Jung's Labyrinth
- September 4, 2020
- Jan Jileček
Get on Steam"Jung's Labyrinth" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game set in a mystical world. Players navigate through a series of increasingly complex mazes, solving puzzles and uncovering hidden secrets to progress. With a unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack, the game challenges players to think creatively and carefully as they make their way through Jung's enchanting Labyrinth.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Jung's Labyrinth offers a unique and creative introduction to Jungian concepts, making it an engaging experience for those interested in psychology.
- The game features impressive visuals and a captivating atmosphere that enhances the exploration of Jungian archetypes.
- Many players found the music and sound design to be fitting and immersive, contributing to the overall experience.
- The gameplay is often criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players frequently getting lost in the labyrinth due to its repetitive design.
- Technical issues such as poor controls, graphical glitches, and lack of keybinding options detract from the overall experience.
- The game is considered too short and lacking in content, leaving players wanting more depth and interaction with the Jungian concepts presented.
- gameplay22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a linear structure that some players find limiting, with clunky mechanics and a generally unpolished feel. While the game offers rich knowledge and challenging levels that can be rewarding, many reviewers noted frustrations with its rough execution and lack of engaging fun. Overall, it appeals to those interested in its thematic concepts, but may deter players seeking a more refined gaming experience.
“This game is rich in knowledge, the mechanics are simple, the context and the journey are worth exploring if you find these types of concepts intriguing.”
“I enjoyed the mechanics in the game and also found some of the levels challenging, which is a good thing when it comes to video games; you definitely have to earn the win in this one.”
“Good use of visual metaphors, though bare-bones in its mechanics.”
“The linear nature of the gameplay didn't really lend itself to the far-reaching nature of the mind.”
“It's short, the mechanics (and movements, in particular) are a bit clunky at times and the game does feel 'indie' unpolished (for good and bad).”
“That's the core gameplay, and it's just not fun at all.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting significant issues such as environmental items bleeding through walls and frequent freezing, even on low settings. However, many appreciate the artistic design, including the creepy aesthetic and thoughtful visual symbolism, which contribute to an immersive experience. Overall, while the game shows potential with its unique graphical options and artistic touches, technical performance remains a concern for some users.
“This is achieved by the astounding visuals and music which make it a very real experience, which to me lasted outside the game and led to some fantastic insights.”
“This is clearly a game which has had a lot of love put into it - there are some nice individual touches like a plethora of somewhat eccentrically-denoted graphics options, and a level-select menu which takes the form of a selection of doors in a house.”
“The visuals and artwork were nicely done, particularly the still shots and the creepy aesthetic.”
“There were several graphical issues with environmental items bleeding through walls.”
“I have a MacBook Pro with the minimum processor and twice the minimum RAM, a 500GB SSD with over 300GB storage available, and yet this game constantly freezes up on even the lowest 'horrible' graphics setting and with the post-processing turned off.”
“The graphics aren't great, to put it mildly.”
- story14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its fascinating and fulfilling narrative, effectively utilizing mescaline as a plot device to explore psychological themes inspired by Jung's ideas. While the gameplay may be considered average, the emphasis on storytelling and atmosphere creates a unique and impactful experience that stands out among psychological games. Overall, the narrative is seen as a significant strength, delivering a thought-provoking and immersive journey.
“It got in, shared what it needed to and delivered its story in a fulfilling way.”
“Fascinating storytelling and encapsulates much of what Jung found to be so incredibly important.”
“I understand that mescaline was utilized as a plot device in the game, meant to introduce us to the story and justify all the surreal imagery, but Jung's actual thoughts on the matter were illustrated by his words, 'beware of an unearned wisdom.'”
“The game is short, and its focus is on story and the atmosphere, rather than gameplay.”
“I'd say the gameplay is passable, but not fantastic; however, the story and psychology are an A+.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the labyrinth exploration, to be tedious and frustrating, often comparing it to a monotonous walking simulator. The repetitive nature of searching for doors in a visually similar environment detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to feelings of frustration rather than engagement.
“Jung's labyrinth is going to feel more frustrating and tedious than fun and engaging.”
“The game is basically a tedious walking simulator in which you run around a large labyrinth where everything looks the same, searching for doors that lead you to encounters with Jungian archetypes.”
“I didn't like the maze or labyrinth - I found it tedious and unnecessary.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is richly crafted, utilizing alchemical symbolism and classic art to create a dreamy, dark environment reminiscent of Dark Souls. Each procedurally generated labyrinth section symbolizes stages of psychological development, with meticulous attention to detail enhancing the experience, such as the memorable grotesque spider-filled corridor. Overall, players feel immersed in a psychedelic journey through the inner psyche, prioritizing story and atmosphere over gameplay.
“It utilizes alchemical symbolism, classic art, atmospheric level design, and creative metaphors to carry the player through a series of procedurally generated labyrinths, with each section symbolizing a separate stage in a person’s psychological development (individuation).”
“The atmosphere of the game is on point, sort of dreamy/dark like a Dark Souls game.”
“The atmosphere and setting were well executed, and I felt like I went on a psychedelic trip into the underworld to discover the workings of the inner psyche - or as close as that can be done in mouse + WASD format.”
“The game is short, and its focus is on story and the atmosphere, rather than gameplay.”
“I did certainly enjoy that one grotesque spider-filled corridor - it was individually curated things like that which really gave the labyrinth parts atmosphere, and I was hoping to see a lot more of.”
“It was clear that a lot of detailed attention had been invested in creating an individual atmosphere for each archetype encounter.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music score is highly praised for its seamless integration with the game's environments, enhancing the overall experience with breathtaking compositions that evoke strong emotions. Clever metaphors and fitting voiceovers further enrich the auditory experience, making it memorable and impactful beyond gameplay.
“The music flowed effortlessly with the scenes, some of which were completely breathtaking--the magician's place and the puer's playground to mention a couple.”
“This is achieved by the astounding visuals and music which make it a very real experience, which to me lasted outside the game and led to some fantastic insights.”
“Voiceover and music are fitting and nicely play together.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report significant stability issues, with frequent game freezes occurring even on low graphics settings, despite having hardware that meets or exceeds the minimum requirements.
“I have a MacBook Pro with the minimum processor and twice the minimum RAM, a 500GB SSD with over 300GB storage available, and yet this game constantly freezes up on even the lowest 'horrible' graphics setting and with the post-processing turned off.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the quest to uncover hidden recordings significantly enhances the game's replayability, encouraging multiple playthroughs to discover all content.
“The goal of discovering these recordings adds great replay value to the game.”
