Mirage 7 Review: Why This Lizard Eye Scavenger Hunt Grinds My Gears
Mirage 7 is a dark fantasy action-adventure that drops you into a futuristic desert world shaped by myth and loss. Developed by Drakkar Dev, the story follows Nadira and her lizard companion, Jiji, on a quest through an arid wasteland to find a legendary princess and save her sister. It’s a third-person journey that blends melee combat with environmental puzzle-solving in a mysterious universe where science fiction meets a grim fairytale.
Specs & HUD | Gameplay Review | Performance & Fidelity | Settings & Controls
Mirage 7 PlayStation 5 Review: Specs & HUD
- Download Size: A lightweight 2.82GB.
- Perspective: Third-person view with full 360-degree camera control.
- Navigation: Lizard eye scan reveals points of interest, items, and water.
- Interaction: Button prompts appear on interactive world elements.
- HUD Aids: A circle mechanic that changes size based on your proximity to items and clues.
- Collectables: Lore scrolls and tablets scattered throughout the world for backstory.
- Item Interaction: Full 3D item viewer for examining pickups and finding hidden clues.
Gameplay Review & Mechanics Breakdown
Mirage 7 plays out as a hack-and-slash action adventure that really wants to be a deep scavenger hunt, but it often gets in its own way. You spend a lot of time using the Lizard Eye to scan the area just to make things interactive or show up, which honestly feels like a fiddly extra step for something that should be simple. The inventory system lets you combine items like sticking water lollies into your canteen, and you get these tutorial pop-ups as you go, though the game is actually pretty bad at guiding you. Early on, it doesn’t teach you what it wants from you, leaving you to feel confused and bamboozled while knowing exactly what needs to be done but having no idea how the game wants you to trigger it.
The combat has you sprinting and dodge-rolling around enemies, and while the 3D world and locations are genuinely beautiful to look at, the invisible walls are everywhere to ruin the fun. My biggest gripe has to be the character; she is incredibly chatty, but it gets repetitive fast, and the sarcasm is laid on way too thick. If you leave an area and come back, she’ll repeat the same lines over and over, which is properly grating. You can find scrolls and tablets to get some lore, and the story seemed alright, but the obtuse world interactions and the constant need to reboot because things stopped highlighting made me forget half of what was actually happening.
Mirage 7 PlayStation 5 Review: Performance & Fidelity
- Visuals: Features a beautiful 3D game world and well-realised locations.
- Frame Stability: Performance struggles with noticeable stuttering and screen tearing.
- Lizard Eye Issues: Technical hiccups and stuttering are much more frequent when using the scan view.
- Glitches: Common instances of interactive items not highlighting, requiring a full game reboot to fix.
- Haptics: Basic controller vibration that tries to mimic haptic feedback as you walk, though it’s not quite there.
- Efficiency: Includes both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions, allowing for two separate Platinum trophies.
Settings, Customisation & Control Details
- Combat Difficulty: Three options available: Story, Normal, and Challenge.
- Remapping: Full ability to remap the controls to your liking.
- Gameplay Toggles: Puzzle hints, tutorials, and subtitles can be toggled on or off.
- Camera & Aim: Includes aim lock, invert axis, and sensitivity sliders.
- Audio Control: Individual sliders for UI, Voice, Sound Effects, and Main Volume.
- Mute Option: A dedicated way to mute the voice is a total godsend, given the repetitive dialogue.
- Save Slots: Three dedicated save slots available.
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Mirage 7 PlayStation 5 Review
Summary
GOOD STUFF
The world is a beautiful 3D space that looks decent and offers a double Platinum trophy run since you get both the PS4 and PS5 versions in one go. At only 2.82GB, it’s a quick download that offers a fair bit of customisation, including three combat difficulties, full control remapping, and a 3D item viewer that actually lets you hunt for clues on your gear. The inventory crafting and item combining are solid ideas, and having the option to mute the character’s voice is a total result because it saves your sanity when the dialogue gets too much.
BAD STUFF
The performance is a right struggle, with stuttering and screen tearing that gets even worse when you’re trying to use the lizard eye scan. The character’s delivery is either flat or overly cheesy, and she repeats the same lines constantly, especially if you step out of an area and come back. The game loves to bamboozle you with invisible walls and obtuse interactions where things just don’t highlight, forcing you to reboot the game just to progress. It’s very bad at guiding you through the early stages, making the simple act of interacting with the world feel like a fiddly, frustrating chore.
FINAL VERDICT
A beautiful desert trek marred by technical stutters, invisible walls, and a protagonist who won’t shut up.
