Ceres
- October 15, 2015
- Jötunn Games
- 18h median play time
Get on Steam"Ceres" is a single-player Science Fiction Role Playing game with a good plot set in a ravaged solar system where Earth has been destroyed. The solar system has been changed due to the malfunctioning of the Gate, a device built to connect Earth to other stars. Now, human factions are at war, monstrous machines and alien creatures roam, and real dangers and myths intertwine in this cold, dangerous world. However, be aware that the game is very buggy.
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Reviews
- The game offers a deep and intricate space combat experience with a variety of tactical options and ship customization, reminiscent of classic titles like Homeworld and Nexus.
- Players can engage in meaningful activities such as mining, trading, and fleet management, providing a satisfying gameplay loop that keeps them invested for hours.
- The developer is responsive and actively working on bug fixes and improvements, showing dedication to the game's ongoing development and potential.
- The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and command execution frustrating, especially for new players.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, which can lead to crashes and unplayable situations, detracting from the overall experience.
- The tutorial is minimal and poorly designed, leaving players feeling lost and overwhelmed without proper guidance on how to play.
- story42 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is described as intriguing and well-crafted, with a compelling universe, though it suffers from a lack of depth and clarity, leaving some players feeling unsatisfied with its conclusion. Many reviewers noted issues with bugs and a steep learning curve that hindered their progress, while others appreciated the original narrative despite its typical save-the-human-species trope. Overall, while the writing and environment are praised, the execution of the story is marred by technical problems and a lack of guidance.
“The writing is quite good and the story and universe are well crafted and felt real and lived-in.”
“Lots to do and explore and a compelling and complex story/environment; it feels like a labor of love and those that remember the early days of PC gaming when one person/a small team could create a world of their own will find much to enjoy here.”
“So far, I'm intrigued by the story.”
“The story is unfinished and the ending left me wondering if I beat the game or not.”
“To each his own here, and while I consider myself pretty forgiving, the story and voice acting are both very underwhelming.”
“The story overall is your typical save the human species trope, which is fine, but its telling is mediocre at best.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style and finding it appealing despite its dated appearance, while others criticize it for lacking polish and depth. Many users note that the graphics are not demanding on hardware, allowing for smooth gameplay even during intense battles, but there are also mentions of bugs and oddities that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are seen as serviceable within the context of the game's broader appeal.
“The graphics have aged just fine; I ran a re-shade over it and it looks better.”
“Great graphics are a plus but do not seem to bog down even a mid-range machine.”
“The graphics are good without being too demanding, so heavy fighting hardly slows down at all, making for some seriously intense battles.”
“Game works fine but it lacks its final polish; they should have spent more effort improving the graphics and gameplay interactions during development.”
“Only downsides thus far are dated graphics that could improve and the need for more optimizations to allow a lag-free environment with many individual ships.”
“The art style falls into that awkward category of games that look old but don't pull it off in a charming way.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its complexity and depth, requiring significant time investment to master ship controls and mechanics, which may deter casual players. While it offers rich features like fleet building, ship customization, and unique boarding mechanics, the learning curve is steep, and some users find the controls initially challenging. Despite its lack of polish compared to big-budget titles, many players appreciate the intricate systems and immersive experience it provides.
“The capture mechanics work also to build your fleet.”
“Lots of detailed gameplay, mining, ship customization, and hiring the crew for ships and watching them evolve is a plus as well.”
“There is an entire fleet system mechanics, formations, a loot system, and what seems to be a very in-depth drone system that I haven't even touched yet... I'm addicted and haven't even scratched the surface at how much depth this game has.”
“Gameplay is not straightforward; I tried twice and I can't even move the ship without lots of tutorials. If you want to spend hours learning to play, maybe it's a good game, but if you want a casual sci-fi experience, it is not the case.”
“The wonky game mechanics will eventually creep up on you and ruin your immersion.”
“Game works fine but it lacks its final polish; it should have spent more effort improving the graphics, gameplay interactions, and controls during development.”
