Holomento
- April 27, 2022
- Sean Weech
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Holomento is an Indie Permadeath Action-RPG with exceptional graphics and good music, focused on the dangerous quest of passing through the cursed Eventide Hollow. As generations of Travelers, players open shortcuts, reveal secrets, locate relics, and build improvements, or invest in the Hollow's Stonk Market. The Holomento, a cursed book, traps the souls of all who possess it, creating a new Traveler with each death. Write your own story in this desperate land."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Holomento offers a unique blend of exploration and RPG elements, reminiscent of games like Risk of Rain 2 and Dark Souls, providing a satisfying gameplay loop.
- The art style and visuals are stunning, creating an engaging and vibrant world that players enjoy exploring.
- The developers are actively working on updates and improvements, showing a commitment to enhancing the game and addressing player feedback.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with combat responsiveness, hit detection, and getting stuck in the environment, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Combat feels unpolished and lacks impact, making encounters less satisfying and often leading to frustration during gameplay.
- As it is still in early access, many features and content are incomplete or vague, leaving players feeling lost without clear objectives or guidance.
- graphics28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its beautiful and unique art style, often compared to "Risk of Rain 2." While the visuals are described as gorgeous and appealing, some users noted that the game appears unpolished and suffers from bugs and glitches. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience, despite some concerns about performance and early access issues.
“The graphics and art style are beautiful, also very similar to Risk of Rain 2.”
“Gorgeous minimalist visuals.”
“The game does have beautiful visuals though, everything seems to be custom made and not bought off some asset store.”
“Now much as I am a fan of the direction the game is headed as well as the visuals, it would be wrong not to address the current amount of bugs/glitches.”
“Sadly the game requires a better graphics card than I own, and I don't want to pay $300 just so that I can play it.”
“The art style also seems to take inspiration from Risk of Rain 2, and while looking unpolished, still manages to look pretty and the world is nice to look at and study as you explore.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of potential and shortcomings; while the core mechanics and art style are appreciated, many players find the gameplay lacking in diversity and polish, with issues like a confusing map and unbalanced challenges. The combat feels amateurish, and although there are interesting elements and secrets to discover, the overall experience is marred by early access roughness and a need for more variety in enemies and weapons. Despite these criticisms, some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay loop and believe improvements are on the horizon.
“Very zen gameplay loop.”
“The gameplay here is quite fun and interesting.”
“But the surrounding package is really great, the ideas are there, the style is great, and the general flow of gameplay is satisfying.”
“Gameplay lacks diversity; there's no map, so I was just running in circles and couldn't find where I needed to go.”
“Combat and general gameplay feel so amateur it's almost hilarious.”
“Even with the early access issues, there's something at the core of the game that feels dull, unbalanced, a little confusing, and as if there's no real shining gameplay beats.”
- music17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as pleasant and fitting with the indie aesthetic, though some reviewers noted it could benefit from more intensity during combat scenarios. The soundtrack complements the beautiful art style and enhances the overall atmosphere, making it enjoyable for players who appreciate immersive soundscapes. While there are some criticisms regarding the variety and impact of the music, many agree it adds to the game's charm and potential.
“The art style feels very refreshing and unique, the combat exists in a Goldilocks zone, where it's not too challenging but it still punishes unwise decisions (like not stocking up on health potions), and I can't help but find myself humming to the soundtrack, especially traversing the different regions.”
“The soundtrack is pleasant, the environment feels almost storybook-like with what I've been introduced to.”
“So, the game is really nice, amazing soundtrack, beautiful graphics, and solid combat for the most part.”
“You can hear when enemies spawn but no intense music when you're actually fighting unless it's a boss, but that could use a bit of improvement too.”
“A few soundtracks in each zone.”
“The music is comfy for me, big fan of soundtracks in games.”
- story16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is currently underdeveloped, with limited narrative content primarily found through scattered collectibles and notes. Players report numerous bugs and issues with quest functionality, detracting from the overall experience, while some appreciate the game's environment and potential for exploration. As it is still in early access, many hope for improvements in the quest system and a more cohesive storyline in future updates.
“The soundtrack is pleasant, and the environment feels almost storybook-like with what I've been introduced to.”
“Of course, the game is still in early access, and that means there isn't much story yet, but that's okay, at least for me.”
“There isn't much of a story; items are fairly limited, it's easy to get stuck on terrain (hence the dedicated 'get unstuck' option), and it can feel a bit clunky.”
“The story is there but is mainly scattered around the world with notes and collectible items named relics.”
“Just sloppy quest implementations in general.”
- stability10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing a range of bugs and glitches, which detracts from the overall experience, especially given its early access status. While some players find it enjoyable and appreciate its potential, others report that the instability makes it unplayable at times, particularly in critical gameplay moments like permadeath scenarios. Overall, the consensus is that while the game shows promise, it requires significant improvements in stability before it can be fully recommended.
“Too buggy at the moment, not playable.”
“Now much as I am a fan of the direction the game is headed as well as the visuals, it would be wrong not to address the current amount of bugs/glitches.”
“I enjoy it, it's fun and has cool features, but a game with permadeath can't have so many glitches that make you die.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its janky mechanics and amateurish gameplay, which some players find both amusing and frustrating. The vast, often empty world can feel tedious, but the addition of speed boosts later on adds a comedic element to the experience as players dash between enemy groups. Overall, the game's quirks contribute to a lighthearted, if imperfect, sense of fun.
“Overall, it's a fun game, and the jankiness is funny and frustrating at the same time.”
“The world could be smaller since a lot of space is empty, but with a 200% speed buff later on, it becomes funny again to run from one enemy group to the next.”
“Combat and general gameplay feel so amateur that it's almost hilarious.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating a unique and tranquil atmosphere, enhancing the single-player experience and immersing players in its serene environment.
“I think what this game does really well is capture a truly unique atmosphere in a tranquil single-player game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that late-game progression can be tedious, indicating that grinding may become a chore, although some have yet to fully experience this aspect of the game.
“Late game progression still feels pretty tedious, but I haven't really gotten into it yet.”
“The grinding is relentless and makes the game feel more like a chore than fun.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which really kills the enjoyment.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for its inconsistency, with users noting a lack of cohesion in art, character design, and lore, which detracts from the overall depth and engagement of the characters.
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
“There is a noticeable lack of depth in the characters' backstories and motivations.”
“The characters often feel one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with them.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is not directly addressed in the review, which focuses more on gameplay mechanics and minor issues. However, the acknowledgment of the game's beta status suggests that players may be hopeful for improvements that could enhance their overall emotional engagement in the final release.
