Epanalepsis
- May 21, 2015
- John Fio
It doesn't look great and isn't much of a game, but Epanalepsis at least tries to convey loftier themes than most game stories. If only it was accessible enough for anyone to actually comprehend those themes.
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Get on itch.io StoreEpanalepsis is a narrative-focused point and click adventure game that tells a story about those connections across sixty years and beyond that pays equal homage to New Wave science fiction, cyberpunk dystopian stories, and the art cinema of the early 1990s. Play as three characters in three radically different time periods. Experience an authentically recreated 1990s, a consumerist 2010s, and a …
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Reviews
- Unique art style that creates a strong atmosphere.
- Effective music that sets the tone and enhances the experience.
- Enigmatic and thought-provoking narrative that rewards multiple playthroughs.
- Choppy and non-cohesive story with poorly presented dialogue.
- Extremely slow walking speed and lack of engaging gameplay elements like puzzles.
- Short playtime with a feeling of being unpolished, akin to a prototype or demo.
- story7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story has been criticized for being choppy and non-cohesive, with many players finding the dialogue and plot to be pointless and random. While some view it as an interactive narrative reminiscent of Chris Marker's "La Jetée," the execution suffers from technical issues like cut-off text and typos, detracting from immersion and overall enjoyment. Many players express a lack of motivation to replay the game to better understand the story, deeming the initial experience tedious and unengaging.
“This is basically an interactive story, not a game.”
“What results is a game that plays out similarly to Chris Marker's La Jetée: no matter where the story's time travelers end up, no matter what choices are made, the same cycles will repeat, much like the game's rhetorical namesake.”
“Perhaps playing the game multiple times would help to promote an understanding of the story.”
“The developer has talent, but their decision to write a choppy, non-cohesive story is disappointing.”
“Once I got out of the apartment, I realized all the dialogue and plot seemed pointless and random.”
“The text, which holds the story and thus the draw of the game, sometimes is cut off the edge of the screen, and there are more than a couple of typos, breaking immersion and posing an inconvenience.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its ability to effectively set the tone and enhance the atmosphere, complementing the minimalist pixel art and clever writing. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, contributing to a strong sense of immersion.
“The writing is arty and the music is repeatedly good at setting the tone.”
“The game creates a really strong sense of atmosphere with its minimalist pixel art, fantastic soundtrack, and clever writing.”
“Effective musical ennui by John Fio.”
“Okay music.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized as vague and troubling, enhanced by its minimalist pixel art, exceptional soundtrack, and clever writing, which together create a compelling and immersive experience.
“The game creates a really strong sense of atmosphere with its minimalist pixel art, fantastic soundtrack, and clever writing.”
“Vague, troubling, atmospheric.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their unique art style, which sets the game apart visually and enhances the overall aesthetic experience.
“The game features a unique art style that sets it apart from others in the genre.”
“I was blown away by the unique art style; it adds so much character to the game.”
“The graphics showcase a unique art style that enhances the overall experience.”
