Conspiracy!
- January 20, 2021
- Owlskip Enterprises
Get on Steam"Conspiracy!" is a detective puzzle game where players uncover a hidden conspiracy within the Deep State through examining sources, documents, and audio logs on a single screen. With satirical comedy and logical deduction, players piece together the story chapter by chapter, receiving validation every 5th correct chapter. The game features written, audio, visual, and meta-game puzzles and provides an enthralling experience for roughly 2-3 hours.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and engaging experience, especially once players get past the initial challenging clues.
- It features good voice acting and music, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The premise is interesting, and the gameplay encourages players to use real-world knowledge and research to solve puzzles.
- The game is quite short, often completed in under two hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
- Puzzles are overly linear, making the gameplay feel restricted and less challenging as players progress.
- The narrative is incoherent and mixes real conspiracies with satirical elements that may not resonate well with all players.
- gameplay5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is thematically rich but often frustrating, requiring players to navigate a convoluted conspiracy that unfolds gradually. While it incorporates elements of social deduction reminiscent of games like "Return of the Obra Dinn," the mechanics can feel simplistic and rely heavily on external research, detracting from the overall experience. Players seeking a streamlined version of logic-based gameplay may find some enjoyment, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
“The gameplay is frustrating, yet thematic - the first step is the hardest, and as you make progress, the conspiracy unravels itself.”
“Short and sweet - if you're looking for a stripped down version of Return of the Obra Dinn style logic gameplay, you'll find it here.”
“Mechanically, it touches lightly on the sort of organic social deduction featured in games referenced on the store page like Obra Dinn.”
“The gameplay is frustrating, yet thematic - the first step is the hardest, and as you make progress, the conspiracy unravels itself.”
“Mechanically, it touches lightly on the sort of organic social deduction featured in games referenced on the store page like Obra Dinn, and while things like scrub-able audio are interesting in theory, in practice it's mostly just googling dates for things people say on audio or in some very basic articles.”
“These mechanics could be improved to tell a much more interesting story; instead, it becomes 'right-wing conspiracy nut drag and drop fantasy where the answer is googling when Taylor Swift's birthday is.'”
- music5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with praise for its quality and the inclusion of an original song that effectively summarizes the plot. While some players found the musical finale less impactful and the political themes less accessible compared to previous titles, the overall voice acting and musical elements contribute positively to the experience. However, the optional nature of the final song allows players to bypass it if desired.
“The musical finale is the cherry on the cake of a well-written and well-voice acted gem.”
“Good voice acting and music.”
“The satire doesn't always hit, but credit to having an original song that wraps up all of the plot points.”
“The satire doesn't always hit, but credit to having an original song that wraps up all of the plot points.”
“I could have done without the song at the end, but you can just skip it.”
“Because of that, I found the political story less accessible than the music of his previous titles, but I was still drawn in by the end and enjoyed piecing together the timeline.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is criticized for its reliance on political themes and real events, which some found less accessible compared to previous titles. While the satire may not always resonate, the inclusion of an original song effectively ties together the plot points, ultimately drawing players in despite its flaws.
“Because of that, I found the political story less accessible than the music of his previous titles, but I was still drawn in by the end and enjoyed piecing together the timeline.”
“The satire doesn't always hit, but credit to having an original song that wraps up all of the plot points.”
“I wasn't expecting the plot to use real events so much, although that does make sense of the release date.”
“I found the political story less accessible than the music of his previous titles, but I was still drawn in by the end and enjoyed piecing together the timeline.”
“The satire doesn't always hit, but credit for having an original song that wraps up all of the plot points.”
“I wasn't expecting the plot to use real events so much, although that does make sense given the release date.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to extracting information from tapes, which can feel like a chore rather than an engaging activity.
“I found listening to the tapes a bit tedious to extract information.”
“The grinding feels endless and becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“It takes too long to level up, making the experience feel more like a job than a game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking depth and relevance, with some users finding it difficult to appreciate due to real-world events, such as the storming of the Capitol by right-wing conspiracy believers, which overshadow the intended comedic elements.
