Bright Memory

Bright Memory (Chinese: 光明记忆) is a first-person shooter hack and slash episodic video game developed by Chinese independent developer FYQD Personal Studio. "Episode 1" was released through Steam's Early Access program for Microsoft Windows on 12 January 2019, eventually leaving early access on 26 March 2020.[1] Bright Memory received largely positive reviews by critics upon release.[2] It was developed by a single developer in his spare time.[3] It is currently being developed into a full-length game titled Bright Memory: Infinite (Chinese: 光明记忆：无限), planning to be released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X in 2021.[4][5]

Bright Memory
Developer(s)FYQD Personal Studio
Publisher(s)AGM Playism
EngineUnreal Engine 4 
Platform(s)Android
iOS
Microsoft Windows 
Release12 January 2019 (Early Access)
Genre(s)First-person shooter
hack and slash 
Mode(s)Single-player 

Gameplay

Bright Memory is a first-person shooter with melee elements.[3] 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.[3][6] All forms of attack can be combined as desired and the game will award letter grades to creative combinations similar to Devil May Cry.[3][6] 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.[3] Additionally, some areas feature puzzles that need to be solved.[3] 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.[6]

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.[7][8]

Development

Bright Memory was developed by Zeng “FYQD” Xiancheng using Unreal Engine 4 with development work taking place in the developer's spare time.[3][9] Zeng first previewed the game in a trailer in 2017[9] and received financial support through Epic Games's Unreal Dev Grants.[10]

An early access version of "Episode One" was released worldwide on 12 January 2019. The game supports the Oculus Rift virtual reality goggles.[11]

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.[12] In reaction, Zeng has announced that he will use the money from the game's sale to hire an art designer and reach out to the original rights holders.[12]

Reception

Bright Memory's "Episode 1" was positively received by critics who praised the game's mechanics, graphics and entertainment value. The game is also criticized for having occasional bugs, and almost unintelligible instructions (translated from Chinese).[3][6] 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.[6] The music and translation were criticized as was the short length since the game does not feature any endless mode.[6]

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References
  1. "Bright Memory will be leaving early access". Steam News Hub. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  2. Steinlechner, Peter (17 January 2019). "Bright Memory angespielt: Brachialer PC-Shooter aus China". Golem (in German). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  3. Grayson, Nathan (16 January 2019). "Bright Memory Is An Ambitious Shooter Made By One Guy". Kotaku. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  4. "Discover 'Strange Phenomenas' in First-Person Shooter Bright Memory: Infinite".
  5. "Bringing Bright Memory: Infinite to Xbox Series X".
  6. Tarason, Dominic (14 January 2019). "Bright Memory is an impressive FPS debut from a solo developer". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  7. Just, Christian (14 January 2019). "Bright Memory - Blutiger Shooter auf den Spuren von Shadow Warrior 2". GameStar (in German). Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  8. 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.
  9. Saed, Sherif (3 January 2019). "Bright Memory is a stylish Chinese shooter/melee hybrid coming to Steam next week". VG247. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  10. Ivey, Chance (24 August 2017). "Epic Games Awards Over $200,000 In New Unreal Dev Grants". Unreal Engine. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  11. "Bright Memory PC". GRY-Online.pl (in Polish). 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  12. Ye, Josh (29 January 2019). "Game developer behind Bright Memory Ep1 admits he used stolen assets". Abacus. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
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