Chrono Recorder

About

The player is trapped in an unknown space. In the player's hands is a clock that controls time and a camera that controls the state of objects. Clocks can stop or slow down time. The camera can turn back time or change the gravity of an object. The player must use these two objects to clear the stage. This game was created by 4 developers. There are not many stages in the game…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game features interesting mechanics and puzzles that challenge players' thinking.
It's a good short game that is free, making it an appealing option for puzzle enthusiasts.
The creator provides a detailed tutorial and personal touches, enhancing the overall experience.

The game suffers from disorienting camera controls and bugs that can lead to being soft-locked.
Some puzzles are frustratingly unresponsive, making gameplay feel tedious and infuriating.
The final level design is poorly executed, leading to a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise enjoyable game.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by interesting mechanics and puzzles, particularly the time-stop and gravity rotation features, which some players found engaging despite the game being relatively easy and short. However, there are criticisms regarding the lack of polish, responsiveness, and guidance, especially with gravity puzzles, leading to frustration for some players. Overall, while the game offers familiar mechanics, it struggles with execution and pacing, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Good game, a bit short but it's free so it's not a big problem. The mechanics and puzzles were interesting; I'm curious to see what the dev plans to do next.”
- “I liked the idea of time-stop mechanics, and I was especially fond of the ability to rotate gravity on objects. Sure, the game had some gimmicky levels, but for a free game, this was actually pretty good!”
- “It is initially entertaining in its earlier stages while you are still learning the gameplay mechanics.”
- “I understand this is a free game, but it's frustrating that such issues aren't disclosed outright alongside the unpolished gameplay and slightly overwhelming amount of ideas at once.”
- “The gameplay mechanics have all been seen elsewhere before.”
- “These games are truly 'a dime a dozen' at this point, and you can find just about every single gameplay mechanic that you can think of in any number of these games.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics are noted for their simplistic and repetitive aesthetic, particularly the bare-bones backroom and poolroom environments. While Portal 1 excelled in overall presentation, including graphics, sound effects, and environmental storytelling, the current visuals feel lacking in variety and depth.
- “It's also obvious how bare bones it is with the weird backroom/poolroom aesthetic as it never changes.”
- “Portal 1 also had the advantage of being a highly competent game in all other aspects of presentation, from graphics to sound effects as well as environmental storytelling and dialogue.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The story in Portal 1 is enhanced by strong environmental storytelling and engaging dialogue, contributing to its overall presentation. While the game excels in various aspects, the effectiveness of its narrative relies on the designers' ability to present fresh settings and compelling plots to captivate players.
- “Portal 1 also had the advantage of being a highly competent game in all other aspects of presentation, from graphics to sound effects, as well as environmental storytelling and dialogue.”
- “It is up to game designers to make them feel fresh and new, either by having a new setting or by distracting the player with a compelling story.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is shallow, leaving players with little emotional investment in their journeys.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises or depth.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users describing it as a "janky" and "buggy mess" that detracts significantly from the overall enjoyment, often leading to frustration rather than fun.
- “This game is a janky, awful, buggy mess; it's more rage-inducing than enjoyable.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The music in the game is considered competent, complementing the overall audio experience alongside the lighting and voice acting.
- “The lighting, voice acting, music, and sound effects were all competent.”
- “The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the overall music composition is forgettable.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, leading to a disjointed experience.”