Ministry of Broadcast

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
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  1. Daisuk
    Jan 4, 2021
    8
    I really liked this game a whole lot more than I expected. There's original twists all over the place, and the sinister things the game will have you do to survive or progress is very reminiscent of the French game show version of the Milgram experiment. How far will you go? Well, all the way, of course, because you need to win. Lovely pixel art, lots of well executed dark humour, lots ofI really liked this game a whole lot more than I expected. There's original twists all over the place, and the sinister things the game will have you do to survive or progress is very reminiscent of the French game show version of the Milgram experiment. How far will you go? Well, all the way, of course, because you need to win. Lovely pixel art, lots of well executed dark humour, lots of variety in the way of solving the platform puzzles you're presented with - yet it's never infuriatingly difficult, neither is it a stroll in the park - it clocks in at about 6-7 hours, which felt just right for this game. One of the best games from 2020 for me.… Expand
  2. VxPASSIONE
    Sep 20, 2020
    8
    Usually, the protagonists of video games are perceived as heroes because they make the right choice when in trouble; unless more options, explicitly connoted in a negative sense, are provided to the player. Ministry of Broadcast (Ministry of Broadcast Studio, 2020) does neither, but it certainly offers several thoughts on the actions performed by its protagonist.
    The general context is a    Usually, the protagonists of video games are perceived as heroes because they make the right choice when in trouble; unless more options, explicitly connoted in a negative sense, are provided to the player. Ministry of Broadcast (Ministry of Broadcast Studio, 2020) does neither, but it certainly offers several thoughts on the actions performed by its protagonist.
    The general context is a dystopia linked to surveillance, control and punishment. Orwell is certainly present as a reference, but Ministry of Broadcast transforms it into a more spectacularized and television-related version: a reality show that’s only apparently harmless. Much less austere than the Orwellian 1984, but no less disturbing. Everything is subtler, indirect, mediated by jokes and comic situations, which however generate somewhat bitter laughters. During each of the days that mark the video game, the protagonist – an individual characterized by his red hair – finds himself carrying out horrible actions: he unleashes hounds against people, throws his friends into the water, pushes strangers against sharp spikes and much more. None of them – it must be said – dies, which helps to dilute the mood of the game, but this does not make the actions less disturbing. The protagonist is moved by a noble desire: to be able to overcome the tests of this show/prison to see loved ones again, but – and this is a particularly disturbing element – he never has too many problems about the actions he must take to reach his goal. He’s not cruel, nor sadistic. He doesn’t even seem driven by some philosophy of life like the famous «the ends justify the means» from Niccolò Machiavelli. The protagonist appears just fatalistic: he behaves in a certain way because he must and there are no alternatives. This is an implicit reference to the structure of Ministry of Broadcast itself and, in general, to the very structure of video games, in which choices are decided by others. Moreover, to confirm all this, there are some moments of breaking of the fourth wall, linked for example to certain phrases of the omnipresent crow that accompanies the protagonist, and which constitutes a sort of cynical Jiminy Cricket (the talking cricket from Pinocchio), always ready to dispense advices mixed with moral judgments (which could be aimed at both the protagonist and the gamer). Certainly, this isn’t the first video game that address similar issues, nor the one that delves deeper into them, but the topic ties well with context and setting.
    Speaking of setting, the pixel art chosen for the video game shows effectively the different elements of the setting. The setting, however, is not so internally differentiated. However, the developers have tried to insert a minimum of variations in environments (almost always underground) through historical (statues, bas-reliefs ...) or dreamlike inserts, but the overall result doesn’t change much. The possibilities available for exploration are not many and are basically limited to jumping, running and interacting with levers and buttons. The avatar’s response is not always perfect, especially when you need to chain different actions (for example, push a box and immediately climb on it) in agitated situations, where a moment can make the difference between success and defeat.
    Deaths are very common, but fortunately you start again immediately: this is good when the trial and error is necessary to experiment and discover the right solution. Some puzzles, in fact, are not very immediate and require creative, unusual approaches to be solved. This is generally a positive aspect, because it pushes to seek original solutions to a problem. In some cases, however, especially when you have to repeat a larger segment of the game, this can be quite boring. Moments like these artificially lengthen the duration of an experience which remains rather short in general, since Ministry of Broadcast can be completed in few hours. This is not a bad thing, however, because it already has some repetitions inside, and a longer length would probably be boring. Whit is current duration, instead, the video game manages to maintain a good degree of internal variations, by progressively expanding the enigmas (which become more complex and creative each time) and by gradually deepening the dystopian element and the fatalism of character’s actions.
    In conclusion, Ministry of Broadcast is a video game capable of keeping attention for a good part of the adventure, but at the same time contains some moments that break its rhythm: because the controls are not always optimal and because some puzzles and sequences tend to repeat. Generally speaking, however, the product deserves attention, especially for its mixture of reality shows and militarized surveillance dystopias.    … Expand
  3. AbOUt_rIght
    Feb 23, 2021
    8
    I loved the style, the wacky dark humour and the ominous tone of the atmosphere. Sure, many people say it is the video game version of Orwell's 1984, to some extent I agree, but that doesn't mean this game lacks its originality.

