Figment
- September 22, 2017
- Bedtime Digital Games
Figment tackles a potentially emotional subject, but does so without depressing the player. Quite the opposite. Its gameplay and writing come together in such a charming and musical way, you’ll find yourself smiling throughout.
"Figment" is a musical action-adventure game set in the human mind, featuring surreal worlds filled with intriguing stories, humor, and multi-layered narratives. Players control Dusty, the mind's former voice of courage, teaming up with Piper to restore lost courage and confront nightmarish creatures. With good game mechanics, outstanding visuals, and a compelling soundtrack, players will enjoy puzzles and combat while experiencing a wide range of emotions, despite some heavy grinding.
Reviews
- Beautiful hand-drawn art style that creates a whimsical atmosphere.
- Engaging and catchy soundtrack, with memorable boss songs that enhance the experience.
- Creative puzzles that are enjoyable and fit well within the narrative of exploring the mind.
- Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel clunky, detracting from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles can become tedious due to backtracking and repetitive mechanics.
- The narrative, while charming, can feel shallow and lacks depth in character development.
- music261 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Figment" is widely praised for its creativity and integration into gameplay, with catchy melodies and humorous lyrics that enhance the whimsical atmosphere of the game. Many players appreciate the unique boss songs and the way the soundtrack adapts to the environment, creating an immersive experience. While some find the music occasionally grating or mismatched with the art style, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music and song lyrics are incredibly catchy and full of melody, and hilarious too.”
“The music perfectly complements the game's whimsical and dreamlike atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the journey.”
“The soundtrack is a core element of the game, and it’s great how the incidental music mixes with the diegetic depending on the elements near the character.”
“Meh: the music is actually kind of annoying (highly subjective, I know) and while it never makes the game discordant or unpleasant to play, it does kind of abrade your goodwill towards the game a bit.”
“I knew that the primary strength of the game was the music going in, but it did nothing for me.”
“From the art I thought I would really like this, but once I started playing I found all the main characters incredibly grating, the designs feel contrived, and the music felt off.”
- story161 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a whimsical yet emotionally resonant journey that explores themes of courage and trauma, often surprising players with its depth despite a seemingly lighthearted presentation. While some reviews highlight its engaging narrative and charming characters, others criticize it for being predictable or lacking originality. Overall, the story is well-crafted and complemented by captivating visuals and music, making it a significant aspect of the gaming experience.
“The story is compelling and has a very nice emotional element to it.”
“With its beautiful hand-drawn visuals, captivating music, and thought-provoking storytelling, it's a must-play for those seeking a unique and introspective gaming experience.”
“Figment's charming story and characters triumph over its basic combat and slightly overbearing puzzles.”
“The treatment of the characters and the story is nothing you haven't seen a thousand times; the humor is all about puns, and its depth is surface level at best.”
“But it gets bogged down by an ambitious story it fails to really tell.”
“The story and puzzles are really boring...”
- graphics136 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Figment" are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and imaginative landscapes, creating an engaging and whimsical aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the visuals can feel simplistic or repetitive, the combination of beautiful artwork and a captivating soundtrack is often highlighted as the game's strongest aspect. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and appeal, making it a visually delightful journey.
“The main draw (pun intended) of the graphics is the hand-drawn art style.”
“Figment's hand-drawn art style is a visual feast, bursting with vibrant colors and imaginative landscapes.”
“The visuals are beautiful, all carefully hand-drawn.”
“While the aesthetics (environments and characters) are really well done, the gameplay itself is just...meh.”
“I was drawn in by the colorful, illustration-style graphics, but it became tiresome and repetitive, which led to the ultimate death knell for me, and that's 'frustrating'.”
“It's meh, ok visuals, puzzles that pale in comparison to some flash games you can find online, tacky voice acting, frustrating controls.”
- gameplay109 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Figment is characterized by its simplistic mechanics, combining puzzle-solving and combat elements that many players find repetitive and lacking in challenge. While some appreciate the creative visuals and engaging narrative, others criticize the combat as feeling tacked on and the puzzles as monotonous, leading to an overall mixed reception regarding the gameplay experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game is noted for its charming presentation and musical score, which help to elevate the experience.
“What a wonderful game full of unsophisticated violence, deep thoughts, clever rhythmic gameplay and interactions, hilarious voice lines, and an overall hilarious and deep/thoughtful script throughout the entire game!”
“An incredible journey into the recesses of one's mind, great accompanying songs, fantastic gameplay... 100% in my book!”
“The gameplay, art style, music, and creativity are just perfect.”
“The gameplay is dull, consisting of zero-difficulty nominal battles and tedious, simplistic, repetitive 'bring this thing over there' puzzles.”
“Figment's mechanics are woefully underdeveloped, but the rest of the game is so cohesive and often brilliant that it's difficult to dismiss out of hand.”
“Where the game falters, however, is its combat gameplay which feels less like a core mechanic than a tacked-on feature.”
- humor36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, catchy songs, and hilarious voice lines, with many players enjoying the witty banter between characters and the abundance of puns. While some found the humor to be surface-level or inconsistent, the overall comedic elements, including funny animations and memorable character interactions, contribute to a whimsical and entertaining experience. However, a few reviewers noted that not all aspects of the humor landed, indicating a mixed reception in certain areas.
