Encoded War
- January 20, 2023
- Somnolent Team
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreYOUR COMMANDYou will become the morse coder, tasked to submit the encoded war message logs.CONTROL Easy-to-understand point & click control, but war will never be easy on you.STORY MODEWe will order new tasks each day in the Story Mode that will highly challenge your morse coding skill.ENDLESS MODEThe Endless Mode is the test of your pace. Those who are slower than 10 seconds are unaccepted. W…
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Reviews
- The game features an interesting concept centered around Morse code, providing a unique gameplay experience.
- Gameplay is enjoyable and challenging, with a good variety of messages and a well-scaled difficulty.
- The aesthetics and sound design effectively immerse players in the game's WW2 setting.
- The story mode is very short, which may not justify the price for some players.
- There are significant issues with keybinding options and responsiveness, particularly with the spacebar input.
- Translation errors and a poorly handled storyline detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished.
- story17 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally considered short and somewhat forgettable, with many comparisons to "Papers, Please" due to its impactful choices and dark themes. While some players appreciate the storytelling and its ability to teach Morse code, others criticize it for translation errors and uncomfortable topics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary aspect to the gameplay, with many recommending the game primarily for its mechanics rather than its story.
“A revamped story where your actions can impact the direction of the story similar to 'Papers, Please.'”
“Great storytelling; the only con from me is that it was short.”
“The gameplay itself is interesting, and the story mode continues to add new wrinkles that increase the difficulty in fun and creative ways.”
“The story is really short but fairly decent.”
“But please, this is a callout to all indie devs, before you release your game, especially for money on Steam, get someone to double-check all the translations for you, because it quite frankly absolutely murders the story, which, talking about that, is very forgettable.”
“These don't add anything of value to the story, and end up detracting from it overall.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and challenging, successfully maintaining an interesting loop that keeps players on their toes, despite drawing inspiration from "Papers, Please." While the story is criticized for being unmemorable and poorly translated, it does not detract from the overall gameplay experience, which is enjoyable and creatively evolves throughout the game. The combination of solid gameplay mechanics and appealing pixel art makes it a worthwhile experience for players.
“They keep the gameplay loop interesting and genuinely stressful (in a good way).”
“The gameplay is enjoyable, and even though it clearly draws inspiration from 'Papers, Please', it manages to stand on its own quite well.”
“The gameplay itself is interesting, and the story mode continues to add new wrinkles that increase the difficulty in fun and creative ways.”
“The story is the most unmemorable mess you can imagine. This game is for the gameplay, not for the story. It tries to tell a story, but it just ends up being unmemorable and really not that interesting to read through, especially because of all the translation mistakes which just butcher it further. However, it’s not like it really negatively impacts the gameplay in any way, as the 'story' in the gameplay notes is a lot better than in the 'cutscenes.'”
“The gameplay is overshadowed by a poorly executed story that fails to engage the player. The translation errors only add to the confusion, making it hard to appreciate any narrative elements.”
“While the gameplay mechanics are solid, the overall experience is marred by a lack of engaging content and a story that feels like an afterthought.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are not groundbreaking but effectively convey the setting and time period, enhancing immersion. While the aesthetic is well thought out and complemented by sound design, the settings menu feels underdeveloped, a common issue in indie games. Overall, the visuals meet expectations for the genre, contributing positively to the gaming experience.
“I know there aren't many graphics or keybinds that can be changed, but the settings menu currently feels more like a filler than a menu, which is sadly far too common in indie games.”
“The game's aesthetic greets you as soon as you start playing; the graphics aren't revolutionary, but they do help you understand the game's setting and the time period it takes place in.”
“As I said, the overall aesthetics of the game accomplish what needs to be done; they immerse you, feel well thought out, and are complemented by some really nice sound design; in other words, they are exactly what you would expect from a game of this type.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a short story mode that lacks the multiple endings found in "Papers, Please," resulting in limited replayability. However, it does feature an endless mode for players seeking additional challenges. Overall, it may be more worthwhile to purchase during a sale.
“The game's story mode is short, but it offers a decent experience and can be quite challenging. While it doesn't have the same level of replayability as 'Papers, Please' with its multiple endings, it does feature an endless mode that may appeal to some players.”
“The replayability factor is enhanced by the endless mode, which provides a different kind of challenge and keeps the gameplay fresh.”
“While the main story is brief, the inclusion of an endless mode adds a layer of replayability that can keep players engaged beyond the initial playthrough.”
“The game's story mode is short, and while it offers a decent experience, it lacks the replayability of similar titles like 'Papers, Please' with its multiple endings. Although there is an endless mode, I would recommend waiting for a sale to get your money's worth.”
“After completing the game, I found that there wasn't much incentive to replay it. The lack of varied endings or significant changes in gameplay makes it feel like a one-time experience.”
“While the game has some enjoyable moments, the limited replayability really holds it back. Once you've seen the story, there's not much left to draw you back in.”
