game in this style. But when releasedOne of my favorit game all time! I like point & click adventure games, when i was younger i play lot of game in this style. But when released this game it was awesome first time. Good story, nice puzzles, really good caracters. Sadly the secont game was'nt too good but the third is correct. But only the first game is masterpiece! Full Review »
  2. Dec 12, 2017
    10
    Firstly everyone complains about voice acting. I played Posel Smrti as a Czech version and the voice acting was top notch. The 2nd and 3rdFirstly everyone complains about voice acting. I played Posel Smrti as a Czech version and the voice acting was top notch. The 2nd and 3rd game in the series are flawed but this 1st is a masterpiece. Full Review »
  3. Apr 9, 2017
    10
    I know that US version was highly criticized for bad voice acting, which is ironical, becouse Czech version has propably best voice acting inI know that US version was highly criticized for bad voice acting, which is ironical, becouse Czech version has propably best voice acting in gaming history, perfectly fit with deep atmosphere of this game. Story is unforgettable and locations are full of detail... Full Review »