    The puzzles are mostly well designed, it's definitely not hardcore but it also doesn't feel cheap, you have to think for a bit. And the game has a lot of visual    I loved the style, the wacky dark humour and the ominous tone of the atmosphere. Sure, many people say it is the video game version of Orwell's 1984, to some extent I agree, but that doesn't mean this game lacks its originality.

    The puzzles are mostly well designed, it's definitely not hardcore but it also doesn't feel cheap, you have to think for a bit. And the game has a lot of visual cues for you if you ever feel like you're stuck, and I think that's great.

    The only problem I have with the game is the control. There is like a millisecond delay of your control input and that causes a lot of misjudgments during some intense escape sessions of the game.    … Expand
  4. Ventu
    Aug 20, 2023
    7
    Ministry of Broadcast es un juego de plataformas de puzzles que pese a su sensillez supone un desafío la mayor parte del tiempo. La historia y la ambientación tiene un aire a 1984 de G. Orwell, que le sienta de maravilla, con un humor que te sacará una sonrisa varias veces. A nivel grafico es muy detallista, la música muy lograda, la traducción al español muy lograda, y a nivel técnicoMinistry of Broadcast es un juego de plataformas de puzzles que pese a su sensillez supone un desafío la mayor parte del tiempo. La historia y la ambientación tiene un aire a 1984 de G. Orwell, que le sienta de maravilla, con un humor que te sacará una sonrisa varias veces. A nivel grafico es muy detallista, la música muy lograda, la traducción al español muy lograda, y a nivel técnico está muy pulido. Es corto (5 horas aprox.), pero dura lo que tiene que durar para ser una buena experiencia. Lo mejor es su humor y ambientación, lo peor es que no es un título que guste a todo el mundo por ser una propuesta diferente a lo habitual.… Expand
  5. Johnny033
    Aug 14, 2022
    9
    Interesting story. Nice puzzles. Some of them pretty obvious but with much fun. I really liked this game. Story is quite disturbing. If you like dystopian games + puzzles this is your game. Art is decent too.
    Totally recommended.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Jeuxvideo.com
    Apr 22, 2022
    70
    Ministry of Broadcast is a good old-fashioned platformer that deserves to be known. Between the engaging atmosphere and entertaining gameplay phases, it's hard to have a bad time. It is with a smirk that we start Ministry of Broadcast and with questions in our heads that we end this short but intense experience with a worked atmosphere and strong messages. Between mocking humor, sarcasm, morbidity and questioning, but also race, difficulty and puzzle, Ministry of Broadcast has found a perfect balance, with the happy medium as a guideline. But to revolve too much around the just good, the game never excels and imposes itself as a pleasant experience, but without great scope. A game that is worth lingering over, but that lacks a little nothing to become memorable.
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  2. Nintenderos
    Sep 21, 2020
    78
    Ministry of Broadcast is a real surprise, an excellent game with a great story. Its dynamics are simple, enjoyable and the messages it offers about our protagonist and his life create a remarkable experience.
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  3. NintendoWorldReport
    May 22, 2020
    70
    At the end of the day, Ministry of Broadcast has a lot of charm. With its interesting setting and its hilarious, sarcastic sense of humor there’s a good chance you might be able to force your way through some of the more frustrating parts. However, others may find that those frustrating sequences happen more often than deemed acceptable to put up with. Add the fact that every death leads to a crow taking an antagonistic shot at the player, an aspect that has an ability to be funny one second and incredibly annoying the next, and Ministry of Broadcast becomes a game in which the term “your mileage may vary” heavily applies.
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