Greak: Memories of Azur

About

"Greak: Memories of Azur" is a side-scrolling, action-adventure game featuring hand-drawn art and animation. Players control three siblings, Greak, Adara, and Raydel, each with unique abilities, as they journey through the fantasy world of Azur to escape an enemy invasion. The game includes puzzle-solving, combat, and a emphasis on working together as a team to progress.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 508 reviews

gameplay87 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Beautiful hand-drawn art style and animations that create an enchanting atmosphere.
Unique gameplay mechanic of controlling multiple characters adds depth to puzzles and exploration.
Engaging story with charming characters that keeps players invested throughout the game.

Clunky controls when managing multiple characters, especially during combat and boss fights.
Limited inventory space and lack of a detailed map can lead to frustrating backtracking.
Short gameplay length (approximately 6-8 hours) may leave players wanting more content.

gameplay
250 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanic of controlling multiple characters simultaneously, which adds an interesting layer to puzzle-solving and exploration. However, this mechanic can also lead to frustration due to its clunky execution and the challenges it presents in combat scenarios. While the game features beautiful visuals and engaging puzzles, many players feel that the gameplay lacks polish and can become tedious, particularly when managing the three characters during more complex interactions.
- “The art and music are very nice and the mechanic of controlling multiple characters is interesting.”
- “Fun little game, the main mechanic of controlling multiple characters is executed pretty well for both combat and puzzles.”
- “The gameplay was crisp and well-paced, the scenery is beautiful.”
- “The gorgeous art style and interesting ideas (cutscenes in a metroidvania and controlling three different characters at the same time) is held back by the repetitive and dull gameplay with uninspired world building and forgettable story.”
- “Absolutely awful game...the central mechanic of the game - swapping between multiple characters, is a chore and makes the game tedious to play.”
- “The mechanics of moving your characters is very cumbersome... as soon as you get another character, moving through the world becomes a chore, and it takes a lot of the fun out of the game.”
story
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The story of the game is generally described as simple and straightforward, focusing on themes of sibling reunion and survival in a plague-ridden world. While some players appreciate the charming art style and emotional undertones, many find the narrative lacking depth and complexity, with repetitive dialogue and a short overall experience. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable but not particularly groundbreaking, leaving players wanting more development and exploration of its themes.
- “The story is quite good, it has a somber and depressing but hopeful atmosphere and the artwork is beautiful, with truly gorgeous hand-drawn sprites and backgrounds.”
- “We have been super fond of the loving siblings, their amazing story and a style that looks like it springs out of Miyazaki's works; while a short adventure, Greak: Memories of Azur is charming, dreamy and begs for a sequel.”
- “Greak weaves a tale of lost brothers and sisters of the ancient courine race, and like the twisting story, the gameplay utilizes character abilities and symbioses as you puzzle platform and fight through each new chapter.”
- “I expected the story of sibling reunion to have a stronger payoff, but once the group is reunited, the game turns its attention solely to the larger narrative – that of the dying countryside and the plague that encroaches all courine life.”
- “The story is poor; there is a lot of dialogue and though I usually care for these things, I found myself skipping.”
- “The story and particularly the writing is amateurish at best.”
graphics
164 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
30%
2%
The graphics of "Greak: Memories of Azur" are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, vibrant animations, and charming character designs, creating an aesthetically pleasing experience reminiscent of titles like "Hollow Knight" and "Ori." While the visuals and accompanying soundtrack are highlighted as standout features, some players note that the game feels unpolished in certain aspects, which can detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's beautiful artwork and engaging visuals are considered its strongest attributes, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visually captivating indie games.
- “This charming platformer delivers a visually stunning experience with its hand-drawn art style and engaging gameplay.”
- “The visuals and music are top notch and I found the world very interesting.”
- “The hand-drawn art style is utterly gorgeous, and with animated cutscenes scattered throughout the game, it feels like you're playing a cartoon.”
- “For all the artwork and well drawn game, playing this game is actually annoying.”
- “The art style looks great but sadly the game falls flat everywhere else.”
- “While the game looks like a gem from the hand-drawn artwork and glowing character animations, it feels unpolished in its current state and leads to a lot of frustrating moments.”
music
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beautiful orchestral compositions and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its cinematic quality and emotional depth. However, some players pointed out issues with repetitiveness and occasional lulls in the soundtrack, suggesting that it could benefit from more consistent looping and situational awareness. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's standout features, complementing its stunning visuals and engaging gameplay.
- “The balance between ambiance and music is deftly struck here, and it’s one of the game’s strongest assets.”
- “The music is carefully composed, hitting all the right notes throughout the story and serves well to enhance the plot and narrative.”
- “The art is great, the music is amazing; it's just easy to see the amount of love put into the development of the game.”
- “More often than not, Greak silences its own soundtrack in favor of quiet ambiance.”
- “The soundtrack is sparse but bombastic, with big sweeping orchestral tracks, but it can become a little repetitive.”