“What a wonderful game full of 'unsophisticated violence', deep thoughts, clever rhythmic gameplay and interactions, hilarious voice lines, and an overall hilarious and deep/thoughtful script throughout the entire game!”
“I did enjoy the banter between the two characters - your protagonist and a bird that is just an annoying companion who does very little - it was well written and sardonically humorous, which is right up my British sense of humor street.”
“The music is amusing, and the characters' comments are funny at times, like when the little bird calls the bad guys 'fartface'.”
- emotional20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its compelling story, heartwarming themes, and whimsical atmosphere, which resonate deeply with players. Many reviews praise the game's ability to tackle serious subjects like trauma in a brave and uplifting manner, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack. While some players felt the narrative could have had a stronger emotional impact, the overall consensus is that the game offers a wholesome and enjoyable journey filled with relatable experiences.
“The music perfectly complements the game's whimsical and dreamlike atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the journey.”
“In conclusion, Figment is a visually stunning, emotionally resonant game that takes you on a journey of self-discovery.”
“It tells a beautiful, wholesome story about trauma that honestly is very brave and whimsical all the same.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of entertaining and tedious, with many noting that puzzles often become repetitive and time-consuming. While some appreciate the variety and charm of the game, the frequent backtracking and simplistic tasks can lead to a sense of boredom and frustration. Despite these issues, the game is still seen as a light-hearted experience, albeit one that could benefit from more engaging gameplay mechanics.
“The game is entertaining enough, but it’s also tedious and boring at times.”
“The second I hit a roadblock where I was respawning only to have to redo sections of a tedious task, it was incredibly easy to realize I didn't enjoy this game.”
“The gameplay is dull, consisting of zero-difficulty nominal battles and tedious, simplistic, repetitive 'bring this thing over there' puzzles.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its whimsical and dreamlike qualities, enhanced by a charming soundtrack and detailed environment design. Reviewers note that it creates a relaxing and engaging experience, reminiscent of a captivating story told by a beloved babysitter. While the overall vibe is enchanting, some feel it straddles a line between adult themes and childlike storytelling.
“The atmosphere is incredible because of both the great environment design and soundtrack.”
“The music and sound effects were brilliant, and attention had been paid to every aspect of the imaginative environment, making it very atmospheric.”
“It makes the atmosphere feel like your favorite babysitter is telling you a story and doing their best to be engaging.”
“The music perfectly complements the game's whimsical and dreamlike atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of the journey.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs that significantly impact the experience, including freezing issues and inconsistent character controls. While some players noted that controls were generally smooth, the prevalence of visual and movement-related bugs detracts from overall enjoyment, leading to frustration and even uninstallation for some.
“90% of the screen is covered with glitches.”
“Really buggy game :( I had to restart the scenario due to freezing at a certain point, then I uninstalled it before finishing.”
“The programming is buggy as heck.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with players reporting smooth performance at 60fps and no technical issues. However, the overall graphics quality and aesthetic elements received mixed reviews, indicating room for improvement in visual presentation.
“Performance: no issues from the tech side, I played flawlessly at 60fps.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenarios.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; the optimization really enhances the overall experience.”
“The optimization is lacking, as the game struggles to maintain a consistent frame rate, often dropping below 30fps during intense scenes.”
“Despite the game's potential, the poor optimization leads to frequent stuttering and long loading times, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The graphics are impressive, but the optimization fails to deliver a smooth experience, making it hard to enjoy the visual fidelity.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development is praised for its well-crafted history, engaging mechanics, and strong artistic elements, including episode designs and soundtracks. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the character designs, indicating a mixed reception in that specific area.
“The history behind it, the art, the gameplay mechanics, the puzzles, the character designs, the music, and the soundtracks are all well done.”
“Episode designs, character designs, dialogues, and songs are all great.”
“But I really don't dig the character design.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is criticized for being overly aggressive, with frequent advertisements that can detract from the overall experience, including a jump scare ad when quitting the game. This approach may overshadow the game's potential enjoyment and visibility among players.
“There's a jump scare (advertisement) when pressing the quit button on the main menu.”
“I'm glad I had that chance encounter, as this could've easily been one of those games that I would have enjoyed but never played or known about because it gets drowned by advertisements and publicity from other games.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game offers infinite replayability, suggesting that players can enjoy it repeatedly without losing interest.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“Every time I dive back in, I discover something new, making it a game I can enjoy over and over.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel like a chore rather than an adventure.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels repetitive and uninspired.”
Critic Reviews
Figment Review
Figment tackles a potentially emotional subject, but does so without depressing the player. Quite the opposite. Its gameplay and writing come together in such a charming and musical way, you’ll find yourself smiling throughout.
90%Figment Review
Boasting surprising depth and an engaging world, Figment is proof that something that looks geared towards a younger audience can be enjoyed by everyone.
90%Figment PC Review
A gorgeous surreal art style alongside exceptional sound make Figment a journey through the mind one must go on.
80%