Lenna's Inception

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 170 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Lenna's Inception Game Cover
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Lenna's Inception is a 2D pixel art game that combines elements of action-adventure, puzzle-solving, and survival. You play as a group of heroes exploring a series of islands, battling monsters, and uncovering secrets, all while managing resources and crafting items to survive. The game features multiple characters with unique abilities, procedurally generated levels, and retro-inspired gameplay.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 170 reviews
story30 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Lenna's Inception offers a unique blend of humor and engaging gameplay, reminiscent of classic Zelda titles, with a charming story and memorable characters.
  • The procedural generation of dungeons and overworlds adds significant replayability, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.
  • The game features a delightful art style with both 8-bit and 32-bit graphics options, along with a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The procedural generation can lead to bland and repetitive dungeon layouts, lacking the intricate design found in traditional handcrafted levels.
  • Combat can feel overly simplistic and easy, with many enemies and bosses not providing a significant challenge, which may disappoint players seeking a tougher experience.
  • Some players may find the humor and writing hit-or-miss, with certain jokes and puns potentially falling flat or feeling forced.
  • story83 mentions

    The story in this game is a blend of humor and charm, featuring a unique narrative that unfolds through engaging cutscenes and character interactions, though it can be somewhat predictable at times. Players appreciate the clever world-building and the philosophical undertones, with multiple endings that encourage replayability, despite some criticism regarding character depth and clarity. Overall, the narrative is seen as a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience and appealing to fans of story-driven adventures.

    • “One thing I have picked up through playing Cassette Beasts and Lenna's Inception is Bytten Studio's undeniable skill when it comes to world-building and storytelling.”
    • “The story is clever and charming, and the ability to play the game through again with completely different worlds or challenges is a wonderful touch.”
    • “A fantastic Zelda-like with procedural generation and a very interesting story.”
    • “The characters in the game are okay, the character design is great, but it does not really let you bond with the characters. They all have their own personality, but there is not much of a backstory for any of the characters. You befriend someone at a point, but it is all very casual, nothing too deep, which is kind of strange. The story gets very philosophical; few characters have some depth, and most characters feel a bit generic.”
    • “I think the replayability is a bit overrated for this game. Surely the maps are randomly generated, and you can maybe skip one dungeon to save it for the end, but it feels very linear. The story also stays the same.”
    • “It offers very unique gameplay; the whole glitched game concept is pretty cool, as is the random generation. The exploring will never get tired, but the story won't change, perhaps the ending if you do it right.”
  • gameplay56 mentions

    The gameplay in "Lenna's Inception" is characterized by its engaging exploration and combat mechanics, drawing inspiration from classic Zelda titles while incorporating unique elements like randomized dungeons and glitch mechanics. Players appreciate the variety in boss encounters and the charm of the game's aesthetics, though some express a desire for more diverse interactions and mechanics. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its fun and nostalgic feel, despite some criticisms regarding the reliance on certain mechanics and the potential for improvement in narrative depth.

    • “I had a blast figuring out each boss mechanic and how to overcome them.”
    • “Gameplay is where this game really starts to shine, though.”
    • “A great sense of humor, gorgeous visuals that perfectly mimic the Zelda games of the Game Boy and SNES near perfectly, and fluid quick-to-learn gameplay make this a very immediately enjoyable experience.”
    • “The only disappointing thing I find in the game is that there weren't more mechanics to interact with enemies.”
    • “Overall: cute presentation, bad gameplay, and terrible, soulless, paint-by-numbers world design.”
    • “I wasn't a fan of the glitch stuff - particularly at the end of the game when it's relied on as a mechanic where you can teleport and glitch through walls.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic and engaging quality, with many praising the diverse soundtracks that change based on the graphical mode selected. While most players find the compositions memorable and well-suited to the game's tone, some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, enhancing the overall experience with its charming and quirky melodies.

    • “The music is amazing, Joel Baylis did a phenomenal job here!”
    • “The music is just fantastic all around and matches the tone of the game's story and theme precisely.”
    • “The fact that there's two different graphical modes (8-bit and 32-bit) that have their own entire soundtracks is already really cool, but the game just... looks and sounds fantastic.”
    • “Adding to the shock was the sudden shift in music.”
    • “Lanna's Inception is an interesting take on Zelda that nails the graphical and musical design of the series while failing to deliver on its main gimmick: randomized dungeons, which are mostly empty and devoid of life.”
    • “The soundtrack also changes depending on what style you pick; I think the game has a nice soundtrack, but I just think the glitch vision soundtrack can get a bit stale after a while.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming pixel art and the option to switch between 8-bit and 32-bit styles, which enhances the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Zelda games. Reviewers commend the attention to detail, vibrant animations, and the overall aesthetic, although some note that certain elements, like specific character designs, could be improved. Overall, the visual presentation is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “As a pixel art hobbyist myself, I recognize the hard work that the artists had to commit themselves to when designing visuals for this game.”
    • “The graphics look sweet, I love the 32-bit style, but the 8-bit style is pretty cool too; you can see there is a lot of detail and both styles have nice animations.”
    • “They put a ton of effort into the graphics and give you two different visual styles to choose from (8-bit/32-bit).”
    • “Lanna's inception is an interesting take on Zelda that nails the graphical and musical design of the series while failing to deliver on its main gimmick: randomized dungeons, which are mostly empty and devoid of life.”
    • “It has either 8-bit or 16-bit style graphics which you can switch between, although this feels more like a gimmick you might use once then forget about.”
    • “Bad graphics as the sword looks horrible.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its randomly generated dungeons, multiple endings, and various game modes, appealing to fans of roguelikes and Zelda-like experiences. While some players feel the linearity of the story may limit long-term engagement, the procedural generation and diverse gameplay options provide ample opportunities for exploration and experimentation. Many reviewers highlight that the game's design encourages repeated playthroughs, making it a worthwhile investment for those who enjoy varied gameplay experiences.

