Aura: Fate of the Ages
- October 4, 2010
- Streko Graphics
- 16h median play time
Get on SteamAura: Fate of the Ages is a fantasy adventure game featuring puzzles and mysteries to solve. Explore the ancient world of Azkaan, discover hidden secrets, and uncover the fate of the Ages. With stunning visuals and an immersive storyline, Aura offers a unique and captivating gaming experience.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Beautiful environments and artwork that create an immersive atmosphere.
- Challenging and rewarding puzzles that require logical thinking and exploration.
- Nostalgic appeal for fans of classic point-and-click adventure games, reminiscent of the Myst series.
- Inconsistent character animations and subpar voice acting detract from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles can be obscure and frustrating, often requiring pixel hunting or backtracking.
- The story is weak and lacks depth, leaving players feeling uninvested in the narrative.
- story44 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story in "Aura: Fate of the Ages" is widely criticized for being weak, poorly executed, and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that it feels like an afterthought to the puzzle-solving gameplay. The narrative is often described as forgettable, with sub-par voice acting and minimal character development, leaving players uninvested in the plot. While some appreciate the puzzle mechanics, they express disappointment that the story fails to provide a meaningful context or motivation for the gameplay.
“There are many puzzles that advance the story; I can't think of any that seemed extraneous or inappropriate.”
“If you are okay with playing 'part 1' of an apparently never continued story, Aura has enough of a 'world' to get lost in for a few days, and the first two-thirds of the game are solid old school Myst-like puzzles.”
“I like the puzzle-based games, but they're always better when there is at least a decent storyline.”
“The backstory exposition at the start did nothing to invest me or really give the game any meaning, and it all ends on a cliffhanger anyway, so whatever story there is is basically for nothing.”
“The acting is sub-par at its best, and cringe-worthy at worst, with what little plot is explained seeming to be a simple MacGuffin search with no real purpose.”
“The plot is largely forgettable -- get all the pieces of the magic whatsit before the bad guy can -- and backed up by mediocre voice acting and characters with strange names I can't remember a few hours after playing.”
- graphics23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many acknowledging the dated quality due to its age but still appreciating the artistic elements and beautiful landscapes. While some users find the visuals inconsistent and occasionally confusing, others express admiration for the pre-rendered backgrounds and overall aesthetic, deeming them enjoyable despite the limitations. Overall, the graphics are considered acceptable for a game of its era, providing a visually interesting experience.
“The art style doesn't seem consistent, but overall, the game world looks interesting and sometimes even really beautiful.”
“It's not completely my kind of game but it has its good points.. for starters, the amazing graphics.. I found myself looking around at all of it in awe!”
“Interesting puzzles, beautiful graphics, and good music.”
“The graphics were a bit overdone, and the rendition of human forms is not up to today's standards, but they didn't have too many characters.”
“The first thing I noticed is the graphics are not even close to the trailer.”
“Graphics: very bad”
- music20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it atmospheric and soothing, while others describe it as random, repetitive, and poorly matched to the game's atmosphere. Notably, the soundtrack evokes nostalgia for classic titles like Myst, but also includes bizarre sound effects and moments that some players found distracting. Overall, opinions vary widely, with a segment of players appreciating its calming qualities despite its flaws.
“The music overall is also nice.”
“+ atmospheric ambience and moody background music”
“I love the music and this game is very soothing.”
“The music is a bit random and the sound effects are sometimes quite bizarre.”
“I didn't find the soundtrack to be a strong part of the game.”
“Music is annoying and repetitive and doesn't exactly match the atmosphere.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics and challenging puzzles, which are well-designed yet difficult, reminiscent of late 90s cutscenes. However, some players find the NPC interactions lacking and the puzzles occasionally disconnected from the story, leading to reliance on walkthroughs. Overall, while the gameplay offers a unique experience, it may frustrate those seeking a more cohesive narrative integration.
“+ brain-busting mechanical logic puzzles”
“The core gameplay and puzzles rank among the hardest I've encountered in the genre but they are not impossible and are (for the most part) well designed.”
“The game uses rendered backgrounds to the extent that it seems like playing through late 90's cutscenes in first person, as it manages to merge rendered films with gameplay almost seamlessly.”
“I suppose that order might have been recorded in the journal, but again, I would expect my character to find some sort of meaning in those shapes and for that to be represented in gameplay.”
“The puzzles don't come together logically with the gameplay and story (I spent half of my time with this game alt-tabbed out to check with the walkthrough).”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the atmospheric ambience and visual effects reminiscent of the Myst series, others find the music annoying and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, the introduction of a visible player character and populated areas has diminished the sense of mystery for some users.
“The atmospheric ambience and moody background music create an immersive experience.”
“The cool atmosphere and visual effects really enhance the gameplay.”
“The ambient sounds, music, puzzles, and overall atmosphere of the game feel very much like the old Myst series.”
“The mysterious atmosphere was totally lost due to the addition of a visible player character and relatively populated areas.”
“The music is annoying and repetitive and doesn't match the atmosphere.”
“Many players complained about this game being too much like Myst, which is what made me decide to get it. However, the ambient sounds, music, puzzles, and overall atmosphere of the game feel very much like the old Myst series.”
- character development3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is minimal, with users noting that interactions feel odd and the story lacks depth. While there are some attempts to populate the game world with characters, the overall focus does not prioritize character growth or substantial narrative.
“The interaction is somewhat odd, and character development is minimal, but I'm glad some attempt was made to populate this snowbound land with at least a few souls other than the protagonist.”
“There is no substantial story and character development.”
“However, it is lacking in any character development or the like, but that is not what the game is about.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the small movement hotspots that require precise positioning, leading to frustration when attempting to navigate puzzles and areas.
“Just tedious.”
“Some places and puzzles require moving around a lot, and it becomes very tedious because the movement hotspot areas are at times quite small. You need to face exactly the right direction, and looking too much left, right, up, or down can make your clicks in vain.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is hindered by sub-par storytelling and lackluster performances, which detract from the overall experience despite decent puzzle mechanics and the discovery of symbolism and patterns.
“The optimization in this game is severely lacking, leading to frustrating performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
“Despite some interesting mechanics, the game suffers from poor optimization, resulting in frequent lag and crashes that ruin immersion.”
“The optimization feels rushed, with many areas of the game running poorly, making it hard to enjoy the otherwise engaging content.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that the game exhibits excellent stability, with no glitches or technical issues noted.
“The game runs smoothly without any glitches.”
“I haven't encountered any stability issues during my gameplay.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
