CALENDULA
- February 2, 2016
- Blooming Buds Studio
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Calendula" is a single-player horror puzzle game that challenges players to uncover the mystery behind a seemingly broken game. Its innovative mechanics focus on breaking the 4th wall and experimenting with unconventional design. The game features a dense, atmospheric world with a narrative built on metaphors and abstractions, providing a thrilling and disturbing experience, reminiscent of Twin Peaks' Red Room.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and surreal experience that challenges players to think outside the box.
- The atmosphere is unsettling and effectively creates a sense of tension throughout the gameplay.
- The puzzles, while not overly difficult, are engaging and contribute to the overall experience of the game.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may not justify the price.
- There are significant bugs, including a game-breaking glitch that can prevent progress, leading to frustration.
- The story is vague and can feel disjointed, leaving players with more questions than answers.
- story134 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as vague and incoherent, leaving players to interpret its meaning without sufficient context or detail. While some appreciate the potential and intriguing ideas behind the narrative, many feel it lacks a cohesive structure, resulting in a disjointed experience that fails to engage or satisfy. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a missed opportunity, with players wishing for a more developed and clear narrative to complement the gameplay.
“I got the story, which I feel like a lot of people missed, and it's a very interesting idea.”
“The horror aspects at least do a good job of setting the tone, and while it's pretty cryptic at first, the story it was telling fits in pretty well with the idea of trying to start a game that doesn't want to be started.”
“For a game that is mostly made of seemingly broken features and insane surreal glitches, it tells a fairly coherent and enjoyable story.”
“The story was all but nonexistent, and felt like the bones of meaning were just there to give some semblance of purpose for the player to make them continue the game.”
“The main problem being the story, which, unfortunately in a game like this, seems a bit weak.”
“Calendula promises a story and hides the story from you as you play.”
- atmosphere72 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unsettling and oppressive qualities, effectively creating a tense horror experience without relying on jump scares. Players appreciate the unique blend of psychological elements and ambient music that enhance the eerie feeling of being trapped within the game. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is compelling, it may not always lead to a satisfying narrative payoff.
“I can compliment the game on its ability to create an unsettling atmosphere; even some of the menus are oddly unsettling.”
“Calendula is a surreal horror experience that emphasizes atmosphere over jumpscares, and does it in a unique way with mind-bending puzzles just to 'start' up the game.”
“Thanks to the sheer originality of its execution, it's effective and engaging, and Calendula conjures up plenty of oppressive tension through its disconcerting atmosphere.”
“Having a haunting atmosphere is pointless if there is no chance for a payoff.”
“This atmosphere was not effectively built up; however, the ending, while tangentially related to the cutscenes in retrospect, was pretty unsatisfying even if it was meant to be a metaphor or if we were meant to carry over the anticipated feelings of dread and anxiety from the gameplay over to the ending, neither of which I think was successfully executed if that was the intent.”
“The entire point of the game is definitely unclear, and the 'cutscenes' (points in the game in which you simply move forward through rooms) seem to be unconnected, but the atmosphere gives me shivers.”
- gameplay68 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Calendula" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its innovative puzzle mechanics and unsettling atmosphere, while others criticize it for being too simplistic and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the disconnect between the gameplay and video segments, leading to a feeling of incompleteness, and the overall experience is often described as short and not particularly scary. While some find the unique concept intriguing, others feel it falls short of expectations, resulting in a gameplay rating that varies widely among players.
“While the gameplay 'horror' elements are enough to give you a chill, this is definitely more along the lines of a puzzle game with plenty of room for interpretation.”
“The actual gameplay, which is done entirely in the settings interface, is expertly designed from its visuals down to some of the most unsettling and surreal sound design I've ever encountered in a game.”
“It has an interesting core idea and interesting gameplay elements.”
“I've played some games that do it well, but unfortunately I feel like Calendula is half-hearted on the haunted aspect, and has too little gameplay to be fulfilling.”
“The tl;dr version: Calendula is short, not scary, and the gameplay feels half-completed.”
