Life Goes On: Done to Death
- April 17, 2014
- Infinite Monkeys Entertainment Ltd.
- 5h median play time
In "Life Goes On: Done to Death," players control knightish heroes who perish in numerous ways to solve puzzles and overcome obstacles. The game features dark humor, 2D platforming, and permadeath mechanics where the characters' deaths are required to progress. Players must use their fallen comrades creatively to build paths, trigger switches, and complete stages in this unique puzzle-platformer.
Reviews
- Unique and humorous concept where players use the corpses of knights to solve puzzles.
- Challenging yet accessible puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying gameplay experience.
- Great art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
- Some puzzles can become repetitive and tedious after extended playtime.
- Occasional issues with physics and controls that can lead to frustrating moments.
- Lack of a compelling story or narrative to drive the gameplay forward.
- humor332 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "Life Goes On" is widely praised for its dark, morbid charm, cleverly intertwining with the game's mechanics where players sacrifice knights to solve puzzles. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its witty writing, absurd character names, and hilarious death animations, making it a standout in the puzzle-platformer genre. While some feel the humor may wear thin over time, the overall consensus is that it offers a uniquely entertaining experience filled with clever and engaging comedic elements.
“A great blend of dark humor and puzzle game.”
“Using the corpses of your previous characters to solve the puzzles is both hilarious and an interesting mechanic.”
“Delightfully dark humor wrapped around a great platforming puzzle game with a unique sense of style.”
“Unfunny”
“Unfunny”
- gameplay275 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Life Goes On" is characterized by its unique mechanic of using the corpses of fallen characters to solve puzzles, which adds a humorous and strategic layer to the platforming experience. Players appreciate the steady introduction of new mechanics that keep the gameplay fresh and engaging, although some find the later levels can become convoluted and frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its clever design, entertaining challenges, and a darkly comedic tone that enhances the puzzle-solving experience.
“The core gameplay mechanic is inherently fun and it's used in a lot of neat ways.”
“The game keeps slowly adding more mechanics over the course of its levels, making the levels become slowly more complex as you progress, but because of the careful way in which the mechanics are introduced and taught, the puzzles are challenging but never feel unfair or frustrating.”
“Using the corpses of your previous characters to solve the puzzles is both hilarious and an interesting mechanic.”
“The gameplay is a little too boring.”
“However, as the game progressed further and further, it felt that the game mechanics were becoming rather convoluted - granted that some of which you had to also be dextrous (and not just intelligent) to be able to pull off a good score.”
“Clever puzzles, but I didn't like the main gameplay element which is to throw yourself on spikes so that the next you can jump on your body and get across the spikes.”
- music126 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its pleasant and fitting nature. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and occasionally bland, suggesting that while it complements the gameplay well, it may not stand out as memorable outside of the game context. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is astonishing!!!!”
“The music perfectly matches the gameplay.”
“I've absolutely fallen in love with this game, the concept is awesome, the soundtrack is phenomenal, the art style is ever so lovely, the puzzles are very diverse.”
“Probably my brain was a little bit too tired of listening to some songs on repeat and trying to solve puzzles.”
“Still, the music should never 'attack' (for lack of a better word) the player in this kind of game.”
“Oh boy, does the music suck.”
- graphics120 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful visuals and charming art style that enhance the gameplay experience, while others find the graphics to be average or generic. Many appreciate the unique aesthetic that complements the game's dark humor, though some note that the visuals are not the main highlight. Overall, the graphics are described as functional and suitable for the game's comedic and puzzle elements, with a few standout moments in design.
“The graphics are beautiful.”
“The graphics are phenomenal, and the soundtrack is worth listening to even outside the game (you can get it on Bandcamp).”
“Amazing graphics and very enjoyable puzzles to complete, especially if you are doing time challenges, and finding little ugly josh.”
“The art style... feels generic.”
“I just think it looks a bit cheap, but really the visuals are not the star of the game.”
“Graphically, Life Goes On is simply fine.”
