Bright Memory

Bright Memory (Chinese: 光明记忆), also known as Bright Memory: Episode 1, is a first-person shooter video game developed by Chinese-based FYQD Personal Studio.

Bright Memory
Developer(s)FYQD Personal Studio
Publisher(s)Playism
Composer(s)
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release
  • Episode 1
  • iOS
    1 November 2019
  • Android
    12 January 2020
  • Windows
    25 March 2020
  • Xbox Series X/S
    10 November 2020
  • Infinite
  • Windows
    11 November 2021
  • Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
  • 21 July 2022
Genre(s)First-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Created by a single developer in his spare time, it was initially released through Steam's Early Access program for Microsoft Windows on 12 January 2019, eventually leaving early access on 25 March 2020.[1][2] Additionally, the game was released for mobile platforms between 2019 and 2020, as well as for the Xbox Series X/S as one of its launch titles on 10 November 2020.[3]

Instead of creating an Episode 2, the game was remade and expanded in both gameplay and story into a full-length title called Bright Memory: Infinite (Chinese: 光明记忆：无限), released on Windows and Xbox Series X/S in 2021.[3][4] Players who have bought the Windows version of Bright Memory will be able to get Bright Memory: Infinite for free.[2]

Gameplay

Bright Memory is a first-person shooter with melee elements.[1] Players take control of Shelia, who, in addition to using guns and a sword, also has supernatural abilities such as psychokinesis and unleashing energy blasts.[1][5] All forms of attack can be combined as desired and the game will award letter grades to creative combinations similar to Devil May Cry.[1][5] Success in combat awards experience points that can be used to augment the character's skills and to unlock more abilities such as stopping time.[1] Additionally, some areas feature puzzles that need to be solved.[1] The early access version of the first episode features about an hour of gameplay with the developer announcing another two hours of gameplay by the end of 2019 with more episodes in the following years.[5]

Synopsis

Protagonist Shelia is tasked by the Science Research Organization (SRO) for which she works to prevent SAI, a military organization, from acquiring a legendary ancient power that can reawaken the dead. The game takes place in a "Land of Sky" located above the Arctic consisting of levitating land masses which are home to ancient creatures.[6][7]

Development

Bright Memory was developed by Zeng "FYQD" Xiancheng using Unreal Engine 4 with development work taking place in the developer's spare time.[1][8] Zeng first previewed the game in a trailer in 2017[8] and received financial support through Epic Games's Unreal Dev Grants.[9]

An early access version of "Episode One" was released worldwide on 12 January 2019. The game supports the Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles.[10]

Stolen assets controversy

In January 2019, Zeng admitted on a post on Sina Weibo that he has used some enemy models without acquiring a license and modified them for use in the game but did not specify which models or which games they were from.[11] In reaction, Zeng announced that he would use the money from the game's sales to hire an art designer and reach out to the original rights holders.[11]

Reception

Episode 1

Bright Memory: Episode 1 received "mixed or average" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic,[12] for having occasional bugs and almost unintelligible instructions, as it was translated from Chinese.[1][5] Nevertheless, Rock Paper Shotgun opined that the game has both the look and feel of a shooter game developed with a large budget, and 'wipes the floor' compared to some much higher priced games.[5] The music and translation were criticized as was the short length since the game does not feature any endless mode.[5]

Infinite

Bright Memory: Infinite received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[14][15][16][17]

References
  1. Grayson, Nathan (16 January 2019). "Bright Memory Is An Ambitious Shooter Made By One Guy". Kotaku. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  2. FYQD-Studio (25 March 2020). "Bright Memory will be leaving early access". Steam. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  3. Cooper, Dalton (22 September 2020). "New Xbox Series X Console Exclusive Launch Title Confirmed". Game Rant. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  4. Xiancheng, Zeng (7 May 2020). "Bringing Bright Memory: Infinite to Xbox Series X". Xbox Wire. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  5. Tarason, Dominic (14 January 2019). "Bright Memory is an impressive FPS debut from a solo developer". Rock Paper Shotgun. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  6. Just, Christian (14 January 2019). "Bright Memory - Blutiger Shooter auf den Spuren von Shadow Warrior 2". GameStar (in German). Webedia. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. Palumbo, Alessio (31 December 2018). "Stunning First-Person Action Game Bright Memory, Developed by One Man, to Launch Early January on Early Access". Wccftech. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. Saed, Sherif (3 January 2019). "Bright Memory is a stylish Chinese shooter/melee hybrid coming to Steam next week". VG247. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  9. Ivey, Chance (24 August 2017). "Epic Games Awards Over $200,000 In New Unreal Dev Grants". Unreal Engine. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  10. "Bright Memory PC". Gry-Online (in Polish). 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  11. Ye, Josh (29 January 2019). "Game developer behind Bright Memory Ep1 admits he used stolen assets". Abacus News. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  12. "Bright Memory for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. Carter, Chris (9 November 2020). "Review: Bright Memoru". Destructoid. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. "Bright Memory: Infinite for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  15. "Bright Memory: Infinite for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  16. "Bright Memory: Infinite for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  17. "Bright Memory: Infinite for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  18. Carter, Chris (11 November 2021). "Review: Bright Memory Infinite". Destructoid. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  19. Stewart, Marcus (11 November 2021). "Bright Memory: Infinite Review". Game Informer. GameStop Corp. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  20. Wakeling, Richard (11 November 2021). "Bright Memory: Infinite Review - Finite Would Be More Appropriate". GameSpot. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  21. McCrae, Scott (20 July 2022). "Bright Memory: Infinite Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  22. Hazell, Ted (20 July 2022). "Bright Memory: Infinite (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  23. Magaña, Annette (31 July 2022). "Mini Review: Bright Memory: Infinite (PS5) - A Memory in a Flash". Push Square. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  24. Musgrave, Shaun (21 July 2022). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'Bright Memory', Plus 'Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium' and Today's Other Releases and Sales". TouchArcade. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
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