Depanneur Nocturne
- May 26, 2020
- KO_OP
"Depanneur Nocturne" is a charming single-sitting game set in a mystical version of Montreal, where you search for a special gift for your loved one in a corner store that's open late. Explore and discover secrets at your own pace, with a budget that's only limited by your love. The game is fully bilingual in English and French with a Quebec twist, and takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
Reviews
- The game features a charming and unique art style, creating a cozy and atmospheric experience that immerses players in a whimsical world.
- The integration of English and French dialogue options adds a clever layer to the gameplay, enhancing the cultural setting of Montreal.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a surprising amount of depth with hidden secrets and multiple interactions, encouraging exploration and replayability.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some players experienced motion sickness due to the movement mechanics, which could detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Certain interactions can feel forced or disorienting, as the game sometimes directs players to look in specific directions without clear reasoning.
- graphics32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique, low-poly art style that creates a dreamy and cozy atmosphere, often described as both mysterious and soothing. Players appreciate the charming visuals, warm color palette, and the immersive experience they provide, which enhances the overall narrative and exploration. Despite the simplicity of the graphics, the artistic vision and attention to detail contribute to a delightful and relaxing gaming experience.
“The visuals are so unique, it's like walking through a hazy dream.”
“The warm graphical style and cozy atmosphere made the shop seem like a familiar stop, especially when coupled with the helpfulness of the shopkeeper.”
“There's an otherworldly feel, with gauzy visuals in pink and blue and purple, and motes of light drifting across your vision.”
“3 settings for graphics, but nothing to tell you exactly what they mean.”
“Not sure if the game auto-selects graphics or resolution for you, based on your hardware and native resolution.”
“Small neat detail: graphic quality levels are potato, fries, poutine.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its cozy, whimsical, and immersive qualities, enhanced by soothing music and sound design. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the unique charm of the setting, which evokes a sense of familiarity and relaxation reminiscent of quaint shops. Overall, the game offers a delightful exploration experience filled with secrets and a visually appealing art style, making it a standout in atmospheric gaming.
“The atmosphere is really relaxing and welcoming, and the game is stuffed full of secrets and attention to detail.”
“I really enjoyed the overall atmosphere and tone set by the little shop of curios and trinkets, reminding me of the randomness of a pawn shop but the spirituality and mystique of a metaphysical store.”
“The warm graphical style and cozy atmosphere made the shop seem like a familiar stop, especially when coupled with the helpfulness of the shopkeeper.”
“I would definitely recommend checking this one out, if only to experience the off-beat atmosphere.”
“Really does feel like finding that little shop on a side street with the laid-back atmosphere.”
“But even for just one playthrough the price of the game is totally worth it - a relaxed atmosphere, some moments to make you smile, beautiful use of colors and art direction.”
- story11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game features a surprisingly rich and engaging story packed into a compact format, with a blend of quirky and meditative elements. Players can expect a lighthearted narrative that unfolds over approximately 45 minutes to an hour, with opportunities for exploration and multiple endings based on player choices. Overall, the story is described as cute and charming, set against a beautifully crafted backdrop.
“There's a surprising amount of story and worldbuilding stuffed into what's really a rather compact game, too.”
“A delightful short story where you brave the rain to find the perfect gift for your loved one.”
“Interesting story, a little creepy-weird, but not scary.”
“Completing the full story takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how much you explore and interact with the game. You will need to idle the game to get all card drops if you don't want to replay to see if different gifts give you different endings to the story.”
“This is a quick, laid-back side quest for your day.”
“Cute story with a cute ending.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and chill qualities, effectively complementing the overall atmosphere and setting. Players appreciate the simple yet pleasant audio, which enhances the relaxing experience of the gameplay and art style. The inclusion of a radio feature allows for a personalized listening experience, further enriching the ambiance.
“The music and sound atmosphere complement very well the setting.”
“The art, music, and gameplay were all very relaxing.”
“Pleasant music plays while you browse, courtesy of a radio which you’re free to retune.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, primarily due to multiple endings and collectible achievements, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes. While the core experience is short, players may find value in replaying to uncover missed content or variations in dialogue. However, the extent of replayability may not satisfy those seeking extensive gameplay variations.
“Short, but surprisingly sweet game - with a lot of replayability!”
“It's pretty short but it has some different endings, so there's replay value :)”
“But via the achievements, I was already able to see that there are some more things left to do in the game - so there definitely is some replay value there if you go in blind.”
“Not a ton of replayability, unless you want to catch any missed achievements, or see what different endings each gift may produce.”
“It has a little bit of replay value because there are some gifts that you can't obtain during the same playthrough, but as far as I can tell they just change a few lines of dialogue at the end.”
“But via the achievements I was already able to see that there are some more things left to do in the game - so there definitely is some replay value there if you go in blind.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its clever integration of English and French dialogue options, enhancing the immersive experience set in Montreal. Players find the overall art, music, and gameplay to be relaxing, with the localized language choices adding depth to the mechanics.
“Bonus points for the English/French language option being integrated into the dialogue; I thought that was a really clever way to incorporate game mechanics into the setting of Montreal.”
“The art, music, and gameplay were all very relaxing.”
“Good choice to have localized Quebec French and international English as options for dialogue, with a subtle language choice being part of the gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“There are too many bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay, making it frustrating to play.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a standout feature, characterized by its casual and comfortable tone, complemented by clever and funny dialogue. Players particularly enjoy the witty comebacks from the main character, which add a delightful layer of comedy to the experience.
“What made me fall in love with it is that it satisfies a very specific itch I have for experimental games that are actually casual, comfortable, and funny.”
“Great humor.”
“You only get to interact with one character in the game (not counting the cat), but she has some hilarious comebacks, especially when you trash the store.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the game's heartfelt character development and design, which evoke a strong sense of warmth and hope. This emotional depth suggests a refreshing departure from conventional gaming tropes, emphasizing a more nuanced and intimate approach to storytelling.
“The interior and characters are created and written with so much love; it's instantly heartwarming.”
“This game made me feel hope that not all of gaming is doomed to follow the tropes of what is popular, and that maybe we don't always have to take a maximalist approach to game design.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has significantly improved since its initial release, with users reporting a smooth experience free of bugs or glitches.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are still numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, despite some patches.”