Baobabs Mausoleum Ep.2: 1313 Barnabas Dead End Drive
- February 27, 2018
- Celery Emblem™
- 76h median play time
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on SteamBaobabs Mausoleum™. Mixing Monkey Island, Zelda Link´s Awakening DX with Twin Peaks and SpongeBob Squarepants. Welcome To Flamingo´s Creek: Population 64.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique and quirky atmosphere, reminiscent of shows like Twin Peaks, which many players found enjoyable.
- The art direction and sound design are praised for their creativity and retro vibe, contributing to a charming experience.
- Players appreciated the game's attempt to blend different gameplay styles and genres, making it a memorable and eclectic adventure.
- The gameplay is often criticized for being tedious and poorly designed, with many players finding the puzzles either too easy or frustratingly difficult.
- The writing and dialogue have been described as confusing and poorly translated, detracting from the overall immersion and enjoyment of the game.
- Many reviews mention technical issues, such as clunky controls and bugs, which hinder the gameplay experience and make it feel unfinished.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and lacking in engaging mechanics, often reduced to fetch quests and frustrating puzzles. While the quirky art style and atmosphere are appreciated, the execution feels disjointed and underdeveloped, leading to a sense of boredom rather than enjoyment. Overall, the game struggles with inconsistent gameplay experiences, leaving players wishing for more polished mechanics and a clearer narrative focus.
“The soundtrack is kooky and fun, gameplay and art style are both delightfully weird.”
“Though it's not that difficult and the gameplay maybe could have been a bit more engaging, the atmosphere and the environment in general are really great.”
“I love weird games with unconventional stories, aesthetics, and gameplay, so naturally, I was quite drawn to this game.”
“I wanted to enjoy this game for its Twin Peaks-style quirkiness, but instead I was treated to the most boring 30 minutes of intro gameplay since the time I played Golden Nugget on PS1 as a child.”
“The gameplay appears to be built around fetch quests with nothing fun during or in between.”
“The puzzles are mostly either extremely easy and obvious or obnoxiously punishing – forcing you to restart a whole section or level, just because of some poor collision detection or badly designed gameplay issue.”
- story14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is described as bizarre and whimsical, with a mix of intriguing elements and a lack of coherence that may appeal to some players while alienating others. While some reviewers appreciate the unique narrative style and character development, others criticize the plot for being unfinished and unengaging, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the game seems to attract fans of unconventional storytelling, with anticipation for future installments to further explore its narrative potential.
“The story and characters are bizarre and don't always make a lot of sense, but I personally enjoy that kind of thing.”
“I thought it was a rather wacky game that has some interesting story elements that could be fleshed out in future episodes.”
“The plot is the thing that links the whole experience, and it's as weird as it is charming.”
“The story is unfinished and there's a sequel to this too.”
“The story is terrible.”
“It's one thing for a game to clearly be meant for atmosphere and context doesn't matter, but having 'acts' and clearly named characters with implied backstory and just saying 'to hell with it' immediately leaves something to be desired.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as a mix of charmingly weird and inconsistent, with some players appreciating the unique art style and nostalgic elements, while others criticize the visuals as simple or unappealing. The aesthetic is often noted for its spooky yet charming vibe, complemented by a kooky soundtrack, but there are concerns about a lack of cohesive design choices across different game styles and cutscenes. Overall, the graphics evoke a polarized response, appealing to fans of unconventional aesthetics while leaving some players dissatisfied.
“The visuals were awesome and there are tons of hidden references and jokes.”
“The aesthetic is lovely, spooky yet charming, and the soundtrack works really well with the graphics.”
“It's got a charmingly weird art style.”
“Nothing in this game, aside from the unique and sometimes even charming graphic style and music, is worth spending your money and time on.”
“The graphics are inconsistent, not just between each game style but also within the cutscenes.”
“In every aspect (mechanic, graphics, music, plot, etc.), I feel like there was no clear decision made to go in any one direction with the design choices.”
