Isolomus
- December 4, 2020
- Michael Rfdshir
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Get on itch.io Store"Isolomus" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game with distinctive handmade plasticine graphics. The 20-minute experience features two possible endings, leaving players to decide which is the worst. With no text, the game delivers an interactive representation of isolation-induced madness.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The claymation art style is unique and beautifully executed, creating a surreal and engaging atmosphere.
- The game offers a bizarre and thought-provoking experience, encouraging players to interpret its abstract themes in their own way.
- For its low price, the game provides a memorable and interesting short experience, making it worth the investment for fans of surreal art.
- The gameplay is minimal and can feel more like an interactive art project than a traditional game, which may not appeal to everyone.
- The experience is very short, typically lasting around 15-30 minutes, which some players may find unsatisfying.
- The lack of a clear narrative or logical progression can leave players feeling confused and unsure about what they just experienced.
- graphics38 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Isolomus features a unique and atmospheric art style, heavily influenced by claymation, which many players find both fascinating and unsettling. The visuals are described as creative and mildly disturbing, reminiscent of surrealist artists like Salvador Dali, and are complemented by a strong soundtrack. Overall, the game's handcrafted aesthetic and experimental visuals have garnered positive feedback, making it a recommended experience for those seeking something out of the ordinary.
“The art style is really cool, and I find it to be incredibly atmospheric.”
“I loved the graphics (which were all handmade, and I very much love whenever games do that).”
“From the visual point of view, it would be good to say that if you are familiar with the artworks of Salvador Dali or Zdzislaw Beksinski, you will like the weirdness hidden in each of the animations.”
“The visuals are mildly disturbing; I have seen visuals way more disturbing than the ones in this game, but combined with the squelching, wet noises, it gives a decent horror experience.”
“Very unique and disturbed art style.”
“Short, weird little game with a really unique art style.”
- story30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in Isolomus is described as abstract and open to interpretation, with themes of existential horror, self-care, and isolation, though many players found it difficult to grasp fully. While the game features a unique art style and psychological elements, it lacks a traditional narrative structure, leaving players to navigate a surreal experience without clear goals or a cohesive plot. Overall, the storytelling is seen as beautifully crafted yet perplexing, inviting personal reflection rather than providing definitive answers.
“As for the story, I'll say this game is more psychological as the multiple endings left a lot to be interpreted, so don't expect to understand everything, but do know there's no wrong or right answer, ranging from being about self-care, self-destruction, isolation.”
“I could feel the love and story that was put into this game, even if it was hard to understand; everyone can relate somewhat to the horrors of this impermanent metallic clay world.”
“But it does have very surreal features and the story is probably deeper than what I got, which was just some trippy adventure that could have been someone's twisted dream.”
“It's a well done game with different choices of interactions but there is no story at all.”
“I don't want to sound overly harsh, but it is hardly a game in that you can mindlessly click through most of it (not all of it) and there's no goal or overall story.”
“There is no narration, no story, no gameplay.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as minimal and artsy, requiring curiosity and exploration for interaction, which many players found enjoyable. While the game is relatively short, it offers a unique blend of structured gameplay and chaotic sensory experiences, complemented by appealing animations and a no-text approach. Overall, players express interest in future releases from the developer.
“Very interesting gameplay, looking forward to more releases from the developer.”
“In other words, a perfect blend of orderly gameplay and chaotic sensory experience: that's this game.”
“The gameplay here isn’t much, but you still need to be curious and find new ways to interact with the game, which I found a lot of fun.”
“This game is way shorter when it comes to the time you're going to spend on gameplay.”
“The trailer will give you an insight into the aesthetic of the game, and in terms of gameplay it's minimal, like a lot of artsy games.”
“It reminded me of that, not really in the gameplay objective but just the spectacle of it all.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by an eerie, dreamlike soundtrack that enhances the strange and captivating visuals, creating a bone-chilling atmosphere. Players appreciate the combination of ambient sounds and unique musical elements, likening the experience to a surreal music video. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's intriguing and immersive experience.
“Strange shapes, sounds, and the eerie, dreamlike soundtrack playing in the background will keep you glued to the screen just to see what whacky thing comes next.”
“Interesting atmosphere, bone-chilling soundtrack, creepy claymation models... one of the most interesting games I've played.”
“The visuals were insane and the soundtrack was really good.”
“Just grunts, sounds, and ambient music.”
“Just music/sounds and plasticine shapes that form and reform as you click.”
“It's kind of like playing the music video for Tool's 'Sober'.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its unique and experimental atmosphere, characterized by a bone-chilling soundtrack and creepy claymation models. Despite its short duration of about 20 minutes, it effectively captivates players with its striking art style and immersive presentation, making it a memorable experience.
“Interesting atmosphere, bone-chilling soundtrack, creepy claymation models... one of the most interesting games I've played.”
“At only about 20 minutes, it's still interesting enough to keep your attention and establish a unique and experimental atmosphere.”
“The art style is really cool, and I find it to be incredibly atmospheric.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews suggest that grinding in games can evoke feelings of mundanity and tedium, akin to the experience of depression. While some titles, like *Hylics*, creatively incorporate unique aesthetics to challenge this grind, many games fail to innovate, leading to a repetitive experience that may reflect a deeper commentary on life's monotony.
“For me, it represents how depression first makes you live from day to day, making your life mundane and tedious.”
“Imprisonment simulation with a handful of endings may help you see the true reality beyond the colorful facade of daily grinding.”
“I've always been quite fascinated by claymation - I can really only imagine what a tedious and laborious process it must be, all for the sake of aesthetic.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the creator's evident investment and passion, resulting in a well-crafted experience that resonates with players. Despite its limited resources, the game successfully avoids common pitfalls, delivering a concise and engaging narrative that leaves a lasting impact.
“The creator was clearly invested in this short piece, managing to provide something that most studios fail to: a well-synergized (visually and auditorily) experience, where nothing is dragged on longer than it should be, and anticipated little annoyances are absent.”
“This game evokes a deep emotional response, showcasing the developer's passion and commitment to creating a meaningful experience.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative truly resonates, leaving a lasting impact that lingers long after the game is over.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers a notable level of replayability, allowing players to explore various outcomes based on their choices, despite the often bleak results. With a unique soundscape enhancing the experience, players can enjoy multiple playthroughs within a short time frame.
“The game features a strange soundscape with creepy ambient drones and wet squelching sounds, along with a surprising amount of replay value to explore all the different outcomes based on your choices. It's a unique way to spend 20 minutes, even if the outcomes aren't always good.”
“With its eerie sound design and multiple endings, the game offers a compelling reason to replay it and discover all the various paths you can take.”
“The replayability is impressive, as each choice leads to different outcomes, making it worthwhile to experience the game multiple times.”
“The game offers a surprising amount of replay value to see all the different outcomes that come from your choices, but don't expect any good outcomes.”
“While the soundscape is intriguing, the replayability feels limited as the outcomes are often unsatisfying.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report stability issues including audio glitches, such as squashing sounds at high volumes, and problems with small collision boxes in puzzles. Additionally, some players find certain game endings to be excessively difficult, even when following guides.
“I found there were audio glitches, such as squashing sounds at high volume despite turning the game volume all the way down, and small collision boxes with puzzles. Additionally, the ending was unnecessarily hard despite following guides and playing through it multiple times.”
