BLEAK: Welcome to Glimmer

About

A super high difficulty, fantastical 2D action platformer complete with an expansive original soundtrack. 20+ Levels. Multiple playable characters. Rich lore. BLEAK: Welcome to Glimmer is Act One in a timeless tale of loss and redemption.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

music11 positive mentions

atmosphere1 negative mentions

The game offers a great challenge with engaging and difficult levels that provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment upon completion.
The art design and soundtrack are well-received, enhancing the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
The mechanics are easy to pick up, making it accessible for players while still providing depth for those seeking a hardcore platforming experience.

The lack of checkpoints can lead to frustration, as players must restart entire levels upon dying, which may deter some from continuing.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive and boring, particularly due to the linear level design and limited control options.
The game can be overly challenging, potentially alienating those who prefer a more casual gaming experience or a difficulty setting.

music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
33%
14%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many reviewers praising its originality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack features impressive guitar pieces reminiscent of Supergiant's "Bastion," effectively capturing the mood of each world. Overall, players consider the music to be a standout aspect, with some rating it as a perfect 10/10 and recommending the soundtrack as a worthwhile purchase.
- “The overall aesthetic sets the tone for the game as well as complements the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack for this game is incredible, really capturing the mood of each world.”
- “The music is really well done, and has some great guitar pieces that are played within the stages.”
- “But this game has simple and boring controls and gameplay, boring music.”
- “Enough about the gameplay though, the soundtrack needs some attention, too.”
- “The music was innovative and pretty dank.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
38%
19%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of easy-to-learn mechanics and high difficulty, appealing to players who enjoy challenging platformers. While some find the controls simple and the experience frustrating, others appreciate the precision required and the engaging soundtrack. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable mechanics and significant challenges, making it suitable for fans of the genre.
- “Great puzzle game with easy-to-use mechanics.”
- “The actual gameplay feels fantastic, and any time you die, you know exactly what killed you.”
- “The gameplay is easy to pick up but still very challenging.”
- “But this game has simple and boring controls and gameplay, boring music.”
- “Cool art design, but too frustrating platforming gameplay to be worth it ultimately, which is kind of a letdown.”
- “The gameplay is extremely hard from the start; I consider myself an above average player when it comes to platformer games, but I must admit that bleak is extremely challenging, especially due to the fact that there are no checkpoints.”
story
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's story is generally perceived as underwhelming, with some reviewers noting its bleak and grim themes, which align with the character design. However, others found that the narrative develops more depth than initially expected, particularly through the quest to save the character Asha across different worlds. Overall, while the story may not be the standout feature, it does provide a sufficient backdrop to the gameplay.
- “Firstly, the story mode, where you have to go through four different worlds and save your sister, Asha.”
- “At first, I thought the story would just be something small to fill the space between levels, but after spending more time with the game, I realized that there is actually a fair amount of story there.”
- “While it's expected that the game's story lives up to its name, the fact that the gameplay also feels bleak is less beneficial.”
- “It conveys a very grim and slightly depressing theme, especially in its character design, which fits very well with the story.”
- “The art and style for this game remind me of a dark but interesting story.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users finding them bland and repetitive, while others appreciate the unique art style and overall aesthetic that complements the soundtrack. The game is well-optimized for lower-end systems, and while the graphics are described as basic, they contribute to the game's charm and uniqueness. Overall, the visuals are seen as simple yet effective, with some standout elements like cut-scenes.
- “The art style of the game really stands out.”
- “The overall aesthetic sets the tone for the game and complements the soundtrack.”
- “In regards to the graphics and artwork, they are simple but nice - I personally like the cut-scenes.”
- “Graphics are bland and bad.”
- “The only complaint I'd have about the graphics is that, although the stage and level design look good, it starts to get repetitive after a little while as it feels as though the art assets just change slightly between stages.”
- “Graphics are basic but also help make the game unique.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized by confusion and frustration, as players navigate a maze of platforms without clear objectives, compounded by the absence of checkpoints that necessitate repetitive gameplay. This combination detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “Navigating a maze of platforms without knowing what the goal is creates a confusing atmosphere. Combined with the lack of checkpoints, which requires redundant replays of the same opening sequence, it quickly drains the experience of any sliver of joy.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Character development is marked by a grim and slightly depressing theme, effectively reflected in the character design, which aligns well with the overall narrative.
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a strong emotional connection with each character.”
- “Each character's backstory is intricately woven into the main narrative, making their growth feel organic and impactful.”
- “The evolution of the characters throughout the game is both compelling and relatable, showcasing their struggles and triumphs.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed by their growth.”
- “The characters seem to stagnate throughout the game, with little to no meaningful evolution in their personalities or relationships.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is well-optimized, allowing it to run smoothly on lower-tier graphics cards and CPUs without issues.
- “The game is optimized well and should have no problem running on systems with a lower-tier graphics card and CPU.”
- “The performance optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on older hardware.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the game accessible to a wider range of players.”