Conductor
- May 2, 2017
- Overflow
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamConductor is a single-player, action-adventure VR game set in a post-Industrial apocalypse. As the Conductor, you must control a locomotive, using your gravity cannon to solve puzzles and defend against Overcorp. Visit unique stations, manipulate the environment, and experience a compelling visual and musical atmosphere in this 1.5-2.5 hour teleportation-based puzzle-action game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging puzzles that are fun to solve and provide a sense of accomplishment.
- Atmospheric setting with a unique train mechanic that enhances immersion.
- Short but enjoyable experience, making it a good option for casual VR gaming.
- Game is quite short, typically taking around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
- Some technical issues, including bugs and performance drops, can detract from the experience.
- Limited replayability and a lack of depth in the story and character development.
- story106 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as minimal and vague, with players noting that while there are some intriguing elements and atmospheric world-building, the narrative often feels thin and underdeveloped. Many reviews highlight that the focus is primarily on puzzle-solving, with the story serving more as a backdrop rather than a driving force, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and engagement. Overall, while some players appreciated the subtle storytelling and found it adequate, others expressed a desire for a more fleshed-out narrative experience.
“The story is subtly added to the game, and develops well given that this is a short game focusing on puzzle-solving.”
“The puzzles themselves create a cool story and help maintain the believability and immersion of the dystopian world that is presented.”
“It's really atmospheric and has more of a story than an escape room.”
“Honestly, the storyline is very thin, but it hardly matters because the puzzles themselves are interesting and engrossing.”
“There are bits of story every now and again, but you can ignore them as there is no payoff at all.”
“Despite the fair amount of story given to the player, the world never really builds on the dialogue to make the game more interesting; it just exists.”
- graphics99 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet effective, with a minimalist art style that enhances the immersive experience, particularly in VR. While some players noted performance issues and stuttering, many appreciated the atmospheric visuals that complement the gameplay, emphasizing that engaging puzzles can outweigh the importance of high-end graphics. Overall, the graphics are seen as polished and fitting for the game's design, contributing to a fun and enjoyable experience.
“The graphics are amazing and immersive.”
“Lovely graphics and really smooth gameplay for me (GTX 1070 Ti).”
“The visuals are simplistic but very polished; everything is clean and readable, and the lighting looks great.”
“- huge performance/graphic issues, I'm having really important stutters that make the game not enjoyable to play at all”
“I'll try again when I get my next graphic card upgrade, but I'm not even sure it will fix the stutter; it's not like the game is graphics heavy.”
“Also as a side note, the visuals do not synergize with the audio in the way that it is cartoonized but has creepy and annoying sounds that don't set the scene.”
- atmosphere87 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie, immersive qualities that evoke suspense and even occasional spookiness, enhanced by effective use of lighting and sound. Players appreciate the combination of a haunting environment with engaging puzzles, creating a compelling experience that draws them in. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both captivating and integral to the gameplay, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The game actually gave me goosebumps now and then because of the atmosphere - all around you is dark woods and every now and then there is a rustle of leaves and you can turn on the radio on the train and tune in to a great rhythmic track that helps add to the atmosphere.”
“It drips with mood and atmosphere, and the lighting is superb.”
“The atmosphere is surreal and melancholy, and makes the world feel ten times bigger and emptier than what is actually shown.”
“Enemy drones seem unnecessary; they mostly just spoil the atmosphere of the game.”
“A 30-40 second train ride required multiple loads of coal, enemies to deal with, impending next stops to deal with, etc. While none of these are bad on their own, I kind of just wanted to keep riding and soak up the atmosphere a bit.”
- gameplay71 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique train mechanic that enhances the puzzle-solving experience, particularly in a VR setting, creating an engaging atmosphere. While the puzzles are generally well-received, some players noted issues with controls and bugs that detract from the overall experience. The game offers a mix of solid mechanics and intriguing story elements, though some felt the narrative could be better integrated into the gameplay.
“Solid mechanics, interesting storyline, not too much story to get in the way of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay loop consists of puzzles of varied difficulty that would hinder your progress on the 'train track,' and once solved, would allow you to move to the next area.”
