Light

After the first few levels of Light I was stuck right into the game, enjoying it immensely and was getting ready to write a glowing review. Then it abruptly stopped an hour in just as it was starting to get good. Short games are fine but there’s little replay value beyond getting a better score, and more importantly the difficulty curve barely gets off the ground before it hits the credits. Light has great ideas but fails to use them in any meaningful way or make any lasting impression - it’s like the setup to a great game that never comes. Shame.

54%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

replayability, stability

53% User Score Based on 218 reviews

Critic Score 60%Based on 1 reviews

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About Light

Light is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Just A Pixel Ltd. and was released on July 14, 2014. It received neutral reviews from both critics and players.

Stealth, Hack, Steal - Light combines unique game mechanics, atmospheric visuals & a gripping narrative that breathes new life into a much loved genre. Combat is your last option & technology your first, can you evade capture & solve the mystery? - Step out of the shadows and into the Light.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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Reviews

53%Audience ScoreBased on 218 reviews

story32 positive mentions

replayability4 negative mentions

Fun, tightly written and well-made game with minimalist stealth mechanics.
Great aesthetics and soundtrack that enhance the gameplay experience.
Engaging gameplay that allows for both stealthy and aggressive approaches.

Extremely short playtime, with most players completing it in under an hour.
Lack of meaningful consequences for actions, diminishing the impact of gameplay choices.
Overpriced for the amount of content, leading to disappointment among players.

