Epigraph
- February 19, 2024
- Matthew Brown
Get on Steam"Epigraph" is a rigorous language decipherment puzzle game that challenges players to analyze patterns, deduce the meanings of images and symbols, and cross-reference given information across 7 artifacts. The objective is to enter translations and uncover the secrets of the Nari. This short game tests players' problem-solving and linguistic skills, providing a unique and engaging experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A challenging and rewarding language puzzle that immerses players in the process of deciphering an ancient language.
- The game encourages logical thinking and deduction, providing a satisfying sense of achievement as players make progress.
- Well-crafted for fans of linguistic puzzles, offering a unique experience that feels like real research without hand-holding.
- The game can be extremely difficult, especially at the beginning, which may deter casual players or those unfamiliar with language puzzles.
- The user interface is criticized for being poorly designed, with small text and a lack of accessibility features that make it hard to read.
- There is minimal feedback on progress, which can lead to frustration as players may not know if their translations are correct until the very end.
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its clarity and logical structure, allowing players to effectively engage with the language through well-designed puzzles and straightforward navigation. While it lacks a complex narrative or additional mechanics, it focuses on immersing players in the linguistic experience, encouraging deep exploration and understanding of the text.
“It's extremely well-done: from a linguistic standpoint (everything is well-motivated and sensible), a puzzle standpoint (all of the steps you need are there, if you can find them and follow them), and a gameplay standpoint (easy to navigate; allowing annotations symbol-by-symbol and word-by-word is excellent).”
“No fancy story or extra mechanics, it just gives you a bunch of text and you gotta see how much you can figure out.”
“Keep in mind that there is no grand mystery or stealth gameplay attached — all those hours are spent directly working with the language.”
- story2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story lacks emotional engagement, mystery, and plot twists, leaving players feeling unfulfilled and unrewarded for completing the game. It primarily consists of dense text that requires players to decipher meaning without any additional narrative mechanics to enhance the experience.
“The story described by the text does not stimulate any emotions, mystery, or twists, and there is no reward for finishing the game.”
“There is no fancy story or extra mechanics; it just presents a bunch of text, and you have to see how much you can figure out.”
“The narrative feels flat and uninspired, lacking depth and engagement.”
