Cognition Method: Initiation

About

Cognition Method: Initiation is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Team Cognition and was released on April 22, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

ADD TO WISHLIST NOW! About the GameThis is a playable teaser for a game Cognition Method. Cognition Method is a story-driven, first-person puzzle game inspired by Space Odyssey 2001 and Solaris. Discover innovative mechanics of altering gravity and dive into the surreal setting. Earth is on the brink of demise when the scientists discover the Cube, a mysterious space structure of unknown origi…

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Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 276 reviews

story26 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Visually stunning with great architecture and atmosphere, reminiscent of Portal and Control.
Interesting concept with potential for complex puzzles and a mysterious story.
Smooth gameplay mechanics and engaging voice acting that enhances the experience.

Puzzles are overly simplistic and lack depth, making them feel unchallenging.
Voice acting and dialogue can be awkward and detract from immersion, often stating the obvious.
Technical issues such as high mouse sensitivity and occasional bugs can disrupt gameplay.

story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and atmospheric, while others describe it as disjointed and lacking clarity. Many reviewers express a desire for deeper narrative development, noting that the potential for a compelling story exists but is currently hindered by poor execution, including voice acting and reliance on clichés. Overall, while the visuals and ambiance are praised, the story's effectiveness varies significantly among players, leaving them wanting more depth and coherence.
- “I want to know what happened to these people, where they all went, as there seems to be an apocalyptic end and sci-fi story that wants to be retold to the player.”
- “The story is interesting (we are searching for our father inside a giant reality-bending alien artifact), love the voice acting, the controls feel smooth, the aesthetic is exquisite, and the puzzles are fun.”
- “Really intriguing story and setting, it could end up being really cool and interesting or it could end up like the show Lost, lots of introduced mysteries with no real clear answers.”
- “The story is utterly forgettable.”
- “The story doesn't feel like the earth needs saving.”
- “The dialogues are so obvious, tries to tell a story but in the worst way possible, the lazy one.”
graphics
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
28%
4%
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many users praising the stunning visuals, unique art style, and atmospheric design reminiscent of titles like Portal and Control. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can be marred by bugs and inconsistencies, and that the overall aesthetic may not align perfectly with gameplay mechanics. Despite these issues, the visuals are often highlighted as the standout feature, showcasing a strong potential for the game's future development.
- “The visuals are stunning and the few puzzles were also fun.”
- “The art style is gorgeous, puzzles were well thought out and controls were fluid.”
- “The art direction and aesthetics really stood out to me, y'all did a fantastic job at setting a tone and creating a really interesting vibe.”
- “The game graphics are far from 2021 (in the past).”
- “Graphics are nothing like the trailer... I'm disappointed.”
- “Graphically, the game is limited by the Unity engine, and it would really benefit from better graphics and lighting. It's the kind of game that, with the right graphics, could become a masterpiece.”
gameplay
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its clunky controls and lack of innovative mechanics, often comparing it unfavorably to established titles like Portal. While some appreciate the atmospheric design and potential for creative puzzles, others criticize the repetitive nature of the puzzles and the need for more polished mechanics. Overall, the demo showcases interesting concepts but leaves players wanting more depth and refinement in the gameplay experience.
- “I'm very impressed by the smooth gameplay, the atmosphere, the difficulty of the puzzles, and the storyline that is slowly developed.”
- “The puzzles and mechanics are pretty simple in this demo, but the full game could be something really special if the devs give it the depth and polish it deserves.”
- “I looooved the gravity changing mechanics and in the stair section, the flow from one direction to the next was quite seamless!”
- “I don't care about the characters, the controls are sluggish, and the gameplay is a half-step above a walking simulator.”
- “Gameplay is lacking, not enough mechanics, and if there are any, they are clunky and visibly unpolished.”
- “Story is obviously 'cool space stuff' thrown in a blender and gameplay is designed by someone who doesn't have a good grasp of what makes good puzzles or a fun game.”
atmosphere
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
21%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Portal" and "Control." Reviewers highlight the combination of stunning visuals, moody soundtracks, and intriguing environments that evoke feelings of awe, mystery, and solitude. However, some critiques mention that certain elements, like jump scares, can detract from the otherwise serene and atmospheric experience.
- “This demo has fantastic atmosphere and art direction, similar to Control.”
