Calm Waters
- June 12, 2017
- Tayanna Studios
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Calm Waters" is a point-and-click thriller/mystery/horror game set in a small coastal town with a dark, mysterious island. After noticing people going missing, the protagonist, Peter Taylor, teams up with a journalist and waiter to investigate. The game features 1080p HD 2D backgrounds, lookup-based puzzles, professional voice actors, and an immersive story inspired by Lost and Twin Peaks.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features decent voice acting and an intriguing story about disappearances on a mysterious island.
- It runs smoothly and has good ambient sound design, contributing to an atmospheric experience.
- The game is a fun, albeit short, point and click adventure that can be enjoyable for its price.
- The graphics are poor and inconsistent, making it hard to determine the intended aesthetic.
- Gameplay is clunky and slow, with frustrating pixel hunting and a lack of meaningful puzzles.
- The story is underdeveloped and ends abruptly, leaving players feeling let down and unsatisfied.
- story16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally seen as intriguing but ultimately underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting its abrupt ending and lack of depth. While the premise of disappearances on a mysterious island captures interest, the execution falls short due to limited player actions and a rushed narrative. Overall, there is a consensus that the story has potential for improvement, particularly in a potential sequel.
“Intriguing story about disappearances on a mysterious island.”
“This game began quite nicely with its opening narration, leading me to believe the story would be quite detailed and intriguing.”
“Although the game is relatively short (around 3-4 hours), this does not take away from its challenging nature and intriguing storyline.”
“The storyline had so much potential but falls short, as well as the puzzles being slightly odd.”
“The storyline was weak and rushed.”
“The story's resolution is disappointing and shallow, and more than once, reaching dead-ends requires pixel-hunting or, more annoyingly, the repetition of a previously unsuccessful action several times, without indication of a changed response, before you can progress with the game.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing them as poor and amateurish, struggling to identify the intended aesthetic. However, others appreciated the pre-rendered visuals and found them satisfactory, noting that they complemented the gameplay and overall experience. Overall, while there are notable strengths, the inconsistency in quality has left some players disappointed.
“The graphics were awesome and the storyline was good, but the game was too short.”
“The graphics and gameplay mechanics are great.”
“Music, graphics, interface - all pretty good.”
“The first thing that put me off here was the generally poor graphics.”
“It's hard to tell if they were going for a retro pixel aesthetic, a pre-rendered low poly aesthetic, or trying to make the game look realistic without any ability to do so.”
“None of those is an acceptable excuse for the poor visuals.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
"Calm Waters: A Point and Click Adventure" offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic 1980s and 1990s point-and-click games, though some players find the gameplay to be slow and clunky. While the graphics and mechanics receive praise, the overall experience can be both enjoyable and frustrating, with an average playtime of around three hours.
“The graphics and gameplay mechanics are great.”
“About three hours of gameplay.”
“This was a fun, albeit frustrating, 2 hours of gameplay.”
“The game is just what it says on the box: a point-and-click adventure, but it feels like a rip-off of classic 1980s and 1990s titles like 'Day of the Tentacle' and 'The Secret of Monkey Island.'”
“Gameplay itself is pretty plodding and clunky.”
“The game offers about three hours of gameplay.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its good ambient sound design and atmospheric background tracks, contributing positively to the overall experience alongside the graphics and interface.
“The ambient sound design and atmospheric background music create an immersive experience.”
“The music, graphics, and interface are all quite impressive.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by effective ambient sound design and a selection of atmospheric background music, contributing to an immersive experience.
“The ambient sound design is exceptional, complemented by atmospheric background music that enhances the overall experience.”
“The game creates a captivating atmosphere with its immersive soundscapes and haunting melodies.”
“Every corner of the game world is filled with rich audio details that draw you into its unique atmosphere.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Calm Waters" is noted for its smooth performance, providing a fun and engaging experience, though the graphics are described as merely adequate.
“Calm Waters is a fun and interesting game that runs smoothly with decent graphics.”
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for a seamless experience even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game performs; it maintains a steady frame rate and minimizes loading times.”
