Acolyte

About

"Acolyte: Prologue" is a narrative-driven game where players interact with a digital assistant, Acolyte, while working as a QA tester for tech start-up Nanomax. As unexplained events and classified bugs emerge, players are drawn into a conspiracy intertwining the game's story and the real world. With no pre-defined dialogue options, players can engage in natural conversations, investigating the mysteries surrounding Nanomax and Acolyte.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features an interesting and unique concept that combines AI interaction with real-world investigation, making it engaging for players who enjoy puzzles and ARGs.
The immersive experience is enhanced by the use of out-of-game resources, requiring players to think critically and explore beyond the game itself.
The art, sound effects, and music support the game's narrative well, contributing to an overall enjoyable atmosphere.

The AI interaction can be frustrating due to its limitations, often requiring specific keywords to elicit useful responses, which can hinder gameplay.
The game suffers from bugs and glitches that can disrupt progress, such as issues with the evidence panel and unclear instructions for ARG elements.
Players may find the dependency on external websites and the need for technological know-how to solve puzzles to be a barrier, making it less accessible for casual gamers.

story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The game's story is described as interesting yet somewhat tropey, blending elements reminiscent of Sam Barlow's titles like "Her Story" and "Telling Lies." While the sci-fi/mystery narrative is engaging and supported by appealing art and audio, players may encounter frustrations with the AI's text interface, which can lead to misunderstandings and hinder progression. Overall, the story is compelling but may have low replayability due to its linearity and reliance on specific keywords.
- “A good sci-fi/mystery story that keeps you motivated.”
- “With a brilliant story, lovely art, and (as to be expected) fantastic audio - this is another great game from Superstring - I can't wait for what's next!”
- “Super cool game, really smart storytelling and I love the aesthetic.”
- “The problem with having a story about you being assisted by a high-end AI is... well, we don't have those.”
- “You will frequently come up against this wall where she doesn't understand what you're asking, or misunderstands something because you aren't at the step of the story that she expects you to find something out at.”
- “I had to wipe my original save because I solved a puzzle early, skipping a story step, and she kept referencing events that hadn't happened in the game yet or would no longer take solutions to earlier steps in the puzzle.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game is described as haunting and ambient, effectively supporting the narrative without being intrusive. Players expressed a desire for a soundtrack DLC, indicating that the music enhances the overall experience and engagement with the game.
- “The art, sound, and music are unoffensive and support the game's story.”
- “I left the game running when I wasn't playing it since it's just a chat UI and the ambient soundtrack is haunting.”
- “It did not take me as long to reach the end as my playtime indicates - I left the game running when I wasn't playing it since it's just a chat UI and the ambient soundtrack is haunting.”
- “I would have purchased the soundtrack DLC if it were available, but it is just backgrounds and the manual.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has received mixed feedback regarding stability, with several users noting that it is plagued by bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the interesting concept, the recurring issues have led to a lack of recommendation from players.
- “I wanted to like this game for the interesting concept, but unfortunately the game is too buggy for me to recommend.”
- “It's a banger but seems to get a bit buggy at times.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The graphics are characterized by a unique aesthetic that may initially appear casual, but the game offers a deeper and more engaging experience than it suggests. Reviewers appreciate the art style, noting its contribution to the game's smart storytelling.
- “Super cool game, really smart storytelling and I love the aesthetic.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to the reliance on a memorable story and a challenging text interface that can frustrate players. Concerns about the longevity of game resources further threaten its replay value, as their potential unavailability could significantly limit future playthroughs.
- “Replayability is low if you remember the story and potentially annoying if you keep being stumped by the text interface (i.e. finding the keywords to make it respond with what you want).”
- “I do worry about the longevity of the game resources; otherwise, the replay value of the game will be seriously hampered or rendered impossible.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The emotional impact of the game is significant, with multiple users expressing that they were moved to tears by the ending. This suggests a powerful narrative that resonates deeply with players.
- “I cried at the ending.”
- “I cried at the ending.”
- “I cried at the ending.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is highly immersive, enhanced by well-designed out-of-game resources that are essential for progression, creating a deeply engaging experience for players.
- “This is a beautifully crafted game that really takes immersion to the next level with out-of-game resources tailored to your gameplay and necessary for progression.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it requires specific interactions and question-asking methods to progress, making the process of sharing clues and completing investigation routes feel cumbersome.
- “Asking questions and interacting with Ana need to be done in a particular way to be recognized, which makes sharing clues and completing the investigation routes tedious.”