Lightstep Chronicles
- March 13, 2019
- Eipix
Lightstep Chronicles features some great characters and world building, but some lame puzzles and weird design choices drag it down.
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Get on itch.io Store"Lightstep Chronicles" is a dark sci-fi text-based adventure game set in a futuristic art deco universe. As a military captain, you explore an alien spaceship with a seemingly insane AI, whisked away on an intergalactic journey to stay alive and relevant. The game delves into themes of humanity vs. artificial intelligence and transcendence.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a compelling story with interesting plot twists and character development.
- It offers multiple endings and complex conversations, providing good replay value for players.
- The immersive atmosphere and well-crafted AI personalities enhance the overall experience.
- The game suffers from a lack of meaningful choices, often leading to repetitive dialogue and a feeling of being railroaded.
- There are moments where the dialogue options do not align with logical player responses, breaking immersion.
- The absence of voice acting in most parts of the game detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a static visual novel.
- story70 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of Lightstep Chronicles is described as engaging and filled with plot twists, making it compelling enough for players to complete the game in just a few sittings. However, some reviewers noted issues with player choice and interface mechanics that detracted from the overall experience, leading to feelings of disillusionment and frustration. Despite these criticisms, many praised the game's high production values, well-crafted narrative, and immersive world-building, highlighting its exploration of deeper themes and character development.
“The story is extremely compelling and the visuals are stunning.”
“The story moves along very nicely and has a lot going on in it with a good few twists and turns, and the interactions with various AIs (who you're talking to throughout the game) are very well built, with excellent personalities and backstories.”
“I really enjoyed the story of this game.”
“Very quickly, I was unable to connect with the story at all.”
“Unfortunately, a lot of these suffer from the same problem: contrived plot elements that only serve the UI and not the story.”
“What truly did disappoint was the fact that it did not really feel like there were any type of branching story paths.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and high quality, often described as stunning and on par with epic standards, particularly impressive for a point-and-click title. While the visuals create an immersive atmosphere and are complemented by a compelling story, some users noted issues with cutscene bugs and a lack of voice acting that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature that enhances its appeal.
“Well, for a 'point and click' the graphics were quite surprising at 4k resolution.”
“I can only wonder why more developers don't leverage the tools this team did to put out a stunning graphical experience at a very good price.”
“The story is extremely compelling and the visuals are stunning.”
“Even though the visuals are immaculate, they barely respond to the dialogue.”
“The game is gorgeous, the cinematics are astounding... but the voice acting isn't that same quality the visuals led me to believe, and after that first cutscene there doesn't seem to be any voice acting.”
“The art moderne aesthetic, I believe, is based on the novel, and in the game, I think they really take it to the next level of kitsch.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click experience that some players find engaging, particularly for those who enjoy interactive storytelling. However, many reviewers criticize the unclear UI mechanics and the lack of meaningful progression through crew log entries, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers immersive graphics and design, it is ultimately the story that stands out as the main attraction.
“If you are willing to play something more akin to an interactive book, then this game is perfect for you, very similar to 'The Ballad Singer' in terms of gameplay.”
“There are enough dialogue branches and a bit of gameplay clicking around to keep one properly engaged as well.”
“I could comment on gameplay, graphics, and design (all of which I found very immersive) but the true star is the story.”
“After the first pass, I was eager to get to the next step and didn't bother reading the crew log entries, which did nothing to advance gameplay.”
“Here you have to figure out the UI mechanics presented as if they were part of the story, but not only is that part uninteresting, it's not clear what you need to trigger to advance.”
“Many of these point-and-click type games are like this; we have been pointing and clicking for ages. These contrived mechanics are simply speed bumps to the point-and-click gravy of a good story.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its immersive atmosphere, enhanced by impressive graphics and an exceptional sound score. Reviewers highlight the strong writing and solid soundtrack as key elements that contribute to the overall ambiance.
“Great atmospheric game, complemented with good graphics and an incredible sound score.”
“It is very well written and has a solid soundtrack to complement the atmosphere.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its ability to enhance the storytelling, with a solid soundtrack that complements the atmosphere effectively. Reviewers highlight the exceptional quality of both the writing and the musical composition, contributing to an immersive experience.
“The storytelling aspects of this game are impeccable, including the marvelously written text as well as the music.”
“It is very well written and has a solid soundtrack to complement the atmosphere.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game effectively engages their emotions, prompting a range of feelings and deep reflections on personal experiences and themes. This emotional depth enhances the overall gaming experience, making it memorable and impactful.
“This game played on some of my emotions, made me feel other ones, and forced me to reflect on various aspects of life.”
“This game played on some of my emotions, made me feel other ones, and forced me to reflect on various aspects of life.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally strong, with impressive graphics; however, some users have reported minor bugs in a few cutscenes.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts strong replayability, allowing players to revisit and alter their choices if they are dissatisfied with their initial outcomes. This feature encourages exploration of different paths and endings, enhancing the overall experience.
“The game offers great replay value if you are not satisfied with your outcome.”
“The game provides a lot of opportunities for replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and outcomes.”
“Each playthrough feels unique, making you want to dive back in for a fresh experience.”