“From the gameplay perspective, the actual puzzles were quite fun, despite falling short on difficulty at times, but overall there just isn't enough game compared to the price tag.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are frequently highlighted as its strongest aspect, featuring stylish, esoteric, and sometimes disturbing visuals that enhance the overall experience. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic design and immersive quality, some criticize the visuals as muddled or unimaginative, suggesting a mixed reception. Overall, the game's aesthetic is praised for its detail and horror vibes, though it may not appeal to everyone, particularly those sensitive to intense visual effects.
“The visuals are probably the best part of the game, even better than the game itself, as I was intrigued by what would come next more than with what I think I should be solving next.”
“With each puzzle you solve, you're transported to a 3D environment in first-person view with incredibly esoteric and sometimes disturbing visuals.”
“The quality of the visuals, the effects, and music all show real talent, at least when it comes to creating a visually immersive experience.”
“Unimaginative visuals and very easy puzzles so far.”
“Sorry, but the visuals and the acting are bad.”
“A lot of times, these visuals are quite muddled, and usually have some surreal aspect going on for it.”
- music22 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric and ambient qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack to be pleasant and fitting for the game's unique style, others noted that it contributed to feelings of irritation and boredom. Overall, the music is often highlighted as one of the game's stronger aspects, effectively complementing its visual elements and themes.
“That soundtrack is amazing.”
“The most part I really loved that goes with the atmospheric themes in this game is the ambient music.”
“In terms of music and tone, calendula nails it.”
“The only good things I have to say about the game are that its music is pleasant, the style of everything is foreboding and unique, and that it did manage to generate the feeling of not being able to play a game because the settings were off: irritation and boredom.”
“Soundtrack: 4/10”
“This game is a Marilyn Manson music video thrown into a blender with a jigsaw puzzle.”
- stability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is intentionally designed around glitches and bugs, creating a unique experience where players must navigate and circumvent these issues as part of the gameplay. While some glitches may be confusing or seem unintended, they contribute to the overall surreal and haunted atmosphere of the game, allowing for a coherent narrative despite its broken features.
“The entirety of the game is about trying to find ways to circumvent apparent glitches that halt your progress, so when you get to this particular bug, you just assume there's some way to get around it.”
“There were a few glitches that I still am not sure were intended, which I thought was peculiar.”
“The game mechanics center around the idea of 'calendula' being a haunted game that's buggy and deliberately unplayable.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this puzzle game is described as short and amusing, primarily occurring in the main menu, with a mix of absurdity and self-awareness. However, some players question the game's value, suggesting it may be more of a cash grab than a genuinely funny experience, leading to mixed feelings about its comedic elements.
“A short but funny puzzle game which basically only takes place in the main menu.”
“In all funny commentary aside, the purpose of this experience is this: one part is 'fixing' the 'game', and the other part is going through a slow, linear direction with slight creepy imagery at the end of some 'stage' before going back to the menu.”
“Only stupid laughing, I am that simple, or is the game just total nonsense and money-grabbing?”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with users noting it can be completed in under an hour, leading to a low replay value rating of 4/10. Many feel that the short duration justifies the price, but it ultimately lacks incentives for multiple playthroughs.
“Please keep in mind though that it takes less than an hour to complete and there is little replayability.”
“That feels like a more acceptable price tag for a game that has no real replay value.”
“Replayability: 4/10”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional response to the game, feeling nervous and uncomfortable due to the pressure of limited success, which creates a sense of uncertainty without the experience of outright failure. This tension contributes to a unique emotional engagement with the gameplay.
“I only got three, which made me feel as though maybe I got some things wrong, but at the same time, I never 'failed' a puzzle.”
“It made me feel so nervous and uncomfortable.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that some puzzles in the game are tedious rather than challenging, leading to a grinding experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
“A few puzzles are relatively tedious (not challenging, just tedious).”
“A few puzzles are relatively tedious (not challenging, just tedious).”
