Cyberside Picnic

About

In "Cyberside Picnic," assume the role of a worker maintaining Arteon Corporation's AI algorithm, 2ELLIOT, within a decaying library of video games. Traverse through fragmented cyberspace, uncovering the mystery behind the algorithm and its connection to your partner and shared trauma. This narrative-driven game features a series of 8 chapters and mini-games, offering immersive reading, playing, and visual experiences. Delve into the intricate layers of games within games in this digital exploration.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

atmosphere6 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and surreal narrative that combines retro aesthetics with engaging mini-games.
It offers an atmospheric experience that is enjoyable for a couple of hours, making it a good choice for relaxation.
The visuals and music create a captivating cyberpunk vibe, enhancing the overall immersion of the gameplay.

Many mini-games are poorly designed and lack originality, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game suffers from technical issues, including uncustomizable controls and low visual quality, making it feel outdated.
The narrative can be confusing and may not resonate with all players, leading to a lack of engagement.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is a surreal and abstract narrative centered around a character working in AI support who discovers forgotten games from the past, presented through a mix of text quests, mini-games, and cut-scenes. While some players find the storytelling engaging and immersive, others criticize it as poorly executed and lacking depth, labeling it as "pointless shovelware." Overall, the experience is described as unique, blending retro aesthetics with a compelling, albeit confusing, plot.
- “This game is a true gem that combines stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and a compelling storyline.”
- “The plot tells about a person working in AI support in the distant future.”
- “It offers a truly unique experience, combining a retro atmosphere, a surreal storyline, an unusual visual style, and diverse gameplay.”
- “There's a small set of 8 badly made minigames with an arching story about trying to find the past or some rubbish... let's face it this is just pointless shovelware, the developer paying for fake reviews tells us all we need to know about this trash.”
- “An art-house game in terms of understanding the plot and its implementation, but in reality it's an adventure game with arcade mechanics.”
- “All the storytelling happens in the form of a text quest with mini games and cut-scenes.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the retro pixel art aesthetic while others criticize it as outdated and lacking resolution options. Despite the limitations, many find the visuals charming and fitting for the game's overall experience, especially considering its low budget. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are deemed acceptable by some players who enjoy the nostalgic feel.
- “This game is a true gem that combines stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and a compelling storyline.”
- “Old school game graphics are simply divine.”
- “Engaging storyline, stunning visuals, and immersive gameplay.”
- “The bird game has kind of a neat aesthetic, but even in the 80s it would have been rejected.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by its unique blend of retro atmosphere, surreal storytelling, and diverse mechanics, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. With stunning visuals and a compelling narrative, it stands out as an art-house adventure game that invites exploration and engagement in a fragmented cyberspace setting. Overall, it offers a refreshing take on traditional gameplay elements, enhanced by a fitting musical score.
- “This game is a true gem that combines stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and a compelling storyline.”
- “The music was captivating and suited the cyberpunk vibe, and the gameplay seemed interesting - exploring fragmented cyberspace and unraveling the mysteries of corporate AI.”
- “An art-house game in terms of understanding the plot and its implementation, but in reality it's an adventure game with arcade mechanics.”
- “It offers a truly unique experience, combining a retro atmosphere, a surreal storyline, an unusual visual style, and diverse gameplay.”
- “It's a unique experience, combining retro atmosphere, surreal storyline, unusual visual style and varied gameplay.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its nostalgic retro elements, creating a charming and immersive environment. Reviewers highlight the unique combination of a surreal storyline, unusual visual style, and diverse gameplay, contributing to a truly distinctive experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as pleasant and engaging, making it an ideal choice for an enjoyable gaming session.
- “It offers a truly unique experience, combining a retro atmosphere, a surreal storyline, an unusual visual style, and diverse gameplay.”
- “The game's retro atmosphere evokes nostalgia, creating a charming and immersive environment.”
- “It's a unique experience, combining retro atmosphere, surreal storyline, unusual visual style, and varied gameplay.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized due to the presence of suspicious reviews, which appear to be generated by accounts that consistently promote direct purchases and write fake reviews for low-quality titles, suggesting a potential cash grab or scam.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with prices set unreasonably high for in-game items that should be accessible to all players.”
- “It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than providing a balanced gaming experience, which is really disappointing.”
- “The constant push for microtransactions ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's character development is enhanced by its remarkable attention to detail, featuring vibrant designs and intricate character portrayals that effectively immerse players in the lively world of Cyberside Picnic.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music is praised for its captivating quality and strong alignment with the cyberpunk theme, enhancing the overall atmosphere of exploring fragmented cyberspace and uncovering corporate AI mysteries.
- “The music was captivating and suited the cyberpunk vibe, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, immersing players in the fragmented cyberspace and the mysteries of corporate AI.”
- “The blend of electronic and ambient sounds creates an engaging audio experience that elevates the game's narrative.”