- music13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as quirky and enjoyable, complementing the unique art style, though opinions vary on its cohesiveness and ability to enhance the atmosphere. While some players appreciate the soundtrack and find it charming, others criticize it for lacking a consistent tone and failing to support the game's overall design. Overall, the music receives mixed reviews, with some praising its quality while others find it confusing and disconnected from the gameplay experience.
“The soundtrack is kooky and fun; gameplay and art style are both delightfully weird.”
“The aesthetic is lovely, spooky yet charming, and the soundtrack works really well with the graphics.”
“Personally, I enjoyed the game, the visuals, the music, the mood and setting, and I'm honestly looking forward to episode 2 in the series.”
“Nothing in this game, aside from the unique and sometimes even charming graphic style and music, is worth spending your money and time on.”
“Usually, music can be used as a tool to strengthen the atmosphere in the game, but here it falls short, as the music choices are as confusing as the game.”
“In every aspect (mechanic, graphics, music, plot, etc.), I feel like there was no clear decision made to go in any one direction with the design choices.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as both intriguing and perplexing, with a unique VHS aesthetic that some players appreciate, while others find it disorienting and headache-inducing. The art is praised, but the music fails to enhance the experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall ambiance. While the environment is considered engaging, the lack of coherence in the narrative and gameplay detracts from the intended atmospheric impact.
“The filter and the atmosphere are cool.”
“Though it's not that difficult and the gameplay maybe could have been a bit more engaging, the atmosphere and the environment in general are really great.”
“It's a fun game with some nice art and a quirky atmosphere.”
“Baffling how a guy could draw all the art for it and go through the trouble of recreating that VHS tape atmosphere just to publish this... nongame.”
“The overall atmosphere is really weird and even made me feel a headache all the time while playing it.”
“Usually, music can be used as a tool to strengthen the atmosphere in the game, but here it falls short, as the music choices are as confusing as the game.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is polarizing; while some players find it funny and enjoy its unpredictable weirdness, others feel the jokes fall flat and the overall experience is frustrating rather than amusing. Despite mixed opinions, a segment of players appreciates the unique comedic elements, suggesting that the humor can be enjoyable in certain contexts.
“I like the humor as well; it's not just annoying poopy jokes but actually unpredictable weirdness sometimes.”
“I don't understand the purpose of this or many of the other nonsensical elements of this game, but I'm sticking with it for now because it's funny and enjoyable in other ways.”
“Funny, unique, and weird experience - a bit short but can't wait to see more.”
“The game is not funny at all; it's just too frustrating and weird to be humorous.”
“The attempts at humor fall flat and often feel forced, making the experience more annoying than entertaining.”
“I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and the humor feels out of place.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be lacking, with players often resorting to repetitive actions to progress rather than engaging with the narrative. While the environments and character design are appreciated, they do not compensate for the absence of a compelling plot or deeper character interactions.
“Finally, my opinion is that a great game doesn't necessarily need to have any plot at all, as long as it can immerse you in other ways, like innovative puzzles or clever character development.”
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
“I expected more depth from the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and predictable.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the gameplay feel monotonous.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and forgettable, with many expressing frustration over the lack of engaging gameplay and poor writing quality. Overall, the grinding experience is described as painful and lacking in nostalgia.
“So tedious it hurts.”
“The gameplay is tedious at best and forgettable most of the time.”
“The writing is abysmal and could've been done by a 6-year-old and you wouldn't notice a change.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game's atmosphere is unsettling, with some experiencing discomfort and headaches during gameplay, indicating a strong emotional impact that may not be entirely positive.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including glitches that prevent playing in windowed mode on Mac, necessitating restarts. Additionally, essential resources for gameplay, such as codes, are no longer accessible on the developer's site and must be sourced from forums, further complicating the experience.
“I can't recommend it due to various glitches, such as being unable to play the game in windowed mode on Mac, which requires a restart. Additionally, some essential items needed to progress in the game, like a code on the developer's site, are no longer available and must be found on forums.”
