Alephant
- February 16, 2023
- Le Slo
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Alephant" is a single-player puzzle game that revolves around language. Players must discover and understand seemingly arbitrary rules to find new sounds and uses, ultimately leading to the ability to "talk" within the game. With wordless communication and unique mechanics, Alephant provides a fresh take on puzzlers, using the Hebrew alphabet's first letter, Aleph, and niqqud for inspiration.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features clever mechanics and intricate level design that provide satisfying puzzle-solving experiences.
- It offers a unique twist on the sokoban formula, with simple rules that lead to complex and surprising interactions.
- The visual and audio presentation is top-notch, creating an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The game lacks a proper tutorial or hint system, making it difficult for players to understand new mechanics introduced in later levels.
- Some levels, particularly in the last world, feel rushed and do not provide adequate guidance, leading to frustration and confusion.
- The steep difficulty curve can be overwhelming, potentially discouraging players who prefer a more gradual progression.
- gameplay35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its clever mechanics and exceptional level design, which challenge players to engage in trial-and-error and self-discovery to fully grasp the rules. While the introduction of new mechanics is masterfully paced in most levels, some early levels fail to provide adequate guidance, leading to frustration. Overall, the game excels in creating intricate puzzles that offer surprising depth and satisfying revelations, making it a standout in the sokoban genre.
“The exceptional level design, the remarkable and enigmatic gameplay mechanics, the cozy aesthetic, and the deeply embedded cultural representation all come together perfectly to make Alephant a standout addition to the sokoban genre.”
“Every puzzle presents an interesting wrinkle or new use of the mechanics, and you keep getting surprised and delighted at the complexity that emerges from these simple building blocks.”
“The mechanics are well thought-out and full of interesting consequences and surprising interactions.”
“Aside from the game's clever name, you could just as easily replace these alephs with smiley faces or Christmas trees and the mechanics would be exactly the same.”
“In frustration, I looked at the solution online, and in every case, the solution required using a mechanic that wasn't introduced previously in the game.”
“There is no gradual progression in the understanding of the mechanics like in the middle worlds.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Alephant" feature a grainy, textile-like aesthetic that evokes a Middle Eastern style, complemented by a clean design that enhances level clarity. The game effectively integrates cultural symbolism and themes related to the aleph across various languages, contributing to its unique visual storytelling. Overall, the simple yet effective graphics, combined with an engaging soundtrack, create a cozy and immersive puzzle game experience.
“The exceptional level design, the remarkable and enigmatic gameplay mechanics, the cozy aesthetic, and the deeply embedded cultural representation all come together perfectly to make Alephant a standout addition to the Sokoban genre.”
“On top of that, music and visuals make for a great puzzle game experience.”
“Simple graphically, but you want clean visuals with a design like this as you need to be able to parse the levels easily.”
“The graphics are quite basic and lack detail, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The visual style feels outdated and doesn't match the expectations set by modern games.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its soothing and beautiful quality, complementing the grainy, textile-like aesthetic that evokes a Middle Eastern style. Together with the abstract art and gameplay, the soundtrack contributes to a unique atmosphere of mystery, enhancing the overall puzzle game experience.
“It's also gorgeous, has a soothing and beautiful soundtrack, and features an excellent elephant.”
“On top of that, music and visuals make for a great puzzle game experience.”
“The visual style and the music makes it a pleasant experience.”
“The abstract art, the music, the gameplay, the twists, every aspect is designed to create a unique vibe of mystery, which is the strongest aspect of the game in my opinion.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally praised as pleasant and enjoyable, contributing positively to the overall experience of the game.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The haunting ambiance and detailed environments create a truly captivating atmosphere.”
“Every sound and visual element contributes to an atmosphere that feels alive and engaging.”
