Clem
- July 17, 2024
- Mango Protocol
- 4h median play time
Clem is an engaging adventure game with some genius puzzles and a whole lot of charm, but the movement will be a little too slow for some.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Clem" is a single-player Horror Action game with great visuals and an intriguing story, often referred to as a "Puzzlevania" experience. You wake up in a dimly lit room with a mysterious notebook, "CLeM," that hints at a cryptic mission: "Bring me BEAUTY." As you decipher the notebook's contents, you'll solve puzzles, explore your surroundings, and craft magic toys to uncover hidden secrets. The game is published by the same company behind "Strange Antiquities" and "Strange Horticulture."
Reviews
- The game features beautiful and charming visuals, creating an engaging atmosphere that draws players in.
- The puzzles are well-designed, offering a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, making for a satisfying gameplay experience.
- The emotional narrative adds depth to the game, with moments that resonate with players and enhance the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in around 4-5 hours, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
- There are instances of backtracking and confusion regarding changes in previously visited rooms, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- Some players found the controls and gameplay mechanics to be clunky or unintuitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- story35 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative, depth, and charming art style, which combines cute and slightly spooky elements. Players appreciate the intriguing plot and the way it unfolds alongside the puzzles, although some express frustration over the inability to replay specific episodes. Overall, the story is described as enjoyable and immersive, with a mix of humor, suspense, and emotional moments that enhance the gaming experience.
“The story is engaging and I absolutely love the art.”
“Clem introduces us to a fascinating world in which we unravel, bit by bit, puzzle by puzzle, an equally fascinating story.”
“The art, the ambiance created by the music, the voice telling you to do its bidding, the weird book with alchemy notes... everything is crafted to give an eerie feeling that matches flawlessly with the story and the gameplay.”
“The story was very weak.”
“But it feels like stretching this longer would not have been beneficial for the game because everything feels just right in terms of story and pacing.”
“For fans of Mecha Nika, Agatha Knife, and Colossus Down, please know that this game is a standalone story, only set within the same universe as those games.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their cute and smooth visuals, charming art styles, and attention to detail, which effectively blend a whimsical aesthetic with underlying disturbing themes. Reviewers highlight the engaging animations and the unique graphical approach that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the puzzle genre. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, earning high marks for their creativity and execution.
“The visuals and animation were amazing too!”
“Highlight for me so far was the art style and all the little details put to it.”
“We also liked very much the graphical appearance and treatment of the game, throughout the different scenarios and also in the book pages.”
“The graphics are outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and look very generic.”
“The environments feel bland and uninspired, making exploration less enjoyable.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, with players appreciating the engaging puzzles and the introduction of new mechanics that enhance the experience. While some find the character movement slow and the price steep for the game's length, the overall atmosphere, story, and varied gameplay elements contribute to a fun and immersive experience. The game successfully combines challenging puzzles with a captivating narrative, making it a recommended play despite individual preferences.
“Loved every second of my gameplay.”
“Puzzles are challenging without being obtuse, and the introduction of new mechanics keeps you engaged as you progress through the story and new locations in the house get unlocked.”
“All game mechanics are easy to understand, and I'm happy to find a game that doesn't hold your hand and lets you figure everything out by yourself.”
“The gameplay is too slow; the character moves too slowly even in the faster setting.”
“The game is full of surprises in its gameplay and features some very well thought-out puzzles.”
“Strong when the puzzles are situation-based, with well-crafted mechanics of environment observation and deduction.”
- music8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the overall experience, creating an eerie yet beautiful atmosphere that complements the art and narrative. Reviewers appreciate the diverse soundtrack that changes with each room, contributing to the immersive ambiance and engaging gameplay. Overall, the sound design and music are considered standout elements, adding depth and emotional resonance to the game.
“Clem does a fantastic job of putting together a presentation with fantastic art design, music, and a diverse range of puzzles that doesn’t feel repetitive or tiresome and always kept me thinking outside the box.”
“Loved the dubbing, the game's ambiance, loved that the music changed with each room, loved the two endings and the characters.”
“As always, don't sleep on the game's music and sound design, since I think it's particularly well done here, creating an eerie yet beautiful atmosphere.”
“The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during longer play sessions.”
“While the sound design is decent, the music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is forgettable and fails to leave a lasting impression, which is disappointing for a game that relies heavily on atmosphere.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, characterized by exceptional art direction and a unique blend of curiosity-provoking elements. While some players found it slow and disappointing, many appreciated the dark undertones and immersive soundscape that enhance the experience, particularly when combined with well-crafted environmental puzzles. Overall, the atmosphere is described as intriguing and richly detailed, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“If this is a genre that doesn’t really interest you but you have an appreciation for great art direction along with a game atmosphere that provokes and maintains your curiosity, then let me tell you why you should pick up this game and give it a go.”
“The art is also top-notch, and together with the story, it manages to create a unique atmosphere.”
“Strong when the puzzles are situation-based, with well-crafted mechanics of environment observation and deduction, it is stronger still when combined with the wonderful atmosphere, the many little details all around, the dark undertones that deepen the longer you stay in this world, and the soundscape that wraps it all.”
“The atmosphere was not what I expected; it's slow, weird (but not in a good way), and the puzzles were neither fun nor challenging at all. My fast disappointment may have influenced that in the long run.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it to offer a beautiful and touching experience, others feel that the narrative falls short of its intended impact. The combination of challenging puzzles and emotional storytelling contributes to a cozy gaming atmosphere, though opinions on the effectiveness of the narrative vary.
“But the decently challenging puzzles mixed with the emotional narrative makes for a cozy, casual game.”
“It has been a really beautiful and emotional experience playing this game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively incorporates humor at key moments, enhancing its intriguing narrative and multiple endings. Players appreciate the charming details in the magic book, which features humorous doodles and is well-localized across languages, adding to the overall enjoyment.
“A game that is as long as it needs to be, with bits of humor where they need to appear and an intriguing story with multiple endings that totally fit the narrative.”
“You can appreciate the work in the magic book that you carry with you, filled with text, beautiful drawings, and funny doodles (and all of this localized to every language in the game 👌❤️).”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, as players find that once they have solved the puzzles, there is little incentive to play through again.
“This game suffers in the replayability department, because once you know the puzzles... well, you know the puzzles.”
“After completing the game, I found little incentive to play through it again; the story doesn't change and the choices feel meaningless.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