- stability9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern for players, with many reporting numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly during tutorials and fleet movements. While some users acknowledge improvements and minor remaining issues, the overall experience is still marred by a steep learning curve and problematic interfaces. Despite these challenges, there is recognition of the developer's efforts to address stability issues over time.
“I can tell you that I enjoy Ceres, but that's a half-truth - there are so many bugs and glitches in this game that playing it is like walking on eggshells.”
“Way too buggy; I spent 20 minutes wrestling with the controls in the tutorial just trying to get my ship to move where I wanted it.”
“This game has a steep learning curve, buggy and sometimes opaque interfaces, a skimpy tutorial, and a fair share of quest bugs.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music and sounds in the game effectively complement the theme and enhance the overall atmosphere, though they may not be considered exceptional. Some users express a desire for unique songs to be added in future DLCs.
“Maybe I'm a sucker for sound, but I really enjoy the music in the game.”
“Perhaps you could create some unique songs in a DLC and import them into the game.”
“The sounds and music, while not top notch, fit the theme well and add to the atmosphere.”
“Maybe you can come up with some unique songs in a DLC and import them into the game.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that acquiring new ships doesn't require extensive grinding for minerals, but they find certain aspects of the game's mechanics, such as moving captured ships and transferring cargo, to be tedious and cumbersome. Overall, while grinding for ships is optional, the game's control systems could benefit from improvements to enhance the overall experience.
“Combat control when involving more than one ship gets really tedious.”
“Some principles should be made less tedious. Why is moving a captured ship so slow while capturing is quite easy? Why is moving cargo between ships so tedious, like having to drop it into space and load it by drones?”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its entertaining voice acting and the absurdity of chaotic situations, such as being hilariously pursued by an alien armada while attempting to mine asteroids. Players find that even in moments of frustration, the unique and comedic elements keep the experience enjoyable and engaging.
“The voice acting is hilarious at times and really adds to the character.”
“I died many times learning to play the game, but each time was entirely unique and entertaining. Seeing an alien armada warp in and pursue my tiny ship with laser cannons, missiles, and drones screaming after me had me laughing through the frustration: 'I'm just trying to mine a few asteroids!'”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Replayability is noted to be moderate, as players will encounter many of the same battles in subsequent playthroughs, but the experience can vary significantly with different captains and skill trees.
“The replayability is impressive; while many of the same battles will be fought if you play through again, you can experience them with different captains and skill trees.”
“Each playthrough offers a fresh experience, as you can choose different strategies and character builds that significantly change the gameplay.”
“The game encourages multiple runs, with various choices and outcomes that keep each session feeling unique and engaging.”
“The replayability is limited; many of the same battles will be fought if you play through again, even with different captains and skill trees.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back, as the experience feels repetitive.”
“The lack of significant changes in gameplay mechanics makes replaying feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is a significant aspect of the game, allowing players to specialize their classes and tailor their characters to fit their preferred playstyles. This depth in customization enhances the overall gaming experience.
“Character development is crucial, allowing players to specialize their classes effectively.”
“The depth of character development really enhances the gameplay experience.”
“I love how character development allows for unique builds and personal playstyles.”
“Character development is lacking; it feels like the characters don't grow or change throughout the game.”
“The choices you make don't seem to impact character development in any meaningful way.”
“I was disappointed by the shallow character arcs; they felt predictable and uninspired.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its poor optimization, leading to performance issues that detract from the overall experience.
“Poor optimization.”
“The game suffers from significant performance issues due to its lack of optimization.”
“I experienced frequent frame drops and long loading times, indicating that the optimization is severely lacking.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is enhanced by fitting sounds and music that, while not exceptional, effectively complement the game's theme.
“The sounds and music, while not top-notch, fit the theme well and add to the atmosphere.”
“The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
“The visuals are underwhelming, which detracts significantly from the overall atmosphere.”
