Get on SteamGuide Alum on his journey through the "Land of Tide". Help him discover the truth about his city, Kosmos, and the mysterious epidemic known as "The Vague". As the tale unfolds, it will keep you enthralled all the way up to its epic conclusion. Alum is an original point-and-click adventure game.
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Reviews
- Beautiful visuals and artwork that enhance the overall experience.
- Engaging story with likable characters and interesting puzzles.
- Fully voiced with good actors, providing a cozy atmosphere and emotional depth.
- Heavy-handed Christian themes that can feel preachy and detract from the gameplay.
- Mediocre voice acting, particularly for the main character, which breaks immersion.
- Linear dialogue structure and some frustrating death scenarios that limit player choice.
- story54 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its beautiful artwork and engaging initial chapters, while others criticize its heavy-handed religious themes and a decline in narrative quality as the game progresses. Many players found the story to be overly simplistic and predictable, lacking depth and compelling twists, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players still appreciated the story's charm and the integration of puzzles within the narrative.
“Beautiful game with a wonderful story.”
“The story is great, and people complaining about a lot of cutscenes should consider buying a puzzle game instead if they want to just get puzzles.”
“This game started out so well, with good puzzles, an engaging story, and good pacing.”
“First two chapters of the game were amazing, but they soon rolled down the hill into a thin and extremely boring story.”
“It started as a nice biblical allusion, that made me think 'oh, this should be nice, it is rather subtle and interesting,' but the further you go, the thinner the plot is, and the more your eyes roll up.”
“You made a story about religion, but it's not interesting or compelling.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and emotional impact, particularly during the ending credits, which left some players moved to tears. However, there are noted issues with the volume balance between music and dialogue, and some players found certain musical choices, like the use of 8-bit music in specific scenes, to be out of place. Overall, the music is described as pleasant and well-executed, complementing the game's rich art and engaging puzzles.
“Ending somehow hit me hard and with credits and the beautiful song which followed it, I almost cried.”
“Very nice artwork, marvelous music, rich and diverse plot, and a set of interesting puzzles.”
“Everything was amazingly executed... the art, the story, the gameplay, the puzzles, the real-time mini games, the characters, the voice acting, the music.”
“Issues with music/dialogue volume.”
“Completely out-of-place scenes with 8-bit music.”
“They have been promoting the word of God in their music and art their whole lives; why would they stop at video games?”
- graphics16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful visuals and unique art style, enhancing the overall experience of the narrative-driven adventure. Players appreciate the cool artwork and find it complements the witty dialogue and engaging puzzles, contributing to a rich and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, making it one of the best graphic adventures in recent years.
“It's a great graphic adventure, one that puts the narrative at the center of the stage, and does so successfully.”
“The artwork is really cool, the dialogue is witty and fun, and the puzzles get more and more intense as you move through the chapters. I'm really in the beginning stages but already emotionally invested, thoroughly entertained, and hooked!”
“Very nice artwork, marvelous music, rich and diverse plot, and a set of interesting puzzles.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Players express a strong initial emotional investment in the game, praising its engaging artwork, witty dialogue, and intense puzzles. However, many feel that the story loses momentum, becoming boring and lacking emotional depth as it progresses, with some humor feeling out of place amidst the heavier themes. Overall, while the game offers moments of intrigue and reflection on complex emotional themes, it struggles to maintain a consistent emotional impact throughout.
“I'm really in the beginning stages but already emotionally invested, thoroughly entertained, and hooked!”
“Paying for it forced me to see it through, and it made me realize how totally contradictory, bizarre, and emotionally selfish faith was. For that, it was an interesting venture.”
“My original theory was that he would sound blank and unemotional for the intro of the game because he's infected by in-game sickness (basically, depression), and when he gets out of it, he'll become more active and human-like, but... till the very end he had nothing.”
“The first two chapters of the game were amazing, but they soon rolled down the hill into a thin and extremely boring story.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding it moderately funny at times, while others feel that the comedic moments seem forced and out of place amidst the game's emotional themes. Critics lament the absence of a genuine sense of humor, contrasting it unfavorably with the cleverness of older Sierra games. Overall, the humor appears to be a mixed bag, lacking the depth and originality that some players expected.
“It was even moderately funny at times, and I loved it.”
“Sometimes had humorous moments which felt pasted on because the game would otherwise be too loaded with emotional/sad moments.”
“The old Sierra games were brilliant because of their sly sense of humor, their complex and original referentialness, and the trickiness of the gameplay.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its clever humor, intricate references, and challenging mechanics, earning a strong rating of 9/10 from users.
“The old Sierra games were brilliant because of their sly sense of humor, their complex and original references, and the trickiness of the gameplay.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as incredibly cozy, creating a warm and inviting environment for players.
“It provides an incredibly cozy atmosphere.”
