It Returned to the Desert
- February 14, 2023
- Tim Rachor
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Get on itch.io StoreUnique mix of turn-based strategy and adventure. Defend the town of Glint Rock against radioactive giant ants! Dr. Mill is a geologist that came to town to examine the recent meteor crash. Now he has to convince the towns folk that something's going on.
Reviews
- It Returned To The Desert is a charming homage to the classic game 'It Came From the Desert', successfully evoking nostalgia with its retro-style graphics and engaging gameplay.
- The game features a fun mix of exploration, adventure, and turn-based combat, with well-crafted art, sound, and writing that enhance the overall experience.
- Players appreciate the non-linear gameplay and the opportunity for multiple playthroughs, as well as the enjoyable interactions with the quirky characters in the town of Glint Rock.
- The game suffers from a lack of polish, with simplistic graphics and repetitive combat that can make gameplay feel tedious over time.
- Many players feel that the writing and story development are uninspired, lacking the depth and atmosphere that could enhance the experience.
- Some aspects of the game, such as limited storage space and a lack of terrain variety in combat scenarios, detract from the overall enjoyment.
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game evoke nostalgia with a retro style, blending exploration and turn-based combat, but opinions are sharply divided. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic, many criticize the simplistic 3D graphics as poorly executed, feeling that the pixel art lacks the thoughtful design necessary to truly capture the charm of old-school visuals. Overall, the graphics are seen as a missed opportunity, relying on lazy techniques rather than genuine artistic effort.
“A relaxing mixture of exploration, adventure, and turn-based combat with retro-style graphics and ants (oh so many ants).”
“The graphics in particular do a great job of inspiring nostalgia.”
“Most of the graphics are horrendous - it's an obvious case of simplistic 3D graphics that are somehow meant to be 'old school' and pixel-art-like just by running it through a downscaling and pixelating shader with a reduced palette and dithering techniques.”
“There's no human attention paid to adapting the actual graphics to work in a low resolution - which is what makes pixel art great - just this lazy approach/attempt at not having to produce graphics.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for lacking depth and atmosphere, failing to fully immerse players in the small-town setting despite potential for rich character interactions. While it draws nostalgic parallels to classic titles, the narrative feels minimal and repetitive, leaving players wanting more substance.
“Throwback to the classic, it came from the desert; the story and characters are fun, although the combat is a bit repetitive and takes a long time to complete.”
“A game like this has the chance to add a lot of atmosphere with characters, interactions, and events that would help depict life in a small town and transport you there, but there is basically none except the bare minimum for story development.”
“Once you see through this, there actually isn't much of a story.”
“It's not exactly the same story with the same characters or locations, but otherwise very, very familiar!”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game varies significantly among reviews; while some players appreciate the charming characters and playfully creepy vibe that enhances the experience, others feel it lacks depth and fails to fully immerse them in the small-town setting. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging elements but does not consistently deliver a rich atmospheric experience.
“Super atmospheric little adventure with some minigames and tactical combat sprinkled in.”
“I came to Glint Rock for the pixel-art point & click gameplay, and stayed for the charming characters and playfully creepy atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's non-linear structure enhances its replayability, offering players the opportunity to explore different paths and outcomes, which encourages multiple playthroughs.
“The non-linear gameplay is a major selling point that significantly enhances replay value.”
“Each playthrough offers unique experiences and choices, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The variety of paths and outcomes keeps the game fresh, encouraging multiple runs to explore everything it has to offer.”
“I don't see how the non-linear aspect of the game adds any replay value.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay primarily revolves around a tactical turn-based mini-game that is considered simplistic and lacking in strategic depth, leading to a repetitive experience for players.
“A lot of time is spent in the tactical turn-based mini-game, which is very simplistic and doesn't offer much in terms of strategic gameplay.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find that the expansive maps contribute to a tedious grinding experience, making gameplay feel repetitive and drawn out.
“The large maps quickly make playing through them tedious.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“The repetitive tasks required to progress become frustrating and dull over time.”
