Headspun
- August 28, 2019
- Superstring
- 9h median play time
I don’t know about you, but I’ve often wondered about how, exactly, my own brain works.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Headspun" is a single-player Role Playing game that offers an intriguing story which takes about 9 hours to beat. As the Director of Cortex, Ted, players will navigate branching dialogues, repair Cortex by earning Neuros to hire staff and commission renovations, and work to uncover the events of Theo's accident by reconciling the views of the logical consciousness and emotional subconscious. The game is presented through rich FMV story-telling.
Reviews
- The game features a unique concept and an intriguing story that many players found engaging.
- The art style and FMV elements are praised for their charm and creativity, adding depth to the gameplay experience.
- Despite its issues, some players enjoyed the gameplay mechanics and found it fun, especially for the low price.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to game-breaking issues and hinder progress.
- Many players reported a lack of proper playtesting, resulting in frustrating experiences with freezing and unresponsive elements.
- The promised features, such as branching dialogue, are minimal, leading to disappointment for those expecting a more complex narrative.
- story15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story is widely praised for its creativity, emotional depth, and engaging character development, with many reviewers highlighting its unique perspective and compelling narrative. Despite some technical issues and bugs, players find the storytelling to be a standout aspect that keeps them invested and eager to see how it unfolds. Overall, the narrative is described as relatable and moving, making it a significant draw for the game.
“The story is good, the characters are very good.”
“Nice and intriguing story.”
“The story is relatable and full of heartache.”
“With the mention of lost memories (as well as the inclusion of FMV and Wales Interactive's track record of published games), you might think this game is similar to The Shapeshifting Detective, Contradiction, or even Her Story (not by Wales Interactive but has a robust 'memory retrieval' gameplay mechanic).”
“There are one or two bugs, but it's a hell of a story.”
“Worth seeing through for the story reveals.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay and suggest inadequate testing before release. Players report frequent freezing and other technical problems, detracting from an otherwise promising concept and story.
“The developers had an idea for the game, but this game is extremely buggy.”
“With the sheer amount of bugs and glitches in the game, it's clear that they didn't playtest it fully before it was released, which is unacceptable.”
“The concept is interesting and the story really seems like it's going somewhere good, but the game itself is buggy as hell.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of FMV and 2D art, creating a quirky and engaging experience reminiscent of titles like "Her Story" and "The Shapeshifting Detective." Players appreciate the creative story, strong performances, and innovative mechanics that enhance the overall fun and immersive quality of the game.
“Quirky and fun to play, unique gameplay and game mechanics, nice blend between 2D art and videos.”
“Visually, the game radiates style and the FMV sections lend a sense of gravitas that complements the more irreverent art direction and general gameplay tone nicely.”
“The actors are great, the story is creative and the gameplay is fun.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their excellent art style, reminiscent of Hewlett's work, which complements the game's overall aesthetic alongside a fitting soundtrack. However, some users reported graphical bugs that affected gameplay, including issues that caused time freezes during mini-games. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, especially for an indie title.
“An excellent Hewlett-esque art style and a fab soundtrack round out a terrific package that makes the very best of an indie budget to produce something both ambitious and perfectly sized, if you want to polish it all off in an evening.”
“I like the art style and the sounds and music fit the scenario.”
“Many of the other bugs I came across were graphical, including the bug that leads to a time freeze, preventing mini-games from being completed to save up resources.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for complementing its excellent art style, creating an immersive experience that enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the fab soundtrack, noting that it effectively fits the game's scenarios and contributes to its ambitious indie charm.
“An excellent Hewlett-esque art style and a fabulous soundtrack round out a terrific package that makes the very best of an indie budget to produce something both ambitious and perfectly sized, if you want to polish it all off in an evening.”
“I like the art style, and the sounds and music fit the scenario.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the game heavily focuses on resource farming and management, drawing comparisons to titles like "My Lovely Daughter" and "Frostpunk," indicating a significant emphasis on grinding for resources to progress.
“This game is primarily a resource farming and managing game, similar to 'My Lovely Daughter' or 'Frostpunk'.”
“The grinding aspect feels tedious and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found myself spending hours on grinding without any real sense of progress or reward.”
Critic Reviews
Headspun review
A high-minded effort and decent story undermined by bugs and mindless management mechanics.
54%Headspun review
Headspun's mix of management sim and FMV narrative is fairly unique. However, repetition and buggy gameplay mar the game's potential.
50%Headspun Review
I don’t know about you, but I’ve often wondered about how, exactly, my own brain works.
60%