“If you appreciate engaging puzzles with some adventuring/locked room experiences, grab this game immediately, and if possible at full price because I almost feel guilty for not paying more - though I appreciate the price when considering the graphics and repeated use of basic objects (however that doesn't reduce the quality of gameplay at all for me).”
“A little weak in gameplay, as the controls are hard to manage.”
“My overall experience with this game is fairly good, but I came out of it sour because there are bugs, obnoxious physics, and annoying mechanics that add nothing to the game.”
“Cons: gimmicky train mechanic, buggy and broken, just feels bad in the way it plays, obnoxious enemies with no variations, too short, 10 dollars.”
- music29 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in "Conductor" is generally praised for its soothing and enjoyable quality, enhancing the game's atmosphere and puzzle mechanics. Players appreciate the unique radio feature that allows them to discover different tracks, although some express a desire for more variety and additional music options. While the existing tracks are well-received, a few users feel the game could benefit from more dramatic background music and ambient sounds to enrich the experience further.
“Conductor is a comfy little puzzle game with comfy music and an enjoyable atmosphere.”
“Good music, fun game mechanics, interesting atmosphere.”
“Wonderful music and atmosphere, I always recommend it to folks just getting into VR especially.”
“Fun puzzles and an interesting storyline, but I will lose my mind if I have to listen to one of the 2 songs available ever again.”
“There are 3 music tracks in the game that run on a radio which sound great; otherwise, the game seems to lack ambient sounds.”
“I certainly think the experience was worth every penny, but I would have paid 3 times as much for more stations, more music, more story, more secrets... completed in 1.6 hours, but wish there were another 3 hours to go.”
- stability16 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported by users, including problematic item interactions and control mechanics. While some players noted that the bugs were not game-breaking, the overall experience is marred by a janky feel and visual inconsistencies. Improvements in quality control and interaction mechanics are suggested for future updates or titles.
“But the game is buggy and janky as hell.”
“Negatives: this game could get pretty buggy.”
“The item interaction can be a bit buggy at times when there is seemingly a conflict in collision which should be looked into.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is noted for its short playtime of around 1.5 hours and lacks significant replayability, with many reviewers expressing that it doesn't offer much incentive to play again. Suggestions for improving replay value include the addition of workshop support for community-generated content. Despite its limited replayability, players still find it enjoyable and worth the price.
“If you added workshop support, then maybe we could see some community content that would add good replayability to the game.”
“These developers took their last game, my previous favorite escape room, and created an awesome puzzling adventure that refined everything they had learned there to create one of my favorite games in general, regardless of it not being a replayable experience.”
“It's really short with a playtime of 1.5 hours and no real replayability.”
“Not a lot of replay value.”
“A bit short and not much replayability, but easily worth the asking price.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant performance and graphical issues, with players reporting severe stuttering that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Although a patch was released claiming to improve performance, many users feel that the improvements are insufficient, especially in more cluttered areas.
“Huge performance and graphic issues; I'm experiencing significant stutters that make the game not enjoyable to play at all.”
“There has been a patch since I last played the game that claims to bring some performance improvements; however, I've already finished the more cluttered areas that exhibit those problems while writing this review.”
“There are performance issues that detract from the overall experience, despite the presence of voice acting, which is nice but not particularly well executed.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by the overly sensitive teleportation mechanic, which can be triggered unintentionally with a simple touch of the thumbpad, leading to frustration rather than immersion.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of operating the steam locomotive to be somewhat tedious, yet they appreciate the engaging nature of the puzzles involved.
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be a natural byproduct of its immersive mechanics and exploratory gameplay, leading to spontaneous and amusing interactions among friends. The realistic environment enhances these comedic moments, making for memorable and entertaining experiences during multiplayer sessions.
“Playing this with three people was a blast! At one point, I tried to take my conductor's cap off before swapping the VR headset, and my friend attempted to blow out a lit match. Many more hilarious events unfolded as a result of how real the world felt.”
