Drew and the Floating Labyrinth
- February 4, 2015
- Dust Scratch Games
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Get on itch.io Store"I just want to go home..." A hand-drawn 3D puzzle-platformer. Control Drew find her way back home, through a series of abstract levels requiring you to find invisible paths, gaining color to her black-and-white character as you progress. Featuring unrestricted 2D animation in a 3D environment.
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Reviews
- The game features clever and challenging puzzles that keep players engaged.
- The hand-drawn art style and soothing atmosphere create a unique and pleasant experience.
- The story, while minimal, is intriguing and adds a nice mood to the gameplay.
- The controls can be finicky and the camera mechanics are frustrating, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
- The game is very short, often completed in under two hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Many puzzles can feel tedious and repetitive, with some lacking clear direction, leading to frustration.
- story23 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as sweet and intriguing, with a melancholic tone that may resonate with players in a contemplative mood. However, many reviewers find it lacking in depth and engagement, often labeling it as minimal or bland, with a narrative that feels more like an extended metaphor than a cohesive plot. While some appreciate the dark twist at the end and the effective use of music, others criticize the overall execution, suggesting that the story does not warrant a full-price purchase.
“The story itself is sweet and interesting enough to keep you going to the end.”
“I enjoyed that the ending was super dark rather than the standard cliché ending of this genre of story.”
“The story is melancholy, so you have to be in a contemplative mood to fully enjoy it, but it is written surprisingly well for an indie game and is accompanied wonderfully by incompetech's music that is used liberally throughout.”
“The story is pointless and barely there but carries a nice mood.”
“The story, however, is what probably makes it hard for me to recommend the game.”
“Ultimately, though, I believe the narrative fails because it lacks the dialogue-free story open to interpretation of something like Limbo, nor does it offer enough to characterize Drew, her guide, and their relationship as done right by, say, Portal.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of puzzle mechanics that are introduced quickly but can feel repetitive and unengaging over time. While some players appreciate the clever and unique elements, many criticize the controls and camera angles as unintuitive, leading to a monotonous experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as basic yet well-made, with a lack of depth that may leave players bored after a short period.
“The different puzzle mechanics are introduced quickly and culminate in the last handful of puzzles.”
“It has clever and challenging puzzles, unique mechanics, and an effective story.”
“The gameplay is basic but well made.”
“Gameplay is slow, repetitive, and monotone.”
“The mechanics constantly have you looking at the box the character is standing on and away from your destination, which is uninviting, unintuitive, and causes the frame to constantly be empty.”
“Gameplay was repetitive, unengaging, and quickly became boring.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the minimalist and neat art style that complements the story, while others criticize the visuals as disjointed, basic, and lacking appeal. Many find the graphics to be a significant drawback, describing them as uninteresting or reminiscent of amateur doodles, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are functional but fail to impress, leaving a divided impression among players.
“The minimalist graphics are very well done and suit the story beautifully.”
“The art style is very basic but 1) functional and b) extremely neat and lovely.”
“Unfortunately, while the minimalist sketch-like visuals and use of color are pleasing to the eye, the narrative framework is weak.”
“This is a game with lacking voice acting, disjointed visuals, and not-the-best controls.”
“While I wouldn't recommend this game, I'm sure there are some people out there who would like it; for me, the graphics alone are a big deterrent.”
“The biggest offender for me is the art style; you don't advertise a hand-drawn game when your drawings have the appeal of a 3-year-old's doodles and scribbles.”
- music9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 44 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as bleak, repetitive, and unmemorable, often failing to enhance the experience. While it sets a mood that aligns with the melancholy story, many players find it annoying and bland, with some noting that it detracts from the overall enjoyment due to its lack of variety and the inability to mute it. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, overshadowed by poor voice acting and uninteresting visuals.
“The story is melancholy, so you have to be in a contemplative mood to fully enjoy it, but it is written surprisingly well for an indie game and is accompanied wonderfully by incompetech's music that is used liberally throughout.”
“Music is bleak and quickly annoying.”
“The story is uninteresting, and the music is not memorable, but still very mood-setting and works well with the context of the levels.”
“Drew and the floating labyrinth is depressing, boring, annoying voice and music that you can't mute.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique hand-drawn style that creates a soothing experience, though some players find it to be overshadowed by a more depressing undertone. Overall, the graphics are described as cute, contributing to a mixed emotional response.
“The hand-drawn character is unique; the atmosphere is soothing.”
“Graphics are cute, but the atmosphere is depressing.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with some gimmicks feeling pointless and contributing to a frustrating experience rather than enhancing gameplay.
“For starters, the gimmick of the first world is really tedious, and another of the gimmicks is practically pointless.”
“I like puzzle games, but this is just tedious pathfinding.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of "Floating Labyrinth" falls short, as many players feel it relies too heavily on indie game tropes, resulting in a lack of genuine emotional engagement and leaving them feeling indifferent by the end.
“The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, leaving players deeply moved by its storytelling and character development.”
“Every moment in the game feels like a journey through the heart, making you laugh, cry, and reflect on your own experiences.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative is unparalleled, creating a connection that lingers long after the game is over.”
