Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame

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Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame is a single player puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Basecamp Games and was released on May 6, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame" is a puzzle platformer that combines gameplay with a rock opera soundtrack. The game presents its story through songs, and the Digital Deluxe Edition includes a soundtrack, concept art, and behind-the-scenes footage. By purchasing Act I, players will also receive Act II and the original soundtrack for free upon release.

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Single-Player

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame screenshot

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews

music93 positive mentions

stability27 negative mentions

The music is fantastic, featuring a talented cast of well-known rock and metal artists, which enhances the overall experience.
The unique concept of a rock opera video game is intriguing and offers a fresh take on storytelling in gaming.
The art style is visually appealing, creating a vibrant and immersive world that complements the musical elements.

The gameplay mechanics are clunky and imprecise, leading to frustrating platforming experiences and frequent deaths.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the flow of the game, including issues with camera control and collision detection.
The narrative is often unclear, with a lack of subtitles and poor audio mixing that makes it difficult to follow the story.

music
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The music in "Karmaflow" is widely praised as its standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting the high-quality rock and metal soundtrack performed by renowned artists. While the gameplay and platforming mechanics often receive criticism for being clumsy or buggy, the musical elements, including dramatic vocal performances and orchestral arrangements, are described as captivating and integral to the game's narrative experience. Overall, fans of rock and metal music will likely find the soundtrack worth the price of admission, even if the gameplay leaves something to be desired.
- “The music is fantastic, especially if you are into power metal.”
- “Karmaflow delivers on its title - it is genuinely a rock opera video game, complete with an original musical score.”
- “The music is where this game shines; many talented singers and musicians bring to life a story that is as unique as the look of the game.”
- “The times when the story is told in song are decent, with the music being appropriately dramatic (also thanks to the performances of numerous well-known rock and metal singers) and well-produced, though the lyrics in most cases feel overly verbose for the genre and overall the story relies too much on tell-not-show, which is generally not a good paradigm to follow in a dynamic, visual game.”
- “Just buy the soundtrack or watch it on YouTube because you'll just leave this game frustrated otherwise.”
- “The music integration feels like an afterthought at best.”
gameplay
111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting clunky controls, frustrating mechanics, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the unique puzzle-platforming elements and the integration of music, others find the gameplay monotonous and poorly executed, often overshadowing the game's artistic and narrative strengths. Overall, it seems that while the game has potential, significant improvements are needed in gameplay design and stability to fully realize its vision.
- “The gameplay is challenging but rewarding.”
- “Each area has unique mechanics and challenges that keep the player on their toes, and there's lots of hidden secrets to discover.”
- “It's very simple gameplay-wise, but there are clever puzzles that can be created with these simple mechanics and unique atmospheres from world to world.”
- “Unfortunately, it turns out that is all the game has; the gameplay and just the game itself is boring and feels so empty and soulless.”
- “The gameplay is not good, mostly due to clunky controls and getting caught on geometry in the environment, not allowing for smooth gameplay.”
- “The gameplay feels like it is lacking something.”
story
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The story of Karmaflow is presented in a unique rock opera format, engaging players with its musical narrative and captivating characters. While the storytelling is enhanced by impressive performances from well-known rock and metal artists, some players find the lyrics overly verbose and the plot occasionally incoherent, relying too much on exposition rather than visual storytelling. Overall, the game offers an interesting and immersive experience for those who appreciate music-driven narratives, despite some criticisms regarding clarity and gameplay mechanics.
- “I didn't think I was going to like it, but it drew me in with each world and story.”
- “The music is where this game shines; many talented singers and musicians bring to life a story that is as unique as the look of the game.”
- “Listening to the story unfold through rock music is something I have never seen done in a video game before.”
- “The story is incoherent and doesn't really make sense, and singing random sentences that make up the dialogue doesn't help much.”
- “Unfortunately while it started off pretty strong, past the first storyline it falls flat on its face and can't get up again.”
- “The story is terrible and no effort is put into explaining exactly what is going on.”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the unique art style and beautiful visuals that create an engaging atmosphere, reminiscent of titles like "Journey." However, some users note a lack of polish and occasional graphical hiccups that detract from the overall experience. While the aesthetic is generally well-received, the performance issues and simplistic gameplay leave some players feeling underwhelmed.
- “It's gorgeous in spite of any graphical hiccups because the art design is so beautiful and focused and inventive.”
- “The graphics, though not immediately calling heavy metal imagery to mind, are beautiful and each of the four worlds shines in its own way.”
- “The game looks really good: it is, of course, a little peculiar type of graphics, because not everyone likes such a slightly cartoonish line, but even those should appreciate the fact that this graphics gives a fairy-tale atmosphere, desirable in this type of production.”
- “The graphics are pretty plain.”
- “Nothing gamebreaking, usually graphical, but the entire project feels a little unpolished.”
- “Graphics are laughably bad and dour.”
stability
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some users noted improvements following patches, significant problems such as game-breaking glitches, audio desynchronization, and inconsistent mechanics remain prevalent, leading to frustration and a lack of enjoyment. Overall, the game is described as playable but marred by a lack of polish and stability.
- “This game would have been terrifically enjoyable for me if it were not a buggy mess.”
- “Game breaking glitches, audio desynchronization, video corruption, horrendous performance, and persistent crashes (once shutting my PC down entirely) caused the game to be unplayable for months after release.”