    • “Randomly generated dungeons and overworld are essentially this game's main selling point, which is a cool idea that should increase replayability.”
    • “Lenna's Inception may be a short game, but it manages to execute its core ideas and strengths to an amazing degree, offers options for replayability through its multiple game modes and endings, and provides plenty of freedom on how to approach the game.”
    • “Multiple endings and game modes combined with randomization provide high replayability.”
    • “Very much ironically, their efforts to make it more replayable make it less so.”
    • “I think the replayability is a bit overrated for this game; surely the maps are randomly generated, and you can maybe skip one dungeon to save it for the end, but it feels very linear, and the story also stays the same.”
    • “I guess it all adds to the replay value; the story also starts to make more sense in your second playthrough, so the second run is probably just as fun, but I feel it will get stale pretty quick.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its witty dialogue, clever puns, and nostalgic references, particularly to 90s and early 2000s culture. However, others feel it tries too hard to be funny, resulting in a lack of genuine comedic impact for some. Overall, while the humor can be charming and entertaining, its effectiveness varies among players, with some enjoying the quirky, self-aware style and others finding it falls flat.

    • “To start, I adore this game's humor.”
    • “The humor in the game is a high point.”
    • “I'm recommending it right now so more people can buy it and try it out; so far the gameplay is great, it's cute, and the humor is witty and never feels out of place.”
    • “The game tries to be funny by being unfunny; it throws puns at the player in a very 'Haha, I know they aren't funny, but the bear puns are charming, right?' kind of way (though I do adore the business skeletons).”
    • “The humor feels forced and often falls flat, relying on clichés that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
    • “While the game attempts to inject humor into its dialogue, most of the jokes miss the mark and come off as cringeworthy rather than clever.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game's stability is intentionally designed to include artificial glitches that enhance the experience, particularly for fans of the original games. While players encounter some minor real glitches, they generally do not detract significantly from gameplay, with the overall impression being that the developers successfully integrated a buggy aesthetic into the adventure.

    • “Game is alright in the beginning, but later on there are tons of glitches!”
    • “Got to give the developer credit, as they did an awesome job making the world look buggy, which is actually what the adventure is based on.”
    • “It has some minor real glitches, i.e.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game effectively evokes nostalgia for fans of classic titles while introducing a fresh, creative narrative that transforms it into a unique emotional experience. Players report a range of feelings, from laughter to deeper emotional moments, highlighting its ability to resonate on multiple levels.

    • “As a Zelda III fan when I was younger, this hit all the right nostalgia buttons for me, but it takes a really creative, modern turn that I was not expecting, elevating this from 'a Zelda clone' to its own beautiful, emotional experience.”
    • “I had a few good laughs at some points, and got emotional at other moments.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally well-received, earning an 8/10 for performance. While it is capped at 60 frames per second, players report smooth gameplay with minimal issues, though initial generation times can take up to 30 seconds when entering caves for the first time. Overall, loading screens are infrequent, contributing to a seamless experience.

    • “The game is locked to 60 frames per second, but the performance is great. I had absolutely no issues. Generation can take up to 30 seconds; you will get one at the start of the game and each time you enter a cave for the first time, but other than that, there are practically no loading screens.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the final level somewhat tedious due to its maze-like structure, but overall, the grinding experience is considered enjoyable.

  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The game successfully evokes the nostalgic atmosphere of classic Zelda titles while introducing unique elements that refresh the experience.

    • “The game captures the atmosphere of the old Zelda games and puts an interesting spin on it.”
    • “The immersive world design creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you in from the very start.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the visuals, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with well-designed characters that possess distinct personalities but minimal backstory. While some characters exhibit a degree of complexity, most feel generic and the relationships formed are casual rather than deeply engaging, which contrasts with the game's philosophical narrative.

    • “The character development in this game is impressive, with each character having a unique personality that evolves throughout the story.”
    • “I love how the characters grow and change based on the choices I make, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
    • “The depth of the characters' backstories adds a rich layer to the gameplay, allowing players to form meaningful connections with them.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5hMain story
13hCompletionist
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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