This game focuses on psychology and presents its concepts in a progressive, multi-level manner.
The software, Levalle's opus, is an interesting exploration of causation against mechanics and a deep dive into human consciousness. The term "Mirror Stage" is drawn from Jaques Lacan's tripartite theory of human psychology, which bears remarkable resemblances to the intransitive relationships that exist between game objects such as Goliath, Guardian, Reaver, Triforce of Power, Wisdom, Courage, and so on. Stephen Lavelle, the designer of this software, is a unique and niche designer who is primarily played by other designers and only a few thousand others.
The software's levels are built around a straightforward pair of mechanics: a recursive portal and a mirror. The player is tasked with interpreting poetic texts and applying them to unravelling mindscapes. The Lacanian trinity, with its social symbolic clues, serves as a guide. The player and their avatar are the ego and the other, respectively.
Each level has a specific approach, and the player must think counter-intuitively at times to solve the puzzles. This is low burn gameplay, akin to The Path, where the player lets their mind wander, absorbs the minimal soundtrack and explores the dreamlike atmosphere. The overall arc resembles a post-modern novel, but the gameplay feels like a dream in action.
The software's levels are built around a straightforward pair of mechanics: a recursive portal and a mirror. The player is tasked with interpreting poetic texts and applying them to unravelling mindscapes. The Lacanian trinity, with its social symbolic clues, serves as a guide. The player and their avatar are the ego and the other, respectively.
Each level has a specific approach, and the player must think counter-intuitively at times to solve the puzzles. This is low burn gameplay, akin to The Path, where the player lets their mind wander, absorbs the minimal soundtrack and explores the dreamlike atmosphere. The overall arc resembles a post-modern novel, but the gameplay feels like a dream in action.
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