Germinal
- March 9, 2023
- Moonlit Monitors
Get on Steam"Germinal is a single-player drama platformer where you help Greg, a germaphobe, navigate through an epidemic using a disinfectant jetpack. The game features five unique stages, a hardmode for each, and is designed with accessibility and speedrunning in mind. With a gripping soundtrack, precise mechanics, and numerous customizable options, Germinal offers a deep and respectful exploration of life with a debilitating mental disorder."
Reviews
- Germinal features a unique jetpack mechanic that adds depth to the platforming experience, allowing for creative movement and level exploration.
- The game is well-designed with a solid difficulty curve, making it enjoyable for both casual players and those seeking a challenge.
- The art style and sound design are praised for their quality, contributing to an engaging atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- Many players feel that Germinal is too similar to Celeste, leading to comparisons that it struggles to live up to, particularly in terms of mechanics and narrative depth.
- The controls can be clunky and inconsistent, with issues related to wall jumps and double jumps causing frustration during gameplay.
- The story, while attempting to address serious themes, has been criticized for being uninteresting or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is heavily influenced by the mechanics of "Celeste," featuring a unique hoverpack system that encourages precision platforming and stamina management. While the level design introduces new mechanics and challenges, some players find the game lacks depth compared to its inspiration, with occasional control quirks and a reliance on familiar gameplay elements. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with inventive mechanics and balanced difficulty, though it may not fully distinguish itself from "Celeste."
“Precision platforming built around a double jump and hover mechanic that share the same meter, so the game becomes about figuring out which moves to make where while also dealing with whatever platforming puzzle or obstacle lies in your way.”
“The main jetpack mechanic ends up being surprisingly versatile, allowing you to control your momentum or gain more height. There's a lot to explore and discover when you take your time going through the not-so-linear levels.”
“Every stage adds a new mechanic or a new layer on an already existing mechanic, and I find that type of progression very intuitive.”
“My main frustrations with the game stem from the specific aspect of Celeste it's based most of its gameplay around - stamina management.”
“I'd definitely be giving this a 'meh' if Steam allowed it because there's no reason to play this when you could be playing Celeste or one of the many free Celeste mods.”
“The level design is also not made with this tick outline in mind, as it completely covers and hides important gameplay tiles you will need to finish the level.”
- story22 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a diverse range of storytelling approaches in various games, with some like Earthbound and Alundra praised for their darker, more emotional narratives that stand out despite being clones of other franchises. Germinal's story, while resonating with some players due to its themes of mental health and the pandemic, received mixed feedback, with some finding it overly focused and unengaging. Overall, the narrative aspects of these games are seen as significant, with varying degrees of impact and emotional depth.
“Earthbound, one of my favorite games, is a Dragon Quest clone but still stands out due to its unique setting and storytelling, which is darker and more emotional compared to Dragon Quest.”
“Alundra is another gamer favorite, being a Zelda clone, but it still stands out with its brilliantly twisted storytelling that even caused the writers to feel depressed, leading them to create a light-hearted game instead. It retains that Zelda dungeon feel while being different as well.”
“To summarize things I like, I really liked the story; it was really dark and creepy at times. Unlike Celeste, whose story was sad with funny moments, Germinal was incredibly dark and addressed a very serious problem that certainly needed attention.”
“My main complaint about the game, unfortunately, is the story. While that is never the part of a game I gravitate to, I couldn't help but feel that Germinal's story was far too much of a focus for how uninterested I was in it.”
“It isn't bad or anything, but I wasn't super interested in a pandemic story.”
“Other than the graphics, the story, and it being a room-based precision platformer, it does not try to be Celeste.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their pleasant art style, but many reviewers note that they closely resemble those of "Celeste," leading to comparisons that highlight a lack of distinctiveness. While the visuals are appealing, some areas feel repetitive, with minimal variation aside from background color changes. Overall, the game offers a visually appealing experience, yet it struggles to establish a unique identity within its aesthetic.
“Both games have similar movement mechanics and physics, effectively the same art style, similar level design, particle effects, etc. Not to mention that both are precision platformers with an introspective story centered on mental health featuring LGBTQ characters and themes.”
“Pretty visuals.”
“Maybe with the exception of the art style, like in both games the primary environmental danger are the blobs of black mixed with a color and they look nearly identical in Germinal as in Celeste.”
“Making a game like this, in the art style they chose, it cannot avoid getting compared to Celeste.”
“This game is basically a Celeste clone, with only different graphics, and some new things.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its variety and fresh sound, while others find it inconsistent, ranging from annoying to pleasant. Overall, the soundtrack is described as average, with some noting that it enhances the game's atmosphere despite not being extraordinary.
“Lots of unique mechanics, inventive level design, good music, satisfying particle effects, and neat speedrunning mechanics and skips.”
“Fresh soundtrack.”
“On top of this, the OST and sound design are great, which adds to the atmosphere of the game quite well.”
“There are some rough edges; I found that the music was a mixed bag containing everything from 'please turn this annoying music off' to 'okay, this is quite pleasant to listen to.' I did not care for any of the characters, and I found myself actively disliking the main character.”
“The soundtrack wasn't anything extraordinary either; it was pretty much average.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express mixed feelings about the emotional aspect of games, noting that while some titles, like Earthbound, excel in storytelling and evoke deeper emotions through darker themes, others suffer from frustrating gameplay mechanics, such as oversized hitboxes, which detract from the overall experience and can lead to feelings of unfairness and disappointment.
“Earthbound, one of my favorite games, is a Dragon Quest clone but still stands out due to its unique setting and its storytelling being darker and more emotional, and less adventurous compared to Dragon Quest.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is profoundly impactful, resonating deeply with players, particularly due to its compelling premise. Additionally, the outstanding original soundtrack and sound design significantly enhance the overall immersive experience.
“On top of this, the OST and sound design are great, which adds to the atmosphere of the game quite well.”
“The atmosphere that is being portrayed hits hard, as I'm sure it does with most of us if the premise wasn't already obvious.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is minimal, as the narrative leans heavily towards dark and creepy themes, contrasting with lighter, more humorous moments found in other titles like Celeste. The focus is on serious issues rather than comedic relief, making the overall tone significantly more somber.