story
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24% positive mentions, 71% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The game's story is generally viewed as underwhelming, with many players noting its brevity and lack of depth, often feeling unfinished or cliché. While some found the premise intriguing, the execution left much to be desired, with a narrative that fails to engage or provide a satisfying resolution. Overall, the story serves more as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a compelling element, leading to a mixed reception among players.
- “The story intrigued me and kept me entertained during the whole span of the game, although it isn’t very complex.”
- “Light is a simplistic stealth game with an interesting story.”
- “The story is also nice where you have lost your memories and are set to acquire more information about yourself and the company that's out to capture you.”
- “Poor storytelling, elementary gameplay, and short playtime.”
- “The story is simply that you awaken without memories, and as you play, you remember who you are and who has been playing/experimenting with your brain and why.”
- “The plot is the same amnesiac protagonist against an evil corporation plot you've heard a million times with no twists, variations, or details to raise it above every other time you've seen that plot.”
gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32% positive mentions, 63% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its minimalist design and simple mechanics, which some players find engaging while others deem it lacking in depth and variety. Many reviews highlight the short playtime, typically around one hour, and the repetitive nature of the levels, leading to a consensus that the game feels more like a prototype than a fully realized product. While the stealth mechanics are appreciated, they often feel underutilized, and the overall experience is seen as enjoyable but not worth the price for the limited content offered.
- “A minimalist stealth game with simple mechanics that is still challenging with a decent story.”
- “Gameplay was fast-paced and overall had a tense atmosphere.”
- “I've been excited to play this for a while having met the team at an event several months ago... I'm really pleased to say that it hasn't disappointed, deceptively simple visuals are coupled with fast strategic gameplay and an interesting story.”
- “Gameplay is okay, but neither the story nor the pace is particularly good or exciting. You can play for the sake of playing and waste some time, but nothing is memorable.”
- “There is just way too little gameplay; my gameplay time is pretty much all idle time to get the cards.”
- “Decent story, enjoyed the design, smooth controls, decent music; the only thing stopping me from liking this game is the fact that for 13 bucks you get 30 minutes of gameplay, not worth it at all.”
graphics
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions
The graphics of the game "Light" are characterized by a minimalistic and stylized aesthetic, often described as neon or cyberpunk-inspired, which some players find appealing and fitting for the gameplay. While the visuals are generally polished and effective in conveying the game's mechanics, opinions vary on their depth and complexity, with some reviewers noting that the simplistic design may not justify the game's price. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, enhancing the experience despite the game's brevity and occasional glitches.
- “Light features a very stylish, minimalistic art style underlined by very fitting sound design.”
- “The graphics are sleek and simple, and if you don't like the effects, you can turn them off in the options menu.”
- “There’s an immediate clarity to its aesthetic: no clutter, no distraction, just geometry and shadows.”
- “It was pretty glitchy graphically, very barebones and it is certainly not worth the asking price.”
- “The stealth is shallow, the hacking is shallow, the plot is shallow, the graphics are bland, and the amount of bugs I encountered was significant for a game not in early access.”
- “While the core loop is fun, the game is very simplistic in design, audiovisuals, and narrative alike, and the levels suffer from a number of rookie mistakes in level and game design.”
music
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and suitability, with many reviewers highlighting its chill, ambient, and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is often described as stylish and engaging, reminiscent of other popular titles, and is included for free with the game, adding value for players. However, some users noted that while the music is enjoyable, it can become repetitive over time, especially given the game's short length.
- “The music and story were nice, kinda reminded me of Frozen Synapse, although not as good and different gameplay.”
- “The music is similarly terrific, providing an atmospheric soundtrack with an air of the suspenseful and the ominous, without ever straying too close to downbeat.”
- “This is a great game, with immersive music and a fantastic storyline, yet many people who bought it don't recommend it out of 'it's too short'.”
- “The sound is equally minimalistic, with only a few sound effects being featured, while the music selection is okay and appropriate in the context, but after a while it can get quite irritating.”
- “The unnecessarily pumpy soundtrack would make more sense in an action game, and the overly fast movement makes any real feelings of fear of capture null and void.”
- “But it's not - it's aggressively mediocre in all aspects but the soundtrack.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 31% negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in just a few hours and lacks incentives for returning after the initial playthrough. While some mention a minimal amount of replay value, the consensus is that the short duration and absence of additional content make it difficult to justify the price, especially for those seeking a more substantial experience.
- “Due to the limited replayability, I do not believe the game is worth the current asking price, but if found at 75% off, it would be a good purchase if you like this type of game.”
- “There is a small amount of replay value.”
- “I don't want 100 missions or anything like that, but for $12 and zero replayability, it hit the 2-3 hour mark at least.”
- “Once you've played it, you've played it; there's really not much replayability to the game, especially not right away.”
- “The price may be the biggest drawback here: $13 is a lot to pay for a 12-level game with limited replay value that can be completed in a few hours if you're not a good player and less than 1 hour if you are.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75% positive mentions, -50% neutral mentions, 75% negative mentions
The game exhibits occasional glitches, particularly with AI behavior, which detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics and level design are polished, the presence of numerous bugs and the lack of meaningful consequences for gameplay choices contribute to a perception of instability.
- “The graphics are polished and the levels are relatively bug-free, providing a smooth gaming experience.”
- “The game runs consistently without major issues, allowing players to focus on gameplay rather than technical problems.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game feels; I rarely encountered any crashes or significant bugs during my playthrough.”
- “There are occasional glitches with the AI.”
- “The game has a lot of glitches.”
- “This is countered with immediate respawns and relatively short levels.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75% positive mentions, 25% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a fast-paced and tense environment, complemented by a minimalistic design and an impressive soundtrack that enhances the suspenseful and ominous mood without becoming overly bleak.
- “Gameplay was fast-paced and overall had a tense atmosphere.”
- “A nice game, with minimalistic design and good atmosphere.”
- “The music is similarly terrific, providing an atmospheric soundtrack with an air of suspense and the ominous, without ever straying too close to downbeat.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game starts off engaging with its stylized graphics and mix of genres, it quickly devolves into tedious grinding that may deter players. Some recommend it only at a significant discount for those who enjoy simple stealth mechanics and high score challenges.
- “An interesting 2D top-down scroller, part adventure, action & stealth game with nice, stylized graphics that started well but soon became just too tedious to hold my interest.”
- “The game just became tedious for me.”
- “I would not recommend this game for its full price (12 euro!!!), however, if you are into simple stealth games and grinding high scores is enough for you to keep playing, I would see no harm in picking it up at a 90% sale or as part of some humble bundle.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its lack of acknowledgment of player actions, leading to a disconnect between the narrative and gameplay, which some find amusing. In contrast, another game, Monaco, employs a slapstick style of humor that effectively lightens the mood, highlighting a stark difference in comedic approach between the two titles.
- “I still think it's kind of funny that the narrative doesn't acknowledge your actions in the game, though. I killed probably 200 people over the course of one playthrough, and I didn't get so much as a 'Stop killing random people!' pop-up.”
- “Whereas Monaco is slapstick silly with humor that just seems to be used to lighten the mood, stealth has none.”