Beyond Crimson Stars
- February 27, 2020
- ben lunato
Get on Steam"Beyond Crimson Stars" is a first-person explorable narrative game with multiple endings, offering a unique and strange story of fatherhood, civilizations, and a lonely artificial intelligence. With over an hour of original content, varied environments, and a blend of tragedy and comedy, it takes the player on a satirical and heartfelt spiritual journey. The game features stunning 2D art, original soundtrack, and top-notch sound design.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a deeply introspective narrative that resonates emotionally, particularly for those who have experienced loss.
- Visually striking with a unique lo-fi aesthetic, the game effectively creates a surreal atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
- The voice acting and music are top-notch, contributing to a compelling and immersive experience.
- The lack of a save system and the ability to pause the game can lead to frustrating experiences, especially if interrupted.
- Performance issues, including low frame rates and unclear navigation paths, detract from the overall experience.
- Some writing and dialogue can feel overly edgy or unnecessary, which may alienate certain players.
- story24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is a deeply emotional and abstract exploration of a young man's relationship with his late father, conveyed through four distinct vignettes that allow for introspection and personal interpretation. While the narrative is dark and surreal, it is complemented by a unique visual style that enhances its themes, though some players may find the non-linear presentation and gameplay mechanics frustrating. Overall, the writing is compelling and resonates with those open to its heavy emotional weight, making it a standout aspect of the experience.
“The story is told through four different colored vignettes, each exploring a different view of the narrator’s relationship with their late father.”
“Ben Lunato has made a first-person narrative game with razor-sharp wit, disturbing surrealism, and a tender story about a young man's relationship with his father.”
“There is some good philosophy to be had here, and even through all the dark tones of the story, there is something beautiful and heartfelt.”
“The narrative is quite heavy, so if you're not interested in something with a clearly high amount of emotion thrown into it, then the story may not be for you.”
“The game has a story, albeit a very abstract one, and I found it to be very compelling but without a point.”
“The story is pretty dark, way more than the initial 'my father has died and I'm doing some thinking' suggests.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a polarizing aspect, with many praising the beautiful, unique visuals that evoke a dreamlike atmosphere reminiscent of PS1-era aesthetics. However, some players find the art style distracting and confusing, leading to frustration in navigation. Overall, while the visuals are striking and contribute to the game's emotional depth, they may not appeal to everyone due to their abstract and sometimes blurry nature.
“Visuals are beautiful, unique, and evoke the headspace that the narration puts you in.”
“The aesthetics of this game perfectly encapsulate the sentimentality of a favorite dream that is truly worth its low price entry alone.”
“I particularly love the visual style the game carried with it; the lo-fi visuals and sound design reinforce the feeling of insanity and the unknown that is evoked by the story.”
“I found the art style to be very distracting and confusing, to the point where I often found myself turned about.”
“No ability to change resolution or graphical settings and hitting escape just closes the game.”
“The GPU usage is inappropriate considering how graphically primitive this game is.”
- music11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and emotional impact, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of synth-wave and nostalgic tracks. While some players expressed a desire for a dedicated soundtrack, the existing music effectively conveys themes of hopelessness and nostalgia, particularly during key moments in the narrative. Overall, the combination of music, narration, and visuals creates a memorable and immersive atmosphere.
“I've played many, many games that cost 20 times as much or more that don't match up, and this level of quality also extends to the music and environmental audio.”
“I really wished there was a soundtrack or something of the synth-wave music in the game, but the use of Alan's old music like 'I Hate Myself (and Everybody Else)' and 'What Do I Have to Do' gave some feeling of hopelessness.”
“Is this a video game, musical piece, an art gallery, a dream, or a liminal experience?”
“This game is definitely a walking simulator, but the visuals of the game in conjunction with its music make for a very stimulating and unforgettable experience.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark and light-hearted elements, with players appreciating its ability to evoke laughter alongside thought-provoking themes. The writing is described as genuinely funny, complemented by visually appealing scenes that enhance the overall experience. Users noted a mix of emotions, including humor, sadness, and surprise, contributing to a rich narrative tapestry.
“The visuals were appealing, the dark humor is a nice touch, and seeing how the dark humor was represented in certain cases with these stories written by the AI just showed some sort of coping mechanism by the son.”
“Some very beautiful scenes, great ambiance, legitimately funny writing, and touching moments.”
“Like all of Ben's works, Beyond Crimson Stars is funny, thought-provoking, and visually striking.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching scenes, relatable storytelling, and a blend of humor and darkness that resonates deeply with players. While some visuals may cause confusion, the overall experience is described as heartfelt and philosophical, evoking strong personal reflections and a sense of nostalgia. Despite a slow start, the narrative ultimately delivers a powerful emotional impact.
“Some very beautiful scenes, great ambiance, legitimately funny writing, and touching moments.”
“There is some good philosophy to be had here and even through all the dark tones of the story, there is something beautiful and heartfelt.”
“The story starts a little slow but you should give it a chance, it's very emotional and relatable - I felt like I relived the last 25 years of my life in 30 minutes.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for baffling choices that detract from the overall experience, leading some players to abandon it early. While the non-linear story presentation offers introspective moments, the gameplay itself is considered shallow and in need of further polish, overshadowed by the game's strong narrative themes.
“The non-linear story presentation in a dreamlike state allows for some wonderful introspection, but the game certainly could have used another layer of polish from a gameplay perspective.”
“There are just some baffling gameplay choices here that ruin the overall experience.”
“During my run, I had to quit after about 40 minutes, so I just watched the rest of the gameplay (like 20-30 minutes) on YouTube.”
“A non-linear story presentation in a dreamlike state allows for some wonderful introspection, but the game certainly could have used another layer of polish from a gameplay perspective.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a dark, dreamy, and surreal quality, infused with humor and thought-provoking elements. Players appreciate the visually striking environments reminiscent of old PS1 graphics, although the writing can be inconsistent. Overall, it creates a unique and immersive experience.
“Visually striking walking simulator with great atmosphere and some all-over-the-place writing.”
“The atmosphere is dark, dreamy, and weird, but there's also humor to be found; the script is thought-provoking and might well make you feel something.”
“Play this game if you like old PS1 style graphics and a dreamlike atmosphere.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for its poor performance, leading to frequent crashes that hinder gameplay, with some players unable to finish it despite enjoying other aspects like voice performances.
“It was really bad performance-wise, though.”
“It is so poor performance-wise that I have never actually finished the game, as it would crash before I could do so (I tried twice).”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game suffers from significant stability issues, including visual glitches that detract from the overall experience.
“This game is plagued by frequent crashes and stability issues that ruin the experience.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that made it nearly unplayable at times.”
“The game suffers from severe lag and frame drops, making it frustrating to play.”
