It Comes In Waves
- April 5, 2023
- Merlino Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"It Comes In Waves" is a minimalist game set on the harsh desert planet of Eremar Prime. As a lone outcast, you must scavenge for resources, fight off raiders and creatures, and make tough choices to survive while trying to grow a specimen for The Sanctuary. The game features exploration, combat, and resource management with water being the main resource. Death is permanent, with no option to reload, making each decision crucial for survival.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and beautiful visuals that create an immersive experience.
- Thoughtful narrative that resonates with themes of grief and survival.
- Short and engaging gameplay that encourages exploration and resource management.
- Game is very short, often completed in under an hour, leaving players wanting more.
- Combat feels lackluster and enemies are not challenging, leading to a repetitive experience.
- Lack of save function and permadeath mechanic can be frustrating for players.
- gameplay126 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and minimalist mechanics, focusing on resource management and survival elements, such as collecting water and avoiding dehydration. While many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and effective core mechanics, some criticize the lack of depth and variety, noting that the game can feel short and somewhat repetitive. Overall, it offers a satisfying experience for those seeking a brief, engaging adventure, though it leaves room for expansion and complexity in future iterations.
“Still, it doesn't take away from the simple and effective gameplay that made it my high recommendation for anyone to play to experience this immersive world.”
“The soundtrack is eerie, and though gameplay is easy, the hunt for water kept me on my toes, so I was never allowed to feel comfortable.”
“This creates a really simple but effective gameplay loop, as you are constantly moving from one area to the next trying to find water and specimen grow-capsules, all while avoiding dehydration and death.”
“- bare-bones mechanics with no depth or decision-making (one gun, one enemy type, if you see anything collect it)”
“Don't expect much in terms of gameplay beyond some basic shooting.”
“Besides the low variety of gameplay, the only other gripe I have is that it was a bit easy.”
- atmosphere122 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty and depth, with many reviewers highlighting its evocative sound design, art style, and emotional resonance. Players appreciate the minimalist storytelling that complements the rich, immersive environments, often described as desolate yet compelling, reminiscent of classic indie and retro aesthetics. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, creating a memorable and reflective experience that invites exploration and emotional engagement.
“This is a beautiful piece of work, with impressive atmosphere and sound, and a moving theme.”
“However, the atmosphere is phenomenal, and the very little bits of story it gives you are rather compelling, and kept me wanting to learn more.”
“The real star of the show here is the atmosphere provided by the landscape, day/night cycles, and music.”
“Story-wise it's also pretty sad, there's this lonely atmosphere and you're an outcast; everyone seems to dislike you.”
“The experience and atmosphere, and a little bit of monotony, have made me think and reflect.”
“Short, cool game with a little bit of mechanics and a desolate atmosphere (but not desolate environments).”
- story98 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal yet intriguing, set in a desolate, atmospheric world that enhances its emotional depth. Players embark on a personal mission filled with cryptic elements and a sense of loneliness, which resonates with many, despite the brevity and simplicity of the narrative. Overall, the combination of gameplay mechanics and storytelling creates a compelling experience that leaves players wanting more, while effectively conveying deeper themes.
“The story had me intrigued enough to see it through to the end.”
“Ultimately, the game is a concise, beautiful experience that was clearly curated with a careful hand and a desire to create a world to hold up a deeply intimate story.”
“An amazing story - it's simple, but it's very emotional and understandable; I love such things in games.”
“The game doesn't really have a whole lot of story.”
“The story is not as deep as people here are making it out to be.”
“But it seemed to me that it wasn't enough - I wanted even more little things, more places with story (like one of the settlements), more places for exploring.”
- graphics82 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a nostalgic low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of PS1 and N64 titles, which many players find charming and atmospheric. Reviewers praise the beautiful world design and art style, noting that the visuals effectively enhance the game's emotional themes and immersive experience. While some mention minor glitches and a desire for more graphical options, the overall sentiment is that the retro graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
“Phenomenal world design, mood, and art style.”
“The graphics are so wistful; they're pixelated and low poly, but the quality is so impressive, it feels better than most AAA games.”
“It's a beautiful game, and it has a gorgeous art style.”
“This game has 'shitty' graphics, it's short, it has almost no story and yet it is completely worth it!”
“A mood piece, immersing you in the feeling of grief via PS1 graphics.”
“Ps1 era graphics.”
- emotional22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, with players reporting a strong connection to its heartfelt narrative and atmospheric design. Many found it to evoke personal memories and feelings, particularly resonating with themes of self-forgiveness and grief. Overall, it is seen as a refreshing departure from typical action-oriented titles, offering a poignant and relatable experience.
“This game is atmospheric and heartfelt.”
“Sometimes I am so harsh on myself, and the repeated 'forgive yourself' lines made me feel emotional.”
“An amazing story - it's simple, but it's very emotional and understandable; I love such things in games.”
- music18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and eerie qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a soundtrack that evokes a sense of foreboding and complements the game's aesthetic. While some players question the game's overall depth, they agree that the sound design and music significantly contribute to its immersive environment, making it a standout feature despite the gameplay's repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, adding to the game's unique vibe and emotional impact.
“The game's aesthetic and music are a wonderful facet of an overall great experience.”
“The soundtrack is eerie, and though gameplay is easy, the hunt for water kept me on my toes, so I was never allowed to feel comfortable.”
“Unfortunately, the game is not developed far enough to be much more than a repetitive shooter where you pick up a few items, but it's still kinda fun to just run around and take screenshots; the music and just the overall vibes are on point.”
“The real star of the show here is the atmosphere provided by the landscape, day/night cycles, and music.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game avoids the typical resource management grind found in many titles, some players still find aspects of gameplay, such as prolonged movement and waiting, to be tedious. The combat is generally satisfying, but the overall experience can feel short and somewhat boring, especially for those expecting more depth or extended playtime. Despite its limitations, the game is appreciated for its unique charm and simplicity, appealing to fans of indie titles.
“Despite being short, much of the playtime is sort of boring and tedious.”
“This is no walking simulator, but holding down 'W' for so long is somewhat tedious.”
“The combat is satisfying and the movement is just slow enough to give the player the right feeling, but not too slow that it feels tedious.”
- stability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for being plagued by bugs and control issues, leading to frequent restarts due to glitches and random fall damage. While it runs well on the Steam Deck and is considered affordable, the lack of a save system exacerbates the instability, making the experience frustrating for players.
“Definitely worth the $3 price tag, and it runs great on Steam Deck.”
“Only one level, extremely short, buggy controls.”
“[u] save [/u] - there is never a situation where the game doesn't need a save system. I already restarted your game like 8 times because of the glitches or RNG fall damage. At least a few fixed save points would have been better.”
“Only one level, extremely short, buggy controls.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has low replayability, though players find the initial exploration of the map engaging. While it possesses the potential for a more enjoyable rogue-lite experience, it currently lacks sufficient incentives for repeated playthroughs.
“It has the building blocks for a really fun replayable rogue-lite.”
“The replay value is low, but exploring the map for the first time is rather interesting.”
- character development4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively establishes character development within its brief 30-minute playtime, impressing players with its strong character design and engaging sound elements.
“While this is a short game, it took me roughly 30 minutes to complete, it did a wonderful job of establishing character development in the first environment.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is characterized by transparent marketing, fair pricing, and straightforward advertising, which users appreciate for its honesty.
