Helianthus

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 185 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
Helianthus Game Cover
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Helianthus is a silly little game about an astronaut vacationing on an abandoned planet. With an incoming asteroid strike, it's up to you to grow a massive sunflower by collecting water and sunlight in order to climb back to the safety of your ship. Oh, and don't forget to dodge those asteroids! Helianthus was created in eight days for the Farewell North community Game Jam. Come join the Discor…

  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 185 reviews
story positive mentions
stability negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully emotional story that resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears.
  • Stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack enhance the immersive experience, making players feel connected to the world and characters.
  • Gameplay mechanics are enjoyable and well thought out, providing a relaxing yet engaging experience as players explore and solve puzzles.
  • Some players experienced minor bugs and control issues, particularly with jumping and platforming mechanics.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4 to 10 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Certain puzzles can feel simplistic or repetitive, which might detract from the overall experience for those seeking more challenge.
  • story170 mentions

    The story of "Farewell North" is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive narrative, often leaving players in tears as they connect with the characters, particularly the bond between a dog and its human. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful visuals and soundtrack, which enhance the storytelling experience, making it a memorable journey about love, loss, and companionship. Despite some predictable elements, the overall execution is considered heartfelt and impactful, resonating deeply with players and making it a must-play for fans of story-driven games.

    • “The story is beautiful, sad but beautiful, and one so many of us are familiar with.”
    • “The story brought me to tears a few times and I still have to finish it.”
    • “Everything from the story to the soundtrack to the visuals delivers an immersive experience unlike anything else, and it moved me on such a spiritual and emotional level that I was frequently in tears throughout the game.”
    • “The story was very sad but not in a bad way; it handles topics around loss and closure, so be prepared.”
    • “The story made me cry several times, not including the end, which utterly broke me.”
    • “The story alone puts this game at an 8; however, taking everything into account, I would rate this game a solid 9 out of 10.”
  • music85 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, with many reviewers highlighting its traditional Celtic influences and memorable motifs that enhance the storytelling experience. The soundtrack is described as immersive and atmospheric, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and engaging narrative, often evoking strong emotional responses from players. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's overall impact and enjoyment.

    • “The music perfectly complements all of the moments in the game, whether large or small.”
    • “Everything from the story to the soundtrack to the visuals delivers an immersive experience unlike anything else, and it moved me on such a spiritual and emotional level that I was frequently in tears throughout the game.”
    • “The stunning visuals, beautiful music, playful character interactions, and satisfying mechanics all enhance the overall enjoyment of the story as a whole.”
    • “The music might not have a technically wide variety of songs, but the main motif is well performed and the climactic song is the first game song to make me emotional on repeated listens since the Outer Wilds soundtrack.”
    • “The way the music and sounds tie together is nothing like anything I've seen before.”
    • “The use of color and music is very charming (left clicking creates brief flashes of both and I find myself constantly clicking for the sensation) and the use of greyscale vs color to carry emotions adds depth to the story.”
  • emotional73 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its deeply touching story that evokes strong feelings of love, loss, and companionship. The narrative, combined with beautiful visuals and a haunting soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that has left players in tears, making it a memorable emotional journey. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt and evocative gaming experience.

    • “The story is emotional and sensitively told.”
    • “Everything from the story to the soundtrack to the visuals delivers an immersive experience unlike anything else, and it moved me on such a spiritual and emotional level that I was frequently in tears throughout the game.”
    • “A beautiful experience with a heart-wrenching story and hauntingly excellent soundtrack.”
  • graphics47 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty and artistic style, which effectively enhance the emotional storytelling and immersive experience. While some players noted occasional technical issues, such as clipping, the overall visual presentation is considered a highlight, contributing to a heartfelt and evocative atmosphere. The combination of beautiful visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and a touching narrative creates a memorable experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning, and the vistas we're treated to make me want to get out and find these places in real life!”
    • “The stunning visuals, beautiful music, playful character interactions, and satisfying mechanics all enhance the overall enjoyment of the story as a whole.”
    • “The soundscape and graphics work together to create an evocative, aesthetic, and immersive environment.”
    • “The graphics can be hit and miss for some, but the art style works well for the vibe and tone of the game.”
    • “The game does, admittedly, have its weak points, mostly graphically it can struggle at times (clipping and getting stuck because of it) plus there are sections where collectibles are spaced pretty far out, but those didn't take away from the heartfelt experience.”
    • “While it's certainly not without a few problems, namely the lack of difficulty with the puzzles and the somewhat unpolished controls, its visuals, soundtrack, and story elevate it to a very memorable and enjoyable experience.”
  • gameplay45 mentions

    The gameplay is generally straightforward and relaxing, featuring well-designed mechanics that enhance the emotional storytelling, particularly the unique perspective of playing as a dog. While some players noted slower moments and occasional clunky mechanics, the game compensates with engaging puzzles, beautiful visuals, and a captivating soundtrack that collectively enrich the experience. Overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and varied enough to keep players invested, with a strong emphasis on exploration and emotional connection.

    • “The gameplay is fun, interesting, and unique, and honestly the gorgeous story and impressive amount of polish on the game allowed me to overlook a few moments of clunky platforming.”
    • “The gameplay is straightforward and unlikely to present a serious challenge to most gamers, although there are a few puzzles which require a bit of lateral thinking.”
    • “The gameplay is simple and relaxing, the story is beautiful and impactful while the visuals and music just set the scene perfectly.”
    • “Farewell North to me is a game of caveats - the gameplay has its slower moments where you are just waiting to traverse from one point to another, but it also has moments where simply moving through the world brings its own joy because of the mechanics it gives you.”
    • “Seriously, if this game was a movie or a novel, it would have been dang near perfect, but the jank movements and camera and restrictive mechanics made it really not fun to actually play.”
    • “The gameplay elements are basic with a heavy emphasis on story and exploration.”
  • atmosphere9 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive storytelling, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and artistic visuals that evoke a strong sense of place, particularly through its Scottish landscape. While the graphics may not be cutting-edge, the overall artistic vision and attention to detail create a rich and engaging environment that players find deeply enjoyable. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of sound and character movement, contributing to an atmosphere that elevates the narrative experience.

    • “The story is even further enhanced by the atmospheric and occasionally intense music, the stunning visuals, and the brilliant use of the main gameplay mechanic of reviving color to the world.”
    • “Another thing I would like to point out is that the score is top notch and goes hand in hand with the atmospheric Scottish landscape and vibes the game conveys towards the player. I was already in love with the music the first time I heard 'My Heart's in the Highlands' in one of the trailers, and I was happy to see that the song is actually part of a side quest!”
    • “I personally thoroughly enjoy this way of storytelling and how the environment and atmosphere of the world adds to that story.”
    • “Not exactly visually stunning in terms of graphics, but definitely a visual delight in terms of artistic vision and atmosphere.”
    • “I personally thoroughly enjoy this way of storytelling and how the environment and atmosphere of the world adds to that story.”
    • “The art style is simpler but perfect so it doesn't take you away from focusing on the story; you can feel the time and effort put into sound, character movement, and overall atmosphere.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The stability of the game has been criticized for being somewhat buggy, with several users noting that it feels unfinished due to various glitches. These issues have impacted overall scores, preventing some players from rating it higher.

    • “A bit too buggy for my liking; it doesn't feel like a finished product.”
    • “The only thing that prevented it from getting a perfect score were a few bugs and glitches I encountered.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging interactive gameplay and light puzzles, complemented by a variety of amusing stories that enhance the overall experience.

    • “There is a lot to explore here, with plenty of interactive gameplay, some light puzzles, and a few funny stories.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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