Beneath a Steel Sky

The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its ability to enhance the cyberpunk atmosphere and immersion, while others find it repetitive and overly loud, often resetting to maximum volume when changing screens. While certain tracks are noted for their fittingness to the setting, many reviewers express frustration with the sound balancing and the music's tendency to become tiresome over time. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a nostalgic nod to retro gaming, but its execution leaves room for improvement.

The graphics of "Beneath a Steel Sky" are widely regarded as dated, reflecting the limitations of 1990s technology with pixelated visuals that may not appeal to modern gamers. However, many players appreciate the nostalgic charm and artistic style, noting that the visuals contribute to the game's overall atmosphere and storytelling. While some find the graphics interfere with gameplay, others argue that the engaging narrative and humor more than compensate for the outdated aesthetics.

The humor in the game is a blend of dark and bleak comedy, effectively balancing its serious themes of surveillance and corporate greed with witty dialogue and charming characters. Players appreciate the clever writing and voice acting, particularly enjoying the interactions with the robot companion, Joey, despite some dated elements. While the humor is generally well-received, some find it inconsistent, with moments of misplaced jokes and tonal shifts that can detract from the overall experience.

The gameplay is a traditional point-and-click adventure that involves exploring environments, collecting items, and solving puzzles, though many players find the mechanics somewhat dated and occasionally illogical. While some reviews highlight the engaging story and characters, others criticize the gameplay for being confusing and requiring excessive trial-and-error. Overall, despite its flaws, the game is appreciated for its creative plot and unique elements, such as the addition of a second playable character, which adds depth to the experience.

The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating cyberpunk setting, enhanced by striking artwork, immersive music, and detailed stage design. Players appreciate the contrast between the dark, gritty world and the humor, which adds a unique charm without detracting from the overall tone. Despite some dated graphics, the game's atmosphere effectively draws players into its richly crafted environments, making it a memorable experience.

The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users criticizing the lack of proper credit for voice actors and the game's performance on emulators, suggesting it feels unpolished. Conversely, others praised the voice acting as cool and convincing, indicating that while the optimization may be lacking, the performances themselves are noteworthy.

The emotional impact of the game is often undermined by a commitment to a hammy tone, which detracts from key moments in the narrative. Significant emotional climaxes are overshadowed by lighter, comedic subplots, leading to a disjointed experience that fails to fully engage players on an emotional level. However, some characters do exhibit compelling emotional arcs that reflect their physical transformations.

The game's stability has been criticized for being plagued with numerous glitches, particularly involving character AI, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Users have reported issues such as characters not following the player, contributing to an overall perception of the game as "bad and incredibly buggy."

Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the need to travel between distant areas, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.