Cleo: A Pirate's Tale
- December 12, 2021
- ChrisGreycap
- 61h median play time
Get on Steam"Cleo: A Pirate's Tale" is an action-adventure game set in a vibrant, hand-drawn world. As Cleo, a cunning and ambitious pirate captain, players will navigate treacherous seas, battle rival pirates, and search for legendary treasure. Along the way, they'll recruit a diverse crew, upgrade their ship, and make choices that will shape the story. With a unique blend of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving, "Cleo: A Pirate's Tale" offers a swashbuckling adventure full of intrigue and excitement.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Cleo is a charming and engaging point-and-click adventure game with a delightful story and well-developed characters.
- The voice acting is top-notch, enhancing the overall experience and bringing the characters to life.
- The puzzles are mostly straightforward and enjoyable, making for a fun and accessible gameplay experience.
- The game is relatively short, taking around 4-5 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Some puzzles can feel a bit too easy, lacking the challenge that fans of the genre might expect.
- The mandatory Kraken Fodder mini-game can be frustrating due to its luck-based nature, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- story193 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Cleo: A Pirate's Tale" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, clever writing, and charming characters, often described as heartwarming and humorous. Players appreciate the well-executed voice acting and beautiful pixel art that enhance the storytelling experience, although some express disappointment with the ending's resolution and pacing. Overall, the game is noted for its nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, delivering a touching tale filled with unexpected twists and a meaningful message.
“The story was beautifully written with clever and tongue-in-cheek dialogue.”
“The narrative is engaging with a fantastic plot twist that I didn’t see coming.”
“A beautiful and poignant story told with humor and wit.”
“The story loses focus a bit at the end, revolving around a few characters that we've not properly met, and I wasn't quite keeping track of who they all were.”
“The story is surprisingly complex and layered, which leads to my only real complaint about the game: all that careful story-building pretty much just gets swept away in a cutscene at the end. You don't even get to foil the villain yourself; it just takes place as part of the cutscene, and several plot threads I was looking forward to resolving myself also either get tied up for you or left dangling with no resolution.”
“Cleo is a very likable protagonist, but the story doesn't really offer her any closure or change, and it ultimately ends up feeling a bit empty.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, vibrant colors, and charming character designs, which enhance the lighthearted story. Many reviewers highlight the attention to detail in the animations and illustrated portions, creating an engaging visual experience that complements the gameplay. While some minor issues with clarity and interface were noted, the overall aesthetic is described as delightful and fitting for the game's narrative.
“The graphic style is excellent for this story and everything looks good; the characters, environments, and color palettes are all on point.”
“It's a lighthearted storybook tale full of beautiful pixel artwork, mesmerizing soundtracks, and some great voice acting in between the puzzles.”
“The graphics are lush, and while in line with some of the more colorful pixel art games out there with that cartoonish vibe, the attention to detail is a bit more on point.”
“Pixel graphics are alright, but unfortunately some paths are covered, so players really need to check every nook and cranny to not miss anything.”
“The user interface can be a bit clunky at times, and the graphics are quite indie.”
“The graphics are a little blurry, mostly while animations are happening.”
- humor47 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever storytelling, charming characters, and nostalgic nods to classic point-and-click adventures, reminiscent of titles like Deponia and LucasArts games. Players report frequent laughter and enjoyment from the witty dialogue and engaging puzzles, highlighting the game's ability to blend humor with heartfelt moments. Overall, the humor is described as both entertaining and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout experience for fans of the genre.
“Genuinely funny storytelling and jokes.”
“The humor is spot on, easily rivaling that of Deponia.”
“I found myself laughing out loud multiple times throughout the game.”
“Unfunny humor.”
“Move on please, it's not funny anymore.”
- music35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and fitting soundtracks, enhancing the overall experience with a charming and relaxing atmosphere. While some players noted that the music can become repetitive during extended gameplay, the quality of the compositions and voice acting remains high, contributing to the game's nostalgic and immersive feel. Overall, the soundtrack, along with the pixel art and storytelling, is considered a standout feature, though it may not reach the catchiness of classic childhood games.
“It's a lighthearted storybook tale full of beautiful pixel artwork, mesmerizing soundtracks, and some great voice acting in between the puzzles.”
“The art, the music, and most of all, the story were all so wonderful.”
“The pixel art is gorgeous, the music and voice acting are stellar, the story, characters, and dialogue lines are delightful, and the puzzles have just the right difficulty.”
