Essence
- April 18, 2017
- ONEVISION GAMES
- 3h median play time
"Essence" is a single-player adventure game offering approximately 3 hours of playtime. The game takes place in a surreal and non-violent exploration adventure where you wake up in a world that has been waiting for your return. Discover this miraculous and forgotten place as you uncover its secrets and unravel the mysteries of your own existence.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and beautiful landscapes that create an immersive atmosphere.
- Exploration is enjoyable, with a sense of mystery and discovery throughout the game world.
- The sound design complements the visuals well, enhancing the dreamlike experience of the game.
- The game lacks direction and meaningful interactions, leading to a repetitive and boring experience.
- There are numerous technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and performance problems that hinder gameplay.
- As an early access title, the game has been stagnant for a long time with little to no updates, leaving players feeling abandoned.
- graphics10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beauty and ability to create an immersive environment, making it enjoyable to explore. However, some players note that the visuals can become repetitive, and technical issues like choppy performance detract from the experience. While the stunning visuals may entice players to capture screenshots, they alone are not sufficient to compensate for the game's lack of direction and interactivity.
“Not only is the game graphically stunning, but the environment is quite enjoyable to wander around.”
“Believe me, this game has visuals that will make you want to collect so many screenshots you could be embarrassed.”
“If you’re able to look past the minor bugs here and there and the fact that this game is a walking simulator by a very small team, then you might just find yourself being drawn in by the visuals and investing interest into finding out what exactly is this place you find yourself wandering through.”
“It seemed like it had potential, but the graphics ran so choppy it was nearly unplayable. The story lacks continuity or direction; you can walk in any direction with no purpose.”
“I will admit a couple of the locations are beautiful, mainly the forested region in the second area and the architecture right before the final walkway, but graphics are not enough to carry a game.”
“Believe me, this game has visuals to collect so many screenshots you could be embarrassed.”
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally perceived as weak or lacking direction, with many players noting a lack of continuity and purpose in gameplay. While some appreciate the potential for a deeper narrative revealed through interactions with characters, others find the storytelling vague and abstract, relying heavily on visuals rather than a compelling plot. Overall, the narrative experience seems to vary significantly based on individual interpretation and perspective.
“Narration isn’t as prominent in this simulator as it is in others, but interacting with various inhabitants begins to tell a story.”
“The graphics are just breathtaking, and the actual story is a well-kept secret, which made me quite impatient the last few weeks.”
“Walking simulators have always been a hard genre to classify, mostly due to their subjective nature and abstract storytelling.”
“The story is thin or almost non-existent.”
“It seemed like it had potential, but the graphics ran so choppy it was nearly unplayable. The story lacks continuity or direction; I can walk in any direction with no purpose.”
“Essence appears to be attempting to focus more on enriched landscapes and the vagueness of the story.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as a masterpiece, perfectly complementing the gameplay without being overpowering. It features a standard ambient soundtrack that enhances the experience, especially for players who appreciate beautiful scenery and don't mind a slower pace.
“The soundtrack is an absolute masterpiece.”
“The music fits in perfectly, never being too quiet nor too over the top.”
“If you enjoy walking, an ambient soundtrack, and beautiful scenery, this game is perfect for you.”
“Aside from the graphical appeal, the game does have a standard ambient soundtrack.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in these games is often characterized by immersive themes and strong narratives that enhance the experience, compensating for limited interactivity. Players appreciate the peaceful and contemplative environments, with stunning visuals and architecture that invite exploration and introspection. Overall, the atmosphere is a key highlight, making these games appealing to those who enjoy atmospheric experiences.
“If you enjoy atmospheric games and like to explore, this is the game for you!”
“The worlds are very peaceful and it's a very calm and atmospheric game where you can just walk and think about the world or maybe about yourself.”
“The atmosphere is incredible and the architecture is stunning.”
“Some simulations use their theme and great narration to help compensate for the lack of interactivity, while others rely on a story-heavy atmosphere and pretty visuals.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, lag, and stuttering issues that hinder gameplay progression, particularly due to unresponsive interactive elements.
“Too buggy, laggy, and stuttery; I couldn't progress any further because the item I was supposed to interact with would not respond.”
“Just too darn buggy.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized, particularly for causing stuttering in later areas and performance issues on less powerful rigs, despite its visually appealing design.
“The game runs beautifully on my high-end rig, showcasing impressive optimization that enhances the overall experience.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, allowing for smooth gameplay even in graphically intense moments.”
“The optimization in this game is commendable, as it manages to maintain high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
“There is an issue with stuttering, which becomes more apparent in the second and third areas.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being limited, with users noting that it offers barely three hours of content, making the price of 20€ feel unjustified. Additionally, the lack of updates since its release nearly two years ago has further diminished its appeal.
“It's been almost 2 years since release and no updates; the game has barely 3 hours of gameplay and is not worth 20€ by any means!”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt the gameplay experience, making it frustrating to play.”
