Homebrew - Patent Unknown | Game Brain

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"Homebrew - Patent Unknown" is a unique puzzle-platformer that challenges players to manipulate time and space. Using the Copybug tool, players can duplicate objects and manipulate their properties to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. With its mysterious setting and innovative gameplay, "Homebrew - Patent Unknown" offers a fresh take on the puzzle genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,304 reviews

graphics22 positive mentions

stability38 negative mentions

The game allows for incredible creativity, enabling players to build almost any vehicle they can imagine.
The community is very supportive and helpful, with active developers who engage with players and respond to feedback.
The new builder update has streamlined the building process, making it easier and more intuitive to create complex vehicles.

The game has a steep learning curve, which can be frustrating for new players who may find the controls and building mechanics confusing.
There are still many bugs and performance issues, particularly with vehicle physics and multiplayer stability.
The game lacks a clear objective or purpose beyond building, which may lead to boredom for some players after the initial excitement.

gameplay
114 mentions
21 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this vehicle-building game is characterized by its complex mechanics and creative potential, allowing players to construct a wide variety of vehicles. However, many users find the gameplay unintuitive and poorly optimized, with some mechanics being difficult to grasp initially. While the building interface has improved, comparisons to similar games like Scrap Mechanic highlight a perception of wasted potential and a need for better optimization and clarity in gameplay.
- “They definitely upped their game with the build mechanics.”
- “After getting used to the controls and mechanics, I was able to start really getting into the building side of the game.”
- “All in all, it's a solid vehicle building game that's worth the current price ($17.99 USD) and if you're creative and enjoy learning as well as mechanics and building, then I think you'll enjoy this game.”
- “Unintuitive gameplay, takes forever to build something, and even then hardly anything works well.”
- “Doesn't have that feeling of wanting to get into any sort of gameplay or messing around; performance might still not be all that great either.”
- “I'll say it here, if you want something like this game, get Brick Rigs or Scrap Mechanic. This game is just a bucket of wasted potential that I wish could've seen the light of day.”
graphics
82 mentions
27 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them serviceable or even impressive for an early access title, while others criticize them as outdated or poorly optimized, likening them to advanced mobile games or graphics from the 2000s. Performance issues are noted, particularly in multiplayer settings, and while some appreciate the clean visuals and broad part list, others report jagged textures and low resolution. Overall, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern to gameplay mechanics, with potential for improvement as the game develops.
- “The graphics are outstanding.”
- “This is a perfect example of what a good sandbox game should be... even though it is currently an early access game, it is still very fun, the graphics are amazing, and every little aspect of your projects in the game are customizable.”
- “The game is graphically impressive, and presents itself very well.”
- “The models for parts are restrictive and the graphics are about on par with some of the more advanced mobile games out there, so bearing in mind that this is an £11 'early access game', I think that it is fair to say that this is a very disappointing game.”
- “The graphics are rudimentary, the explanations in the tutorial were less than clear, I have not been able to find out how to put some paneling on my vehicles so that they look like anything more than a frame with parts bolted on, and the map is so bleak and basic that I have no interest in going out to explore it in one of my shoddy homebrew vehicles.”
- “The controls are incredibly un-intuitive, the physics are awful, and the graphics are from about 2006.”
optimization
44 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players noting significant improvements for lower-end PCs, while others experience lag and poor performance, especially on integrated graphics. Multiplayer stability and overall performance can be inconsistent, and while updates have introduced optimizations, many users still report feeling that the game is unpolished and suffers from various technical issues. Overall, the building mechanics are praised, but the game's performance remains a point of contention among players.
- “Very well optimized for lower-end computers, but don't buy it if you have integrated graphics.”
- “The game has changed quite a bit since my original review (2-14-15), with a lot more good stuff added, but the quality of gameplay has not suffered at all (it's actually much better, and more optimized).”
- “Every update brings either new parts, new tracks for racing, or some kind of optimization or improvement.”
- “While there are a few stability quirks in multiplayer and needs for optimization in general, the building itself is spectacular and very in depth.”
