Three Minutes To Eight Review: A Pixelated Race Against Time

A Switch review code for "Three Minutes To Eight" was provided to SVG for this review. The game is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Chaosmonger Studios, known for their inventive storytelling and unique art style, brings us "Three Minutes To Eight," an indie game that's more than just a journey — it's a race against time. Set in a near-futuristic world, you wake up in your apartment at 7:33 PM with a blurry memory and a lingering sense of dread. Your mission? Unravel the mysteries around you before the clock strikes 7:57 PM. But there's a twist: every time you fail, the loop restarts. Imagine "Groundhog Day" meets "Blade Runner," and you're on the right track.

At its core, "Three Minutes To Eight" is a point-and-click adventure that hinges on a time-loop mechanic. The premise is simple yet intriguing: make decisions, interact with objects and characters, and try to change your fate. The game's reliance on trial and error can be both a blessing and a curse. It encourages exploration and experimentation but can lead to frustration due to its increasingly repetitive nature.

Each loop has you waking up in the same apartment, with the same initial scenario playing out. The challenge? You only have 24 minutes of game time to figure out how to prevent your impending doom. This structure could have benefitted from a more robust skip function to alleviate the monotony of repeated sequences, a problem that is pretty typical with other time-loop games.

"Three Minutes To Eight" is a spectacle of pixel art, blending 2D and 3D visuals seamlessly. The cyberpunk cityscape is a neon-lit wonder, with intricacies in every corner. The "Cloudpunk"-akin pixel art style gives it a retro charm, but the 3D effects add a modern twist. The game's visual prowess is further enhanced by its atmospheric soundtrack, reminiscent of other sci-fi classics. However, the game's world feels somewhat confined, with limited exploration beyond the single street where most of the action takes place.

The narrative of "Three Minutes To Eight" is a complex web of ethics, morality, and philosophy, set against the backdrop of a mind-bending adventure. The storyline is deep and engaging, with the protagonist's quest to rediscover his identity and the truth of his situation forming the crux of the experience. The game's narrative strength lies in its ability to keep players guessing, with each loop offering new clues and perspectives.

That said, the story can feel disjointed at times, with changes in the environment and character interactions that lack clear explanations. This narrative style may appeal to players who enjoy open-ended stories and interpretative endings, but those seeking a more straightforward plot might find it a bit confusing.

The game's biggest challenge — one that, as mentioned, is typical in the time-loop genre — is its repetitive nature. The constant need to redo actions in each loop, coupled with the limited interaction with the environment, can grow tiresome. The dialogue, while ambitious, often falls short of delivering a natural and immersive experience.

The point-and-click movement system on the Switch, while functional, lacks a bit of fluidity. This becomes especially evident when trying to navigate quickly, as the game requires precise clicking rather than intuitive movement controls. The lack of depth in environmental interactions also stands out, with many objects serving no purpose other than to be acknowledged and disregarded.

Comparing "Three Minutes To Eight" to Chaosmonger Studios' other titles, such as "Encodya," reveals both the studio's consistent quality in visual design and their adventurous approach to storytelling. Both games excel in creating immersive worlds with a distinct art style. However, where "Encodya" offers a more traditional narrative and point-and-click structure, "Three Minutes To Eight" ventures into a more experimental realm with its time-loop mechanics and open-ended storylines.

"Three Minutes To Eight" is an ambitious game that excels in its visual and audio presentation but stumbles in its gameplay and narrative cohesion. The time-loop mechanic, while intriguing, becomes a double-edged sword due to the repetitive nature of the gameplay. The story is thought-provoking but can feel disjointed and lacks a satisfying resolution for those seeking a more definitive ending.

The game is a solid choice for fans of sci-fi and point-and-click adventures who don't mind a bit of repetition and enjoy piecing together a story from abstract clues. However, for players looking for a more streamlined experience with clear objectives and less redundancy, it might not hit the mark.

"Three Minutes To Eight" earns a 6 out of 10 for its stunning visuals, atmospheric sound design, and unique concept. It's a game that pushes the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay mechanics, even if it doesn't always succeed in delivering a completely cohesive experience. For those willing to embrace its quirks and challenges, it offers a distinctive journey through a beautifully crafted, albeit confined, pixelated world.