Allumette
- October 13, 2016
- Penrose Studios
Allumette tells a story about love, sacrifice and a deep bond between a young girl and her mother.
Reviews
- Beautiful visuals and art style that enhance the emotional storytelling.
- A touching and heartfelt story that resonates with viewers, showcasing the potential of VR for narrative experiences.
- Free to experience, making it accessible for anyone with a VR headset to enjoy a unique short film.
- The story can feel slow and drawn out, with some reviewers finding it boring or lacking depth.
- Character animations are often jerky and may detract from the immersive experience, leading to discomfort for some players.
- Limited interactivity and a lack of a clear plot can leave viewers wanting more from the experience.
- story270 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beautiful visuals and emotional depth, particularly in the context of VR storytelling. However, some players found the narrative to be simplistic, confusing, or lacking in engagement, often describing it as short and occasionally rushed. Overall, while the immersive experience and artistic presentation are highlighted, the story itself varies in impact, with some finding it touching and others deeming it underwhelming.
“Amazingly written with such a clear story.”
“This is a beautiful story with outstanding visualizations.”
“Allumette is a beautiful piece of storytelling.”
“The story was rather boring.”
“The story itself wasn't anything special in my opinion.”
“The story is nothing to write home about, and the whole experience isn't interactive at all, but the exquisite animation and immersion provided by VR still makes it an essential addition to one's VR library.”
- emotional71 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of this VR experience is overwhelmingly positive, with many users describing it as a touching and heartwarming story that evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears. While some critiques mention issues with animation quality, the overall sentiment highlights the immersive and impactful storytelling, particularly in its ability to convey deep emotions without dialogue. Users appreciate the beautiful visuals and music, which enhance the emotional journey, making it a memorable and compelling experience.
“But I cried for 72 hours without stopping; so who am I to comment negatively on that?”
“Allumette was such an emotional ride for me, and it does well in retelling the story of 'The Little Match Girl'.”
“This was a very nice little story with great art and emotional music that fits perfectly.”
“The jerky animation really detracts from the emotional impact of the story.”
“The story is so boring that it fails to evoke any real emotions.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and artistic style, often described as crisp, charming, and reminiscent of high-quality stop-motion animation. While many reviewers highlight the immersive and engaging visual experience, some note issues such as low resolution, jerky animations, and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling and making it a worthwhile showcase for virtual reality.
“The graphics are insane, the story is pretty good.”
“Beautiful visuals and story which expand on the capabilities of the VR format.”
“Crisp and stunning visuals, but the unnecessary voice acting deters from the experience.”
“Low res, aesthetically unappealing, and boring.”
“The jerky visuals didn’t help either; stop frame type of animation isn’t a great fit for VR.”
“It has some graphical issues though.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack as a key element that complements the visuals and storytelling. The combination of engaging music and stunning graphics creates a captivating atmosphere, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the sound design and music contribute significantly to the immersive quality of the VR experience.
“The soundtrack was absolutely amazing as well.”
“The story itself is very engaging and deeply moving, with the music and sound design providing a great backdrop for the detailed visuals and innovative exploratory perspective.”
“This is a fantastic little VR story with a great use of music and sound.”
“The music, I think, prevented one from feeling too emotional, which I am guessing was intentional.”
“A simple story with no dialogue but touching music and visuals. Even though it is so short, and despite the story taking place in a cartoon world, the power of virtual reality enables the viewer to sympathize with the characters even more than a traditional two-dimensional film can.”
“Nicely done animation, art direction, and music that is worth your time, and being free, the price is certainly right.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect is largely criticized for lacking substance, with users noting that there is essentially no gameplay to engage with. However, some suggest that it may still be worth downloading for a brief experience, especially given its free availability.
“No gameplay, but it's free, so if you have 20 minutes to spare, go for it.”
“There is no gameplay whatsoever, but it's worth downloading for the experience nevertheless.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing persistent stutter and frame rate issues on certain hardware configurations, while others report smooth performance. Overall, the game's performance appears to vary significantly depending on the user's system specifications.
“The game runs smoothly on my hardware.”
“Performance-related incidents are minimal, allowing for an enjoyable experience.”
“The optimization is impressive, making the gameplay seamless.”
“This is a lovely non-interactive animation let down only by its performance on my machine - GTX 970/i5 with persistent stutter and frame rate issues.”
- 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 additional lives to progress effectively.
“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.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers feel that the atmosphere lacks depth and liveliness, suggesting that the inclusion of background activities, such as animals or pedestrians, would enhance the overall experience and make the environment feel more dynamic and engaging.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
“The sound design and visual elements combine to create a hauntingly beautiful environment that draws you in.”
“Every corner of the game is filled with subtle details that enhance the overall ambiance and make exploration rewarding.”