Review: Selina: Mind At Large
Upon first learning about Selina: Mind at Large, I had some reservations regarding its theme. While a game like Hellblade effectively depicted mental health challenges, there are numerous instances where other titles have failed to establish that connection or have even presented it in a negative light. Given that this game focuses on a child’s mental health issues, I was concerned that it could fall flat or on the other hand be executed brilliantly.
Release Date: February 20th 2025
Developer: Trotzkind
Publisher: Trotzkind
Price: £22.99
Reviewed On: Meta Quest 3
* Access Provided For Review *
Help Restore Positive Memories
A young girl named Selina escaped her home following a traumatic incident. Isolated, scared, and feeling exposed, she soon connected with another youth named Aniles. Unfortunately, Aniles ultimately let her down, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of some of her most treasured memories. Now, Selina embarks on a journey to find a courageous hero who can help her recover what she has lost. This is your opportunity to rise to the challenge! Are you prepared to confront her shadows and the treacherous Aniles?
Water Based Puzzles
Drawing inspiration from the ideas of Carl Gustav Jung, Selina: Mind at Large offers a unique and imaginative perspective on a child’s psyche. To realise this vision, the Trotzkind team crafted a narrative puzzle adventure that perfectly complements their artistic goals.
They harness the boundless creativity and imagination of childhood to challenge the mundane conventions we often take for granted, liberating themselves from the constraints of gravity and logic. This creative freedom has led to the introduction of a gravity-defying Escher-Teleport within their world. Picture buildings suspended in mid-air, enabling you to teleport between surfaces as you explore her memories that need unlocking. Once you acclimate to this system, it can feel remarkably freeing, although it may initially be a bit disorienting. Alongside teleportation, you will still have traditional movement options at your disposal.
This antigravity mechanism is intricately linked to the puzzles embedded in her memories, which revolve around guiding water along the correct path to activate a wheel that opens the next room. At first, these puzzles are relatively simple, giving you the impression that you’re gliding through the game. However, as you advance, new challenges emerge that alter how you manage the water flow.
You will begin by acquiring the ability to place blocks that freeze the water, but remember that water can still seep through holes in those blocks. Additionally, you can utilise teleporters to access different surfaces while keeping the water flowing. For example, if you’re on the floor and the path continues on the ceiling, you can freeze the water along the ceiling’s route, then teleport up to the ceiling, allowing the water to cascade down the intended path. As you progress, the challenges will increase, presenting multiple routes in each area, but you can only complete one due to the limitations of your blocks. You will also encounter dynamic elements along the paths that need to be properly aligned, as well as cranks to adjust the water’s directional flow.
A Child’s Imagination Brought To Life
Their innovative approach to gameplay has sparked a wave of creativity in level design, capturing the essence of a child’s imagination and resulting in wonderfully whimsical environments. Whether exploring her childhood home or a movie theatre, the design of the rooms and levels showcases their artistic flair. The game is not one of the most visually stunning experiences on the Quest platform, appearing to be more tailored for the Quest 2 than the Quest 3, yet it effectively immerses players in its vibrant world. The experience is deepened by short pauses between levels, during which you encounter Selina. Here, she reminisces about the happy times from her past while you present her with the items you’ve gathered on your journey.
The presentation features excellent audio, enhanced by a soothing soundtrack, the gentle sound of flowing water, and various ambient noises. One aspect I particularly enjoyed was how Selina shares the backstory of each room upon entry, deepening your connection to the memories associated with them. This experience is further enriched by well done voice acting that conveys Selina’s emotions while remaining clear and easy to understand.
As you piece this together with the meetings with Selina that occur between each memory, you gradually develop a connection and a sense of concern for her well-being as the game unfolds. This effectively demonstrates the team’s success in achieving their narrative goals.
Comfort
The Verdict
Selina: Mind at Large is an immersive game that establishes a profound bond, as you take on the role of a hero tasked with assisting a young girl named Selina. The developers have crafted a compelling story that allows you to empathise with her mental health challenges and motivates you to assist her on her journey. Throughout the narrative, you’ll encounter a series of puzzles that begin simply but gradually introduce more complex elements, making them increasingly difficult as you navigate the task of directing water from one end of a path to the other, all while manoeuvring through her lost memories. The team has cleverly utilised the perspective of a young mind to design these puzzles and environments, liberating you from the usual constraints of reality, such as gravity and conventional logic. Although the antigravity mechanics may feel disorienting and awkward at first, they ultimately provide a sense of freedom as you adapt. If you’re a fan of puzzle games, I would wholeheartedly recommend giving this one a try.