- “This game is broken, buggy and just not fun!”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The game's optimization has been a significant issue, with many players reporting severe performance problems, game-breaking glitches, and crashes at launch. While patches have addressed some bugs and improved stability, the game still requires further optimization to reach a fully enjoyable state. Overall, the technical execution remains far from polished, leaving players hopeful for future improvements.
- “There have been some problems shortly after the release, but most bugs and optimization issues have been ironed out by the patches.”
- “Karmaflow gets an 8/10 from me, and if the bugs and performance issues do get sorted out, this game will become a really good underground gem that many will not play or even know about.”
- “Even though there are still some bugs here and there and some performance issues, I really enjoyed it.”
- “Honestly: this game was an utter shitshow at release, poorly optimized and running terribly.”
- “Game breaking glitches, audio desynchronization, video corruption, horrendous performance, and persistent crashes (once shutting my PC down entirely) caused the game to be unplayable for months after release.”
- “Overall there is no doubt this game is rushed and unoptimized.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its brilliant combination of captivating music, gorgeous art style, and engaging storytelling, creating a darkly magical and surreal environment. While some players noted that the gameplay could be lacking, the unique visual aesthetics and imaginative design effectively enhance the overall experience. The orchestral soundtrack, featuring notable musicians, further enriches the atmosphere, making it a standout element of the game.
- “The atmosphere is brilliant, the music is amazing, the art style is absolutely gorgeous and the story and characters are captivating.”
- “Level quality quickly ramps up after the opening level, and the amazing lineup of musicians (this has to be the most ambitious soundtrack I've ever heard in an indie game!) helps cement the darkly magical atmosphere.”
- “The orchestral performances of some of metal's most recognized icons (seriously, look at the cast for this game) was spot-on and combined with the game's unique visual style, created a deep atmosphere that really drew me in.”
- “Sometimes a little bit bugged but it doesn't affect the atmosphere of the environment.”
- “The game looks really good: it is, of course, a little peculiar type of graphics, because not everyone likes such a slightly cartoonish style, but even those should appreciate the fact that this graphics gives a fairy-tale atmosphere, desirable in this type of production.”
- “It's dark, it's moody, and brings a lot to the atmosphere.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with long platforming sequences that often feel like obstacles rather than engaging challenges. The level design is criticized for being confusing and poorly executed, leading to a repetitive experience as players explore every inch of the map to progress. Additionally, issues like awkward controls and visibility problems further detract from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The levels are thematically different, which is nice, but in the end they're primarily long and tedious platform sequences that mainly feel like obstacles.”
- “This makes it very easy to get stuck and tediously explore every square inch of the map until you figure out what you need to do to progress to the next stage.”
- “The rest of the time you’re pushed through tedious platforming sections, playing as a character with poor control over their body movement in an environment they’re constantly slipping off of.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its vibrant and unique character design, which some reviewers consider among the best in gaming. However, there are mixed feelings about the dialogue quality, with some describing it as poor and somewhat abstract, leading to a perception that the art assets may feel more like placeholders than finalized versions. Overall, while the character design is praised, the dialogue and narrative elements could use improvement.
- “The game is colorful, the character design is interesting, and the world elements all fit together well.”
- “Amazing music, great level design, and arguably the best character design I've ever seen in any video game.”
- “+ 10 points for character design”
- “I'd say only for the poor dialogue sketch and maybe a bit for the character design.”
- “Character design could charitably be called 'abstract', and environments 'minimalist', but really most of the art assets feel more like placeholders than release versions.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting limited replay value, while others appreciate the impact of decision-making on the game's outcome, which adds some incentive to replay. Comparisons to "Journey" highlight that while the game is short, the choices made can enhance the experience, suggesting a potential for multiple playthroughs. Overall, the replayability may not be as strong as some might hope, but it offers enough variation to encourage a second run.
- “A game like Journey for reference, which was obviously an inspiration for this game but a lot more fun to play. It was very short but infinitely replayable due to its pacing.”
- “But fear not, because the decisions you have to make in regards to saving or condemning each world give this game some replay value. I mean, in case you weren't already going to replay it, in which case I ask -- ?!?!?!”
- “Not much replayability.”
- “But fear not, because the decisions you have to make in regards to saving or condemning each world give this game some replay value (I mean, in case you weren't already going to replay it, in which case I ask -- ?!?!?!).”
- “I was not expecting a polished game here; we all know this is an indie developer, but I did expect something more playable.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game elicits a moderate emotional response, prompting players to reflect on their choices at the end of each chapter, despite a lack of deep character investment. The blend of metal and classical music, along with compelling characters and poignant decisions, enhances the overall emotional experience.
- “Metal, classical, awesome characters, and heart-breaking choices mixed together is a really good combination.”
- “Though the game hardly commands any hard-hitting emotional investment into its characters, it was just enough to make you think twice before you make a final choice at the end of each chapter.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking, with some users finding it insufficiently funny to make a notable impact.

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Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame - Act I & Act II
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5h Median play time

8h Average play time

4-15h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame is a puzzle game with fantasy theme.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame was released on May 6, 2015.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame was developed by Basecamp Games.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame is a single player game.

Similar games include Contrast, Lifeless Planet, Toren, Edge of Eternity, Seasons After Fall and others.

Karmaflow: The Rock Opera Videogame

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