Archeo: Shinar
- September 11, 2019
- Artists Entertainment
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Archeo: Shinar" is an adventure simulation game that transports players to ancient Sumeria. As an archaeologist, discover hidden treasures, artifacts, and unexplored ruins while learning about Sumerian history and mythology. Players will need to manage their time, resources, and crew to successfully excavate and uncover the secrets of Shinar.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and interesting concept of managing an archaeological team, blending strategy and resource management.
- The art style is visually appealing, with a minimalist yet effective design that complements the game's theme.
- The game includes a variety of mechanics and random events that add depth and complexity to the gameplay, making it engaging for players who enjoy strategy games.
- The gameplay loop is overly simplistic and can feel dull, with minimal interactivity during expeditions and a reliance on random number generation.
- The tutorial is lengthy and often confusing, leaving players unsure about the mechanics and objectives, which can lead to frustration.
- Technical issues, such as poor graphics quality and a cumbersome interface, detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a browser game than a polished PC title.
- gameplay38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique mechanics and complexity, while others find it overly minimalist, dull, and unnecessarily complicated. Many users noted that the mechanics do not cohesively support each other, leading to confusion and a lack of engagement. Overall, while the game offers interesting elements and a fun experience for some, it struggles with balance and clarity, leaving others feeling lost and frustrated.
“Tldr: very good game with nice aesthetics, great soundtrack and unique gameplay.”
“The gameplay is complex enough to be interesting yet smooth and easy to understand.”
“This is a very fun experience, with a lot of content to discover and mechanics to master.”
“Love the idea of this game, but the gameplay loop is very minimalist and dull.”
“Its needlessly complex mechanics, arcane win conditions, and reliance on random chance left me feeling powerless and lost in a way I didn’t like and definitely didn’t sign up for.”
“The mechanics do not mesh and aren't in service to each other and seemingly exist only to add unneeded complexity.”
- story21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a quest for the Tower of Babel, but many players find it lacking depth and engagement, often describing missions as random and devoid of meaningful narrative. While some appreciate the complexity and character-driven events, others criticize the gameplay as tedious and the storytelling as insufficiently developed. Overall, the narrative elements are seen as a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the choices and voice acting, while others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
“The story is quite okay; there are voice actors for every significant character in the game.”
“✓︎ Wonderfully written story, with meaningful random events.”
“The plot is really complex and thorough.”
“The main activity that you do in this game, sending your explorers on missions, are just random chance calculators, devoid of any flavor, explanations, and narration.”
“Overall, it's a chore to play, and the reward is just enough story to bore you to tears.”
“If you are looking for a game focused on archaeology, expeditions, and finding lost legacy, then you should watch some gameplays because this game is focused on the economic aspect, and without the story mode (career), you may find it a little bit odd to sit in a comfy chair in your office only to respond to letters and hire new explorers.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a minimalist and playful art style that some players appreciate for its neatness and atmosphere. However, many reviews criticize the simplistic 2D visuals, noting a lack of substantial graphical enhancements and comparing them unfavorably to classic games. Overall, while the artwork is considered passable and aesthetically pleasing, it does not significantly elevate the game's visual quality.
“The art style is very minimalist, but really well done.”
“A unique gameplay system and great graphics which emphasize the atmosphere of the game.”
“The game has some really fantastic artwork and a pretty relaxing gameplay, especially once you've gotten the hang of the game.”
“While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
“Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
“While the artwork itself might be considered passable, the visual presentation here is negligible; it might as well be a slideshow or a YouTube video.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and immersive soundtrack, which adapts to player actions and enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the pleasant and unobtrusive nature of the music, noting its suitability for the game's setting and its contribution to the aesthetic experience. However, some mention that while the music is excellent, other aspects like voice acting and information design could use improvement.
“This game has beautiful art and music; it just needs more revision in the information design.”
“The soundtrack is beautiful; I love how it changes depending on what the player is doing instead of being just some background noise.”
“Surprisingly pleasant and unobtrusive soundtrack, which is well suited to the atmosphere of the early 20th century.”
“The music didn't get me annoyed even after playing for 5 hours!”
“There is a different music for the expeditions.”
“The design, text, music, everything that contributes to immersion and roleplay is beautifully done.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by Indiana Jones movies, featuring a blend of sarcastic humor and a unique gameplay system. Its impressive graphics enhance the immersive experience, while a pleasant and unobtrusive soundtrack complements the early 20th-century setting.
“If you are looking for a strategy game with great sarcastic humor and an atmosphere straight from Indiana Jones movies, then this game is just for you!”
“A unique gameplay system and great graphics which emphasize the atmosphere of the game.”
“Surprisingly pleasant and unobtrusive soundtrack, which is well suited to the atmosphere of the early 20th century.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its sarcastic humor and storytelling reminiscent of Indiana Jones, making it an enjoyable experience for players who appreciate wit. The inclusion of a charming companion, Cuppy, adds to the humor with random funny facts, enhancing the overall lighthearted atmosphere.
“If you are looking for a strategy game with great sarcastic humor and an atmosphere straight from Indiana Jones movies, then this game is just for you!”
“Funny storytelling and fairly simple gameplay.”
“Random funny facts from the adorable companion we have (Cuppy <3)”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization aspect of the game emphasizes the importance of both the explorers' performance and the player's strategic choices in selecting the right team for expeditions, highlighting a balance between character abilities and player decision-making.
“The expeditions are the battlefield where the performance of the explorers and the player's ability to choose the right team are tested.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from numerous glitches, typographical errors, and ambiguous rules, leading to a lack of overall stability and a frustrating user experience.
“There are numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay.”
“The game is filled with typos that make it hard to follow.”
“The rules are unclear and often lead to confusion.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability, particularly enhanced by its multiplayer mode, which encourages players to return for varied experiences.
“It potentially has very high replayability, especially considering the multiplayer mode.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes keeps me coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic events and character interactions.”