- story58 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story in "Life Goes On: Done to Death" is minimal, primarily revolving around a knight's humorous quest for immortality and the cup of life, with clever references and dark comedy woven throughout. While some players appreciate the imaginative and engaging storytelling conveyed through gameplay mechanics and subtle details, many note the lack of a substantial narrative, which does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. The focus is more on puzzle-solving and humor than on a traditional story, making it suitable for short play sessions.
“Life Goes On: Done to Death is an imaginative and unique puzzle game that tells the story of a brave knight and his quest for immortality.”
“One of the strengths of Life Goes On: Done to Death is its clever and humorous storytelling.”
“The majority of the story is told by subtle gestures and small details, while the levels are carefully designed to explain each new mechanic in an intuitive manner without ever having to resort to a narrator or tutorial telling you what to do.”
“As usual with such puzzlers, there's no story or anything -- let's just ignore the 'story' of the king looking for the cup of life and sending his minions to fetch it.”
“There is absolutely no story.”
“Very repetitive and there is no story.”
- replayability38 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game boasts significant replayability, with multiple objectives and optional challenges in each level that encourage players to return for a perfect score or to complete various achievements. The variety of mechanics, steady difficulty progression, and hidden secrets further enhance the replay value, making it an engaging experience for puzzle enthusiasts. Overall, players appreciate the depth and challenge that contribute to its lasting appeal.
“This game has great puzzles and a lot of replayability.”
“There are 4 objectives in each level - find the cup, beat the time, use the least possible knights, and get eaten by Jeff, so there is loads of replay value.”
“I've only played through the 'story' just once but there is a ton of replay value with secrets in each level, so don't be fooled by my playtime!”
“The puzzles require some thought, and you have multiple metrics on which you are graded, significantly increasing the replayability.”
“Optional goals such as using the fewest possible number of knights really adds to the replayability.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its top-notch visual design, clear art, and unique soundtracks that enhance the experience across different levels. Each environment, from mines to mountains, contributes to a distinct ambiance, although some players noted a lack of variety in atmospheric sound effects. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a significant strength, overshadowing the plot's minimal impact on gameplay.
“Another great thing about the game is its visual design and animation; it's top-notch and adds a great deal to the game's atmosphere and charm.”
“The graphics are surprisingly good, and each set of levels has a unique look to them (the first set is in some mines, and all the levels have a certain feel to them while another set takes place in the mountains). Each set, to assist in setting the atmosphere, has a unique soundtrack to go with it.”
“Love the atmosphere and mechanics.”
“The plot can easily be ignored while playing as it's really just there for context and atmosphere rather than having any impact on gameplay.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a wide range of emotional experiences while engaging with the game, from laughter and joy to frustration and sadness, highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings. The game's characters and narrative elements contribute to this emotional roller coaster, although some mechanics may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor and emotional depth, making it memorable for players.
“The commercial video was the hook for me, as it showed lively and emotional characters along with the gameplay.”
“That being said, I am having some emotional trouble after playing the level 'Companionship'.”
“While playing this game, I experienced a roller coaster of emotions: I laughed, I cried, I threw pillows, and I cackled while impaling countless knights on spikes to create a beautiful carpet.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches or long loading times, others have encountered bugs, particularly with certain puzzles and achievements. Players should be prepared for potential issues, especially with speedrun achievements.
“Some puzzles can also feel a bit buggy, so if you're interested in this game, be ready for that.”
“Some achievements are quite challenging, and the speedrun achievement seems to be buggy.”
“I didn't encounter any glitches, which feels rare for games nowadays.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to become tedious and boring after a few hours, typical of many puzzle games. However, the game avoids excessive planning and keeps the experience streamlined, which may mitigate some of the monotony.
“I mean, it's not that long, probably, but like all puzzle games, this one becomes tedious and boring three hours in.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game's optimization enjoyable, as it enhances their experience and motivates them to engage in performance challenges.
“So much fun that I do the performance challenges.”
“So much fun that I do the performance challenges.”