- “Not to mention some smaller issues, such as the only passable feel of the physics, poor graphics, poor optimization, and abysmal server hosting system.”
- “Absolutely awful performance.”
stability
42 mentions
10 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, frequent freezes, and disconnections in multiplayer mode, leading to a frustrating experience. While some players note that the game runs well on lower-end hardware and appreciate the developers' responsiveness to issues, many feel that the game is still incomplete and requires significant improvements to be enjoyable. Overall, the consensus is that the game is currently too buggy and unstable for a satisfying experience.
- “No lag; it may say it needs 3 cores to run, but it really doesn't. It runs great at decent settings on my dual-core laptop with a dated graphics card.”
- “This game runs great overall, providing a stable experience despite some minor issues.”
- “The performance is impressive, with no noticeable lag, making it enjoyable to play.”
- “Dead, buggy, and not finished.”
- “Instantly freezes.”
- “Bought it, played it, got bored, confused, and then bored again. This game is nowhere near complete; it's buggy, the creation system is a mess, and this needs some serious improvement for it to even be worth $1. Seriously guys, step up your game; this is shocking, and for that reason, I refunded the game.”
story
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
22 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, as it features no campaign, missions, or engaging narrative elements, leaving players with an expansive but empty playground to explore. Many users express that the absence of goals and interactable content leads to a quickly boring experience, suggesting that the game would benefit significantly from a structured story mode and more challenges. Overall, the consensus is that while the building mechanics are enjoyable, the lack of a compelling story detracts from the overall experience.
- “It's stuck with me ever since, and there are many gamers with the same story.”
- “Even though it was smaller, it wasn't so hard with the controls, the story wasn't that long.”
- “Would be an amazing game with easier building and a story mode.”
- “The game has no story or goals; it's just building and using your vehicle to explore.”
- “Pretty much nothing in the overworld of the game is interactable; it's just a huge (and I mean huge) empty playground for you to drive on. Just don't expect missions or NPCs.”
- “It gets boring very quickly with no campaign or missions to complete.”
grinding
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the building system to be tedious and cumbersome, particularly due to the first-person camera and overwhelming menus that complicate the construction process. While the game's concept shows promise, the complexity of building and programming can lead to burnout, especially when attempting intricate designs. Despite these challenges, there is hope that ongoing development may improve the experience.
- “Tools upon tools and menus upon tedious menus.”
- “The concept is promising, but the building system is hard and tedious.”
- “That being said, it's not without its problems; the plating system used for making your builds look like something more than a bunch of sticks can get extremely tedious and burn you out on the game for a while if you decide to make something super complex.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Players find the game enjoyable and innovative, particularly praising the new builder feature that enhances playability. However, the lack of multiplayer options and some awkward controls contribute to a perception of limited replayability.
- “The new builder has made the game so much more playable.”
- “Great game, very interesting concept, and very fun! The controls are a little weird, but the replayability is enhanced with the new features.”
- “Great game, very interesting concept and very fun, but the controls are a little weird and there is somewhat limited replayability because it doesn't have multiplayer yet.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviewers emphasize the importance of emotional investment in the game's objectives, suggesting that a deeper connection to the performance of vehicles could significantly enhance the overall experience. Without this emotional engagement, the game feels lacking despite its potential.
music
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game is highlighted for its nostalgic appeal, particularly through the use of chiptune sounds that evoke memories of classic video games. Players find themselves immersed in the retro audio experience, which enhances their overall enjoyment and engagement with the game.
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is enhanced by the player's ability to customize every individual part of their vehicle, contributing to a deeply immersive experience. This level of personalization seems to resonate strongly with players, adding to the overall ambiance of the game.
- “Maybe it's the player's ability to customize every individual part of their vehicle, or maybe it's just the atmosphere.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization model, viewing it as an unnecessary and arbitrary restriction that undermines the promised freedom of the game, particularly given its pre-alpha status.