“The other is that the music can feel a bit repetitive during the 'meat' of the game, where you are free to roam and solve the puzzles and no notable action is occurring.”
“The game's music is quite fitting as well.”
“The soundtracks plus the credits song is something you'd want to listen to for quite some time.”
- emotional32 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Cleo – A Pirate's Tale" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and poignant moments, often leaving players teary-eyed by the end. Reviewers highlight the game's charming characters, unexpected plot twists, and a wholesome narrative that emphasizes the importance of memories and relationships. Overall, the game is described as a touching and immersive experience that balances humor with deep emotional resonance.
“Overall, the story is very poignant and touching.”
“I genuinely got very emotional at the end in a way I didn't expect to because the overall message is insanely wholesome.”
“The ending of this game made me feel so emotional; it reminds us to keep people's memories alive, to appreciate the people around us and never take our lives for granted.”
“The story was mediocre and boring, which made it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
“The fishing game felt really annoying, detracting from any emotional engagement I could have had.”
“Collecting bottles was too tedious and took away from the emotional impact of the game.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Cleo - A Pirate's Tale" is a blend of classic point-and-click mechanics with modernized controls, offering a mix of engaging puzzles, humor, and a charming narrative. While the puzzles are generally enjoyable and some are challenging, they lack complexity, and the absence of inventory combination mechanics may disappoint seasoned players. Overall, the game successfully captures the essence of traditional adventure games while providing a colorful and entertaining experience.
“The puzzles were challenging, especially the rounds of Kraken Fodder, which kept me on my toes and added a unique twist to the gameplay.”
“It's clear a lot of heart went into this game, and it shows in the clever writing, fun gameplay, and memorable characters.”
“Cute game with a cute story, but gameplay and puzzles-wise, it's pretty disappointing.”
“The gameplay interface has a strange critical flaw: there is no 'point and click'.”
“Then with the gameplay, it is one aspect that is a bit lacking for me, but mostly because I've been spoiled by modern games in the same genre; with straight objectives laid out, interactable objects highlighted, and the game telling me where to go. However, I still had a good time with the gameplay, as the puzzles are challenging enough to make you think, especially on the last puzzle of the game.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspects of the game, particularly fishing and optional achievements, to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring guides for completion. While the core gameplay remains enjoyable, the grind can detract from the overall experience, with some activities feeling overly repetitive and lacking engagement.
“The fishing was a bit tedious though…”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Kinda hated the fishing - it's neither reaction nor skill based, so discovering what line/bait combinations provide what kind of catch got tedious quickly and the animations take too long in my opinion.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is praised for its engaging and well-written characters, particularly the protagonist Cleo, whose likability is enhanced by excellent voice acting. The combination of beautiful art and fun, challenging gameplay contributes to a positive overall experience.
“Very fun and challenging point and click with beautiful art and fantastic voice performances!”
“In particular, though, Cleo herself was written extremely well, and came off as an incredibly likable protagonist who I enjoyed spending time with, and I want to shout out VA Ava Hauser for a super performance here.”
“Great, cartoonish voice acting performances that breathe life into the characters.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful art and effective pixel design, complemented by atmospheric narration and fully synchronized dialogues. Reviewers appreciate how these elements come together to create an immersive experience in this charming indie adventure.
“The art is beautiful; it may not be the best pixel art out there, but it does the job perfectly, and the atmosphere is spot on.”
“The atmospheric narration and fully synchronized dialogues were kind of unexpected in such a small indie game.”
“This is a wonderful small adventure with great atmosphere and visuals.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, noting that the puzzles can be tackled independently without the need for hints or walkthroughs, allowing for a fresh experience with each playthrough.
“The game offers a variety of puzzles that can be tackled in multiple ways, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough.”
“Each decision I made led to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game to explore all the possibilities.”
“The dynamic environments and random events keep the gameplay exciting, encouraging me to dive back in for another round.”
“The game lacks variety, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“Once you complete the story, there’s little incentive to go back and play again.”
“The limited choices and outcomes mean that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features impressive character development, highlighted by unexpected plot twists, emotional moments, and a balance of humor that enhances the overall narrative experience.
“There are some really incredible plot twists, character developments, hearty laughs, and touching moments in this.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is highly praised for its exceptional stability, with users reporting no glitches or issues, indicating a well-polished experience.