- “Music, however, while being of high value, can feel a little out of place at times, not really capturing the feel of specific areas - rather giving an overall theme throughout the game which unfortunately can become somewhat repetitive.”
grinding
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
4%
88%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly when managing multiple characters and engaging in combat, which often feels like a spamfest. While some enjoy the puzzle design and exploration, the frequent need to repeat actions and the lack of a detailed map contribute to a frustrating experience. However, a few reviewers noted that the game manages to balance gameplay and progression well, minimizing the feeling of grinding.
- “A lot of grinding is required.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “So much of this game is annoying, tedious, and slow.”
- “Absolutely awful game...the central mechanic of the game - swapping between multiple characters, is a chore and makes the game tedious to play.”
- “The final level is also a very tedious puzzle section, which pretty much ruined the entire experience for me, because the game does not have anything resembling an area map, thus controlling 3 characters in completely different parts of the map, and constantly being obstructed by objects one or the other can't pass, is just irritating, especially when you need to get out at the end.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The atmosphere of "Greak: Memories of Azur" is widely praised for its beautiful hand-drawn art, vibrant yet somber visuals, and immersive sound design, which together create a fairy tale-like experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions through its atmospheric scenery and soundtrack, making players feel deeply connected to the world and story. Overall, the game is recognized as a captivating atmospheric 2D platformer that effectively combines art and sound to enhance the narrative experience.
- “The story is quite good, it has a somber and depressing but hopeful atmosphere and the artwork is beautiful, with truly gorgeous hand-drawn sprites and backgrounds.”
- “I like the game's atmosphere a lot, it's beautiful with fluent animations and colorful backgrounds that make one feel like partaking in a fairy tale.”
- “It has such an atmospheric experience that draws you in, whether it's from the beautiful backgrounds or the soothing music.”
- “The art style is simply wonderful, bleak and dark in the setting and atmosphere, with colorful characters popping out - which tends to truly highlight the catastrophic setting and perfectly sets the mood for the story.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features heartwarming character interactions and stunning animations that enhance the emotional experience. Its stellar soundtrack adds depth, creating a touching atmosphere that resonates throughout the gameplay. Overall, players find the short story engaging and surprisingly emotional, complemented by exquisite puzzle and action elements.
- “Character interactions are heartwarming, and the animations are wonderful to watch.”
- “The soundtrack is stellar, touching, and enveloping.”
- “Exquisite puzzle/action/platformer with surprisingly emotional story bits.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, as players feel that once the main story is completed, there are limited incentives to revisit the game, such as a lack of additional modes or content. While some may pursue achievements or speedrun attempts, the general consensus is that the short playtime does not justify the cost.
- “I'd say the replay value is low once you complete the main story, as there are no additional game modes. However, one could attempt to gather all the artifacts, achieve all the achievements, or finish the game in a better time.”
- “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
- “I'd say replay value is low once you complete the main story; there are no additional game modes, but one could attempt to gather all the artifacts, get all the achievements, or finish the game in a better time.”
- “Still, 20 euros for a game that takes at most 6 hours, at best something like 3 to 4 ... with no replay value at all ... that is just too much.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game features stunning art and character design that effectively engages players and fosters emotional investment in the characters through charming animations. However, despite the impressive attention to detail in storytelling and aesthetics, it falls short in delivering a solid core gameplay experience.
- “It's got one of the loveliest art, character design, and ambience I've seen in a while, which really gets you invested in the characters and makes you go 'awww' for many of the animations.”
- “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I don't understand how a game can have so much attention to detail with story, art, animation, and character design, yet fail so hard with a core game mechanic.”
- “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
- “Despite the beautiful design, the character arcs are predictable and uninspired.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, with players reporting a smooth experience free from crashes, stuttering, or bugs, which is increasingly uncommon in modern titles.
- “Optimization is becoming a rare thing these days!”
- “The game runs smoothly with minimal lag, showcasing excellent optimization.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization, making the gameplay experience seamless.”
- “Optimization seems to be a rare thing these days!”
- “No crashing, stuttering, or bugs in my playthrough of any kind.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report stability issues, particularly noting that the second command can cause character freezing, which disrupts gameplay as other characters converge on the frozen location and struggle to navigate obstacles.
- “The second command freezes up your character and causes the others to converge on their location, jumping over obstacles when you tell them to.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of work.”
- “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the overall gameplay experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is perceived as amusing initially, but it may not hold up to repeated playthroughs, suggesting a lack of lasting comedic impact.
- “The humor in this game is genuinely hilarious and keeps you laughing throughout.”
- “I love how the game uses clever puns and witty dialogue to create a lighthearted atmosphere.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is spot on, making even the simplest interactions entertaining.”