Bokida: Heartfelt Reunion
- May 17, 2017
- Rice Cooker Republic
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam"Bokida: Heartfelt Reunion" is a first-person exploration and puzzle game set in a tranquil voxel world. Players use their abilities to manipulate and create structures, solving puzzles and uncovering remnants of a lost civilization. The game features a unique art style, encouraging players to discover and appreciate their surroundings while forming a heartfelt reunion.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion offers a visually stunning and relaxing experience, with beautiful graphics and ambient music that create a soothing atmosphere.
- The game encourages exploration and creativity, allowing players to build and manipulate the environment in unique ways, which can lead to a meditative and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The non-linear story and philosophical themes provide depth, making it a unique experience for those who appreciate art games and introspective narratives.
- The gameplay can feel tedious and slow-paced, with long distances to traverse and simplistic puzzles that may not provide enough challenge or engagement for some players.
- Many players found the lack of clear instructions and guidance frustrating, leading to confusion about objectives and how to progress in the game.
- Despite its artistic merits, some reviewers criticized the game for feeling like a walking simulator with minimal substance, lacking the depth and complexity found in other puzzle games.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it visually appealing but ultimately boring and uninspired, often relying on players to create their own fun. While there are innovative mechanics and interesting puzzles, many feel that the game lacks clear direction and motivation to fully engage with its systems, leading to frustration. Overall, the experience is described as a blend of walking simulator and light puzzle mechanics, with a satisfying length but underexplored potential.
“Also, the map is huge, but if you practice the mechanics of the game, you'll get to zipping around in no time.”
“Has some of the most innovative gameplay mechanics I've seen in a while, both the 'build, cut, push & clean' quartet and the movement system are very intuitive and enjoyable to use.”
“Good visuals, good music, interesting game mechanics.”
“It's nice to look at in small doses, but the actual gameplay is, well, boring, uninspired, and bad.”
“But all that is destroyed in an instant by a complete nonsensical gameplay mechanic.”
“I quite liked the art style and premise, but the mechanics are really frustrating and there are not really any clear indications of where you're supposed to go.”
- music17 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ethereal and ambient qualities, enhancing the overall atmosphere and exploration experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with diverse tunes that complement different zones and evoke a sense of tranquility. However, some feel that while the music is excellent, it cannot fully compensate for the game's slower pacing and execution issues.
“Music is on point.”
“The visual aesthetics and the music create a very mysterious and beautiful atmosphere and make me want to explore this world.”
“It's not at all worth 18€ while the soundtrack is worth 9€.”
“Just floating around, exploring the environment and listening to the soundtrack (highly recommended to get this too if you like trance meditation music) can bring you down.”
“Bokida is a very peaceful and relaxing puzzle/exploration game with light beam puzzles and charming ambient music.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a striking minimalist art style that ranges from beautiful abstract visuals to a monotonous monochrome world, enhanced by occasional flashes of color. While many players appreciate the intriguing visuals and atmospheric lighting, some find the overall aesthetic to be simplistic and lacking in variety. Overall, the game successfully creates a soothing atmosphere, though it may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic or complex graphics.
“Perfect if you want to soak in some striking abstract visuals, unwind, and don't mind a game that does not guide you.”
“Finally, I deeply enjoyed some of the visuals in this game, like the corridors of infinity or the beautiful lighting of the dark world.”
“An aesthetically wonderful game with striking visuals and a soothing atmosphere, complete with really clever puzzles.”
“The graphics veer from beautiful to monotonous.”
“Graphics are minimal with a very pallid monochrome world with flashes of color when you complete a monolith.”
“It looked promising and slightly different with the art style but it's quite boring.”
- story13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as non-linear and rich with collectables that reveal the history of an ancient civilization, yet many players find it overly complex or pretentious. While some appreciate the thematic elements, such as the yin-yang symbolism, others criticize the narrative for being slow, lacking depth, and not providing engaging gameplay. Overall, the story seems to evoke mixed feelings, with some enjoying its conceptual nature while others find it difficult to penetrate.
“The non-linear story is wonderful.”
“Along your journey, you come across various collectibles such as steles which relate the story of the way and the downfall of an ancient civilization.”
“Which coincidentally is what the storyline is about, and talking about storyline: that intro cinematic, wow.”
“There's some poetry to read, but if it told an actual story, it was way too deep for me.”
“The biggest issue for me was just the incredibly impenetrable and fairly pretentious story.”
“The 'story' is trying way too hard.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion" is praised for its emotional depth, offering players a peaceful and introspective experience as they explore a beautifully crafted world focused on the reunion of two souls. The game's art and design evoke a sense of tranquility and reflection, making the journey itself a significant part of the emotional narrative. Overall, it is described as a heartfelt adventure that resonates deeply with players.
“With Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion, you'll find peace and relaxation while trying to restore the unity of two souls.”
“Additionally, Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion is made of incredibly beautiful art and notable geography, and the titular 'heartfelt' could hardly be a more perfect description or feeling.”
“One of the most important lessons of Bokida - Heartfelt Reunion – 'often the journey to the mountaintop is accomplished by actively pushing downward.'”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its mysterious and beautiful visuals, complemented by soothing music that invites exploration. Players appreciate the striking aesthetics and clever puzzles, which enhance the overall immersive experience.
“The visual aesthetics and the music create a very mysterious and beautiful atmosphere, making me want to explore this world.”
“An aesthetically wonderful game with striking visuals and a soothing atmosphere, complete with really clever puzzles.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a double-edged sword; while some appreciate the aesthetic and thematic elements, others feel it can be overly slow-paced and tedious, potentially detracting from the overall experience. Conversely, those who rush may find the grinding too brief, leading to a lack of depth.
“Could be too slow-paced or tedious for some — or alternatively, too short if you rush through games.”
“It's pretty, has nice music, seems to be a plot about the yin-yang symbol (which I enjoy), but it is just much too slow and tedious for me.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is hindered by its physics engine, which does not accommodate speedrunning despite the presence of a speedrun achievement, leading to disappointment for players seeking to complete the game quickly.
“The game offers a variety of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character builds, I find myself coming back to explore different paths every time.”
“The random events and procedural generation keep the gameplay experience unique, ensuring that no two runs are ever the same.”
“In terms of replayability, I thought I could speedrun it because there is a speedrun achievement, but as an FPS speedrunner, I ended up being disappointed since the physics engine isn't speedrun-friendly.”
