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.
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 provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment when solved.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may not justify its price.
- There are significant bugs that can lead to frustrating experiences, including game-breaking glitches.
- The story is vague and can feel disjointed, leaving players confused about the overall message and purpose.
- story67 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 guidance or detail. While some appreciate the potential for deeper exploration and the surreal nature of the narrative, many feel it lacks a concrete plot, 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 cohesive and meaningful 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.”
“Ultimately it's up to the player to decide 'what it all means', and I concluded with a story that works for me, although that narrative doesn't connect with the mechanics of the game in any meaningful way.”
- atmosphere36 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % 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 ambient music and psychological elements that enhance the eerie feeling of being trapped within the game. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is compelling, it can feel disconnected from the overall narrative and gameplay mechanics.
“I can compliment the game on its ability to create an unsettling atmosphere; even some of the menus are oddly unsettling.”
“Fantastic premise, great establishment of atmosphere, with some intriguing (but not too difficult) puzzles.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Having a haunting atmosphere is pointless if there is no chance for a payoff.”
“I will say the puzzles were superb, but all of the buildup with plot and atmosphere were meaningless in the end.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Calendula" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its unique puzzle mechanics and unsettling atmosphere, while others criticize it for being too simplistic and short for its price. Many reviews highlight the disconnect between the gameplay and video segments, leading to a feeling of incompleteness. Overall, while the game offers interesting concepts and solid puzzles, it may not satisfy those looking for a more traditional or fulfilling gaming experience.
“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.”
“The tl;dr version: Calendula is short, not scary, and the gameplay feels half-completed.”
“In terms of gameplay, most of the time you'll be navigating the game's options or interface to get a password which you need to load the game's save (actually basically 'go here to progress the game').”
“The majority of gameplay takes place here.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 82 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are frequently highlighted as its standout feature, showcasing stylish, esoteric, and sometimes disturbing visuals that enhance the horror aesthetic. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic design and immersive environments, some criticize the muddled quality and lack of originality in certain aspects. Overall, the visuals are praised for their creativity and detail, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere, despite mixed opinions on their execution.
“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.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 9 % 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 pleasant and fitting for the game's unique style, others felt it was merely decent, rating it around 4/10. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's immersive and eerie tone, though opinions on its quality vary.
“The 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, the game 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.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is intentionally compromised, featuring numerous glitches that players must navigate as part of the experience. While some bugs may seem unintentional, they contribute to the overall surreal and haunted atmosphere, enhancing the narrative rather than detracting from it. Despite its apparent instability, the game manages to deliver a coherent and engaging story.
“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.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized as short and amusing, primarily occurring in the main menu, with a mix of absurdity and creepy imagery. However, some players feel that the humor may be superficial or even a ploy for monetization, leading to mixed feelings about its overall effectiveness.
“A short but funny puzzle game which basically only takes place in the main menu.”
“In all the 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.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, with users noting that it can be completed in under an hour, resulting in a low replay value rating of 4/10. Many feel that the short duration does not justify a higher price tag given the lack of incentive to play again.
“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”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the emotional aspect of the game evokes feelings of nervousness and discomfort, as the limited successes in puzzles create a sense of uncertainty and self-doubt, despite not experiencing outright failure.
“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.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that some puzzles in the game are tedious rather than challenging, contributing to a sense of grinding that detracts from the overall experience.
“A few puzzles are relatively tedious; they're not challenging, just tedious.”
“The grinding aspect feels more like a chore than an engaging part of the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became monotonous.”
