Chiaro and the Elixir of Life

About

"Chiaro and the Elixir of Life" is a first-person VR adventure game where you play as Chiaro, a young engineer on a quest to find the lost Fountain of Elixir and bring his steam-powered penguin companion Boka to life. Along the way, you'll encounter and form relationships with various AI characters, and use enchanted tools like the Janus Knife and Salamander's Breath to solve puzzles and progress through the game. This immersive experience offers a unique and enchanting world to explore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Chiaro and the Elixir of Life screenshot

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful and immersive world with charming visuals and delightful music.
The story is engaging and offers interesting characters, making for a whimsical adventure.
The game includes unique VR mechanics and varied interactions that enhance the gameplay experience.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, which some players feel does not justify the price.
Numerous bugs and technical issues, such as falling through the ground and unresponsive controls, significantly detract from the experience.
The puzzles are often too simplistic and lack challenge, leading to a feeling of underwhelming gameplay.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its interesting themes and quirky characters, while others find it confusing and lacking depth. It features a blend of engaging narrative elements and immersive puzzles, though some feel the execution is inconsistent, with a childlike tone that may clash with its more serious themes. Overall, while the story is enjoyable and well-integrated with gameplay, it may leave some players wanting more clarity and coherence.
- “Definitely recommend this game, although short, it has a great little storyline and is very quirky.”
- “The story has a good mix of twists, and my personal favorite character has got to be the pig that you will encounter as the game progresses.”
- “Overall I enjoyed the game so far, and recommend it primarily because it has a fleshed-out story campaign that offers some unique VR gameplay with a portal tool, and pretty good AI for the penguin.”
- “It's a story puzzle game that has neither an interesting story nor particularly interesting puzzles.”
- “- The story, dialogue, actions, and morals are all over the place.”
- “The game is fully voice-acted, which is a huge plus, but setting up the story went so quickly in a cutscene that I sort of already forgot what the overall goal is.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The gameplay of the game features a mix of puzzles and a challenging throwing mechanic that requires precision and quick reflexes, though some players found it frustrating due to implementation issues. While the game offers a simplistic experience, it also introduces unique VR mechanics, such as portals and interactive elements, that enhance immersion and enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is considered above average, with some standout moments, but it may not appeal to all players, particularly those using certain VR systems.
- “I found the throwing mechanic to be more challenging because you do have to be precise and sometimes quick as well (however, I was playing seated, so that may have added to the difficulty).”
- “This item really improves the gameplay and makes the latter half of the game much more enjoyable!”
- “The gameplay is awesome since the use of portals and building a machine for the first time is definitely amusing.”
- “With regard to the gameplay, it feels very simplistic.”
- “This is due to the ‘throwing’ mechanic just not working right.”
- “It’s baffling they wouldn’t fix it as the game relies so heavily on this mechanic.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The music in the game has received positive feedback for its delightful and immersive qualities, with players appreciating the unique compositions, including a memorable musical number featuring a singing pig. Many reviewers noted the audio design enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's enchanting atmosphere, particularly in its vibrant, pseudo steampunk world. Overall, the music is described as enjoyable and well-integrated into the gameplay, with a consistent theme that resonates throughout the experience.
- “There's even this very nice musical number featuring a singing pig.”
- “It has an incredibly immersive world, delightful music, and some physics-based gameplay.”
- “First, I adore the music and sound direction.”
- “I found the music machine in chapter 7 impossible, especially because of the big hand glitch.”
- “The music is light piano music, which is only acceptable.”
- “The music is forgettable and doesn't add to the overall experience.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and unique art style, particularly in VR, where they truly shine. Reviewers highlight the vibrant, colorful environments and detailed character designs, although some areas may lack the same level of detail. Overall, the aesthetic is considered one of the best in VR, complemented by excellent audio design and engaging gameplay.
- “So far, I've been treated to fantastic audio design (love the music!), seen a lot of beautiful (unique) art and graphics that pop particularly well in VR, and interacted with a world that was clearly designed with VR in mind.”
- “Aesthetics are amazing, some of the best I have seen in VR.”
- “So much creativity with lovely, colorful visuals in very detailed environments.”
- “This is almost as bad as loading human, though with opposite aesthetics.”
- “Some areas have a lot of detail graphically while others not so much and remind me of an earlier, simpler video game era.”
- “The art style is very unique and the world contains very interesting characters with a bit of mystery that winds up as having a very interesting and fun final boss fight.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game has been reported to have several bugs, particularly with the movement system and achievement functionality, which detracts from the overall experience. However, performance appears stable on higher-end systems, with some users noting smooth gameplay despite the issues.
- “I have a rather beefy computer (1080 Ti), so I can't say how well optimized it is, but it runs great for me.”
- “The game seems to be quite buggy, and the achievements don't work, but the story is great and the setting is beautiful.”
- “The movement system is still a bit buggy.”
- “Teleport sometimes doesn't let you go where you know you can go, and locomotion freezes up.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some finding it flat and unamusing, while others appreciate the juxtaposition of lighthearted moments against a bleak post-apocalyptic backdrop. The presence of a slapstick sidekick adds a fun element, but overall, the comedic execution may not resonate with all players.
- “It is a funny feeling when you go from playing a VR game and looking around to actually occupying the space, being there.”
- “It takes place in a devastating post-apocalyptic setting (complete with your parent's graves in the front yard) mixed with lighthearted humor and fun adventures with a slapstick sidekick.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, players report a positive optimization experience, particularly those with high-end hardware, such as a 1080ti, who experience smooth performance without noticeable issues. However, there is limited feedback on optimization for lower-end systems.
- “I have a rather beefy computer (1080ti), so I can't say how well optimized it is, but it runs great for me.”
- “I haven't had any noticeable performance issues.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, particularly highlighting moments of beauty, such as the poignant scene when Chiaro steps outside for the first time, which evokes tears and a deep sense of wonder.
- “I shed a tear when I first saw the beautiful landscape as Chiaro takes his first step outside.”
- “The story touched my heart deeply, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
- “The character development was so profound that I felt a genuine connection to their struggles and triumphs.”