Gravia
- March 15, 2021
- Dan Goyette
Get on Steam"Gravia is an early access action/puzzle game where you use a Gravity Glove to create black hole-like Rifts, manipulating physics to destroy obstacles, solve puzzles, and traverse levels at high speeds. With a realistic physics system, the Rifts' gravity affects loose objects and can even bend reinforced structures. Currently, about two-thirds of the expected content is available."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features original mechanics and fun physics that provide an engaging experience, reminiscent of the Portal series.
- Many players find the game enjoyable and fun, with a lot of promise for future updates and improvements.
- The developer is praised for their responsiveness and dedication, contributing to a positive community experience.
- The game currently lacks polish in storytelling and graphics, with some levels being too easy or frustratingly difficult.
- Death screens and certain game mechanics are considered annoying and detract from the overall experience.
- There are concerns about the game's long-term viability and whether it will stand out without further development and refinement.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of opinions, with some praising the originality and potential of the mechanics, particularly the gravity system, while others criticize the lack of depth and consistency in gameplay loops. Although new mechanics are introduced throughout the levels, they often fail to create more complex challenges, leading to frustration with the overall design. The game shows promise, especially for an early release, but requires further development to fully realize its potential.
“Very original mechanic.”
“The game mechanics are phenomenal and with a storyline, this literally has the potential to be the next Portal/Portal 2 in my opinion.”
“Overall, I give it a solid 8/10 for an early-release game and a 10/10 for the novel game mechanic introduced - cannot wait to see how this one shapes up and I really hope a larger studio takes notice of this game and takes it on as I think it would really benefit from the additional resources.”
“Easy puzzles made frustrating via a lack of well thought-out game mechanics is no basis for a game.”
“The gravity mechanics are cute, but nowhere near enough to sustain a whole game that doesn't even have a consistent gameplay loop I could name.”
“New mechanics were introduced with every level, which is quite nice and what you'd expect from a puzzle game, but the concepts were rarely mixed together in bigger, more complicated levels.”
- story10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating its potential and drawing comparisons to the Portal series, while others criticize its lack of polish and limited narrative depth. Many acknowledge that the game is still in development, suggesting that improvements in storytelling and dialogue could enhance the overall experience. Overall, the mechanics are praised, but the storytelling aspect is seen as an area needing significant refinement.
“The game mechanics are phenomenal and with a storyline, this literally has the potential to be the next Portal/Portal 2 in my opinion.”
“Portal vibes are strong here; I played the demo and the updates to this game are great. I love the story.”
“There is a huge lack of polish on the storytelling side, but I knew it: it is out of focus for a project like this.”
“The storyline is non-existent or limited (to be fair, we know this though as the game is still in development).”
“Dialogue is also rudimentary and could benefit extensively from professional voice actors, so hopefully this will evolve with the storyline and campaign.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as simple and in need of significant improvement, suggesting that a professional overhaul could greatly enhance the game's visual appeal. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the current visuals, they lack the polish and detail typically seen in commercial titles, leading to a desire for more elaborate textures and animations. Overall, the consensus is that the graphics could benefit from a more vibrant and refined aesthetic.
“On the visuals, there's nothing wrong with what's there; I just feel like the commercial dev shops put more 'bling' on things.”
“The other thing I actually went back and looked at after you asked me about specifics on the visuals were the doors and associated open/close animations as well as the textures applied to surfaces.”
“I have graphics cranked as high as they will go since my current rig has a water-cooled 2080 Super and can run most games at max settings, so it's possible I notice it more than most gamers would.”
“Graphics are rather simple and definitely need to be spruced up drastically. This is not a one-man job in my opinion; if a studio were to pick this up and give it a total makeover, it would be a huge boon for the game.”
“On the visuals, there's nothing 'wrong' with what's there; I just feel like the commercial development studios put more 'bling' on things.”
“The other thing I actually went back and looked at after you asked me about specifics on the visuals were the doors and associated open/close animations, as well as the textures applied to surfaces.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as a homage to Portal, contributing to its fun atmosphere, but some players find it cringeworthy, which detracts from their overall experience. The combination of music with character interactions and other elements has led to mixed feelings, with some players quickly losing interest.
“Not only is the game a love song to Portal, it's extremely fun in its own right.”
“Cringey music, character interactions, and death screens, amongst other small details, made me nope out of this one pretty quick.”
