A Wonder
- November 13, 2017
- Class of 2016-2017
A WONDER is a 3rd person stealth/puzzle game set in a sunken city. Stuck in the depths of the sea, Alana will have to explore this dormant world in order to reactivate it. In doing so, she must remain hidden from lurking creatures, hostile to any outsider who dares to venture in this derelict place.
Reviews
- The game features nice graphics and animations, showcasing the effort of a student project.
- It offers an interesting concept with flashlight mechanics and puzzles, reminiscent of classic adventure games.
- The game is free to play, making it accessible to a wide audience and demonstrating the developers' dedication.
- The game suffers from significant control issues, particularly with Xbox controllers and a lack of keyboard/mouse support.
- Numerous glitches and bugs hinder gameplay, including game-breaking issues that require restarts.
- The absence of clear control mappings and settings for PC users leads to frustration and confusion.
- graphics9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag; while some users appreciate the decent quality and animations, others criticize them as outdated and lacking detail, particularly in environments like caves. Additionally, technical issues such as poor adaptation to multi-monitor setups and a lack of graphical settings detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many acknowledge the graphics as acceptable for a free student project.
“It's free, graphics are good, and has a story.”
“The graphic quality is good.”
“While this game shows a lot of promise (nice graphics and sounds and interesting puzzles), the sluggish controls and numerous glitches throughout the game mar the experience, and the last area feels very rushed and unfinished.”
“The graphics are very outdated, but I am bothered by how square some walls look, given the fact that you are exploring caves and tunnels... there just aren't many polygons used for walls.”
“There's no graphical settings at all, can't even change resolution.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay features interesting mechanics, particularly with flashlight puzzles, and draws inspiration from early Tomb Raider games with exploration and stealth elements. However, it suffers from significant bugs and unintelligent enemy AI, which detracts from the overall experience and immersion. While the mechanics can be enjoyable, the execution leaves much to be desired.
“The game mechanics are fun.”
“The gameplay reminds me of the early Tomb Raider games; it features exploration, puzzles, and enemies to avoid.”
“A wonder isn’t very innovative but does feature a fairly interesting torchlight puzzle mechanic.”
“The gameplay reminds me of the early Tomb Raider games; it features exploration, puzzles, and enemies to avoid... but it's way more bugged.”
“Attached is my gameplay video, primarily for the devs as proof of the glitches encountered, in case they want to review and fix the bugs.”
“It's just gameplay.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with players reporting numerous glitches and buggy controls that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted minor issues that are not game-breaking, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and requires substantial updates to improve its stability before it can be recommended.
“While this game shows a lot of promise (nice graphics and sounds and interesting puzzles), the sluggish controls and numerous glitches throughout the game mar the experience, and the last area feels very rushed and unfinished.”
“If the glitches were fixed, then I might recommend this game, but as it stands right now, avoid this game.”
“Cool concept and everything, but too buggy to play.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is generally well-received, with users noting that it adds value to the game alongside its good graphics, despite being a free title.
“It's free, the graphics are good, and it has a compelling story.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game shows potential but suffers from performance issues on lower-end PCs, and the lack of key rebinding options adds to the frustration for players. Overall, optimization needs improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
“This game seems really cool, but it needs optimization for PCs that are not as powerful.”
“There were some noticeable problems with performance in certain areas, and the absence of key rebinding was frustrating.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I encountered long loading times and inconsistent frame rates, which significantly detracted from the overall experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or a second playthrough to effectively progress.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
“The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I was getting nowhere.”