Helianthus

98%
Game Brain Score Based on 221 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…

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Reviews

98%
Audience ScoreBased on 221 reviews
story93 positive mentions
stability2 negative mentions
  • Farewell North features a beautifully crafted story that explores themes of grief and companionship, resonating deeply with players.
  • The game boasts stunning visuals and an evocative soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey.
  • Playing as a Border Collie adds a unique perspective to the gameplay, allowing players to engage with the world in a heartwarming way.
  • Some players experienced issues with controls and animations, describing them as clunky or unpolished at times.
  • The gameplay can feel slow or repetitive, particularly during certain puzzles or exploration segments, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • A few players reported minor bugs and glitches that interrupted their gameplay, although these were generally not game-breaking.
  • story195 mentions

    The story of "Farewell North" is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful execution, told from the unique perspective of a dog. Players report being deeply engaged and often moved to tears by the narrative, which explores themes of love, loss, and companionship, all set against stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack. While some found the story's pacing and mechanics straightforward, the overall experience is described as heartfelt and immersive, making it a standout in story-driven gaming.

    • “A beautifully designed game with a touching story that is guaranteed to touch the heart.”
    • “The story, characters, and environment were so very well done and amazing, plus the soundtrack is spectacular, and I can’t praise it enough.”
    • “The story is gut-punching in the best possible way, and seeing everything through the eyes of the dog just makes those hard-hitting moments more potent.”
    • “My only disappointment with the game was that the story seemed pretty basic and heavy-handed.”
    • “Maybe there's more depth as you go, but the puzzles and story seemed pretty surface-level when I played.”
    • “The story was very sad but not in a bad way; it handles topics around loss and closure, so be prepared.”
  • music95 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, often described as breathtaking and beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience. Many players highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke strong feelings, with traditional Celtic influences that resonate deeply with the game's themes of grief and connection. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, perfectly complementing the stunning visuals and poignant storytelling.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “I think the only thing I felt was missing is maybe having the theme song performed in Gaelic as a treat during the end game credits.”
  • emotional86 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting deep connections to its touching story, which often leads to tears and heartfelt reflections on love, loss, and companionship. The narrative, told from the perspective of a dog, is complemented by stunning visuals and a moving soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that resonates on a personal level. Overall, players recommend the game for its ability to evoke strong emotions and provide a memorable, heartwarming journey.

    • “I've never cried before finishing a game, but this one was so special and heartwarming.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay54 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of exploration and puzzle-solving, set in a visually stunning world that enhances the emotional narrative. While some players found the mechanics engaging and varied, others noted moments of sluggishness and clunky controls, particularly with canoe navigation. Overall, the gameplay is described as straightforward and relaxing, with a strong emphasis on story and atmosphere, making it enjoyable despite some minor frustrations.

    • “A rare gem where the visual effects are part of the gameplay and even the story; you can take it at your own pace and explore a lively, lush world.”
    • “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 simple and relaxing, the story is beautiful and impactful, while the visuals and music just set the scene perfectly.”
    • “Although from a gameplay standpoint, it sometimes was a slog to continue to the next point.”
    • “Gameplay: 6.5/10 - I only put this as low since there's one big island you go to for one of the main/side quests, it's far too big to actually enjoy it gameplay-wise, and it just left me feeling a little burnt out to the point where I was questioning if I should actually continue, so it would have been nice to have some form of fast travel checkpoints for key points, especially for this big island.”
    • “Seriously, if this game was a movie or a novel, it would have been dang near perfect, but the janky movements, camera issues, and restrictive mechanics made it really not fun to actually play.”
  • graphics53 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic style, which effectively complement the emotional narrative. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and atmospheric effects, noting that the graphics enhance the overall immersive experience, despite some minor technical issues. Overall, the visuals are described as a key element that elevates the storytelling and emotional impact of the game.

    • “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 game takes you on an emotional roller coaster through a really well-crafted story, while providing stunning visuals and audio.”
    • “The graphics can be hit and miss for some, I imagine, 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.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautifully crafted elements, including evocative music, stunning visuals, and a poignant narrative that captures the bittersweet nature of grief. Reviewers highlight the effective use of Gaelic and the artistic vision that enhances the storytelling, creating an immersive experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact.

    • “The game has a beautiful atmosphere, with the dialogue, music, and events perfectly capturing the bittersweet beauty of grief.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has been criticized for being somewhat buggy, with several users noting that it feels unfinished due to the presence of glitches and bugs. These issues have impacted the overall experience, preventing some players from giving it a perfect score.

    • “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 and a lot 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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