- “Such an atmosphere of large open spaces inspiring emotions of awe, mystery, and loneliness.”
- “A wonderfully atmospheric and evocative puzzle game.”
- “Tries to create Control's atmosphere using portal assets and gameplay but adds narration reminiscent of The Stanley Parable (older, gravelly, white dude voice).”
- “There's a psychedelic sci-fi atmosphere, a few mindless button puzzles, and then the game ends.”
- “Easy puzzles, weird atmosphere and the game is full of glitchy textures.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting issues such as texture pop-ins and inconsistent frame rates, particularly on systems that should handle more demanding titles. Many suggest that the minimum specifications need to be clarified or adjusted to better reflect modern gaming standards, and there are calls for adjustments to graphics settings to improve performance. Overall, the game's optimization is seen as a significant barrier to enjoyment, leaving players hopeful for future improvements.
- “Hopefully they can solve the performance issues with the game.”
- “Unless the minimum spec is explicitly targeting 720p, I strongly advise the developer to either increase the minimum requirements to reflect 1440p—as that is a very common modern resolution and a good indication of 1080p performance—or to add an additional notes section stating the current minimum requirements are for 720p only.”
- “If the developer wishes to mitigate performance issues whilst maintaining such a lovely effect, it is advised to possibly change the mid/medium graphics setting to disable the SSR implementation there, saving it only for the high settings.”
- “Poor optimization resulting in pop-in of textures and assets.”
- “While it does showcase the basics of what the team wants to do, it's far too unpolished and unoptimized to convince me to buy the game.”
- “And the optimization, I don't know how this game runs at 30-40 fps on my PC when I can run games much more demanding without much problems.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
11%
11%
The music in the game is widely praised for its moody and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience and immersion. While some users noted a lack of variety, the soundtrack is generally considered inspiring and well-composed, contributing positively to the game's ambiance and storytelling. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point, with potential for further development in the full release.
- “The soundtrack is worth a listen as it is fairly moody, atmospheric, and inspiring for anyone that wants it.”
- “With a polished presentation and an intriguing soundtrack like this, I would have been interested in a full release, even if the writing could have been stronger and a tad less vague.”
- “Great atmosphere and soundtrack to round out the package we get to experience.”
- “A little lacking in the music side, but I'm confident there will be something more in the full game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by users, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and experience. Many reviewers advise against investing time and money until these stability problems are addressed.
- “It is true that the game story and concept are nice, but it's full of bugs and glitches, so I highly recommend that you don't waste your time and money on this!”
- “I found this demo a bit buggy, which hampered enjoyment.”
- “The player character is a bit buggy and could be worked on for a bit longer.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game lacks emotional depth, with a desire for impactful cutscenes and relatable characters to enhance the experience. Players feel that emotional engagement is crucial, and the absence of significant emotional moments detracts from the overall impact of the game.
- “The emotional performance is much more important to me than the language being spoken, and it's crucial for a game like this one to get that right!”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its charming voice acting and amusing character animations, such as the protagonist's comical gravity switch mishaps. While these moments elicit laughter, some players feel they can be slightly immersion-breaking.
- “I certainly don't regret staring at the picturesque scenes while chuckling at the voice acting.”
- “When you switch gravity, your character tends to hit the previous ceiling with their head before gently flipping into a standing position, which I found to be kind of funny (but also immersion-breaking).”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game boasts impressive visuals, many users feel that its gameplay lacks depth, resulting in limited replayability.
- “Great visually, but not great in gameplay for replay value.”

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1h Median play time

1h Average play time

1-1h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Cognition Method: Initiation is a action adventure game.

Cognition Method: Initiation is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing Cognition Method: Initiation.

Cognition Method: Initiation was released on April 22, 2021.

Cognition Method: Initiation was developed by Team Cognition.

Cognition Method: Initiation has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Cognition Method: Initiation is a single player game.

Similar games include INDUSTRIA, The Last Case of Benedict Fox, Observer, Estranged: The Departure, RiME and others.

Cognition Method: Initiation

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