In Little Orpheus, players control a Soviet cosmonaut who claims to have saved the world after disappearing for three years. The game features a journey to the center of the Earth in a tiny spacecraft, where players will explore lost civilizations, undersea kingdoms, and prehistoric environments while evading various dangers. The narrative is presented as a debriefing to a fearsome general, adding a humorous and suspenseful tone to the game.
Visually stunning with vibrant environments and beautiful graphics that create an immersive experience.
Engaging and humorous storytelling, with witty dialogue and charming characters that keep players entertained.
Casual gameplay that is easy to pick up, making it suitable for a wide audience, including younger players.
Gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, often feeling like a walking simulator with minimal challenge.
Numerous bugs and glitches, particularly in later chapters, can disrupt the experience and require restarts.
The narrative can feel drawn out and lacks a satisfying conclusion, leaving players wanting more substance.
story
419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
50%
7%
The story of "Little Orpheus" follows a Soviet cosmonaut named Ivan, who recounts his whimsical and humorous adventures beneath the Earth's surface during an interrogation. While the narrative is praised for its charming characters, witty dialogue, and engaging plot twists, many players feel that it loses momentum towards the end, resulting in an unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the game is celebrated for its beautiful visuals and storytelling, making it a delightful experience for fans of narrative-driven titles, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay and pacing.
“From the moment you embark on this journey, you’ll be hooked by its charming characters, whimsical storyline, and a world full of quirky surprises.”
“The story follows a daring Soviet cosmonaut named Ivan, who gets lost deep beneath the earth’s surface in a mysterious world full of strange creatures, ancient secrets, and unexpected twists.”
“The dialogue is witty, the characters are endearing, and the plot twists are expertly timed, keeping you on the edge of your seat while still making you laugh.”
“The storytelling is a massive let-down.”
“Delusional incoherent story that ends in nothing.”
“The story is more like a bad version of Groundhog Day, as a waffling comrade Ivan recounts his many adventures that lead nowhere in search of a nuclear device.”
gameplay
186 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
57%
18%
The gameplay of "Little Orpheus" is generally described as simplistic and linear, often likened to a walking simulator with minimal challenge and repetitive mechanics. While the visuals and narrative are praised, many reviewers find the gameplay to be boring and lacking depth, suggesting that it serves primarily as a vehicle for the story rather than an engaging experience in its own right. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize narrative and atmosphere over challenging gameplay.
“The gameplay itself is wonderfully paced, with simple yet satisfying mechanics that make the exploration feel effortless.”
“The gameplay was simple but fun.”
“Overall I'd recommend this game to fans of story-driven titles that enjoy exploring some cool locations with nice graphics and like chill gameplay without much of a challenge.”
“Gameplay is a linear affair.”
“There's not much actual gameplay here.”
“The gameplay itself isn't particularly innovative or challenging, but Little Orpheus isn't a game about gameplay.”
graphics
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The graphics in this game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning remastered visuals, vibrant art styles, and beautiful environments that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted that the gameplay may not match the high standard set by the visuals, the artistic design and captivating graphics are often highlighted as the game's strongest features, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of visually-driven titles. Overall, the graphics are described as colorful, engaging, and a significant draw for players, even if the gameplay itself is simplistic.
“This definitive edition brings the magic of the original to life in stunning remastered visuals, making it the perfect way to experience this gem.”
“The graphics are amazing, and make it just an overall enjoyable experience.”
“The visuals are outstanding, and the music and sound do an incredible job of bringing this strange new world to life.”
“All graphics, not enough gameplay for my taste.”
“The graphics are obviously inexpensive but the artistic style is a perfect match for the game.”
“There are some funny things that can give you smiles in the beginning and graphics are colorful but not enough for me to recommend this game.”
humor
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is described as quirky, imaginative, and often hilarious, appealing to both children and adults with its lighthearted storytelling and engaging dialogue. While many players found the humor enjoyable and well-integrated into the narrative, some felt that certain jokes fell flat or were overly simplistic, leading to mixed reactions. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals and comedic elements, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its unique style of humor.
“It's quirky, funny, and amazingly imaginative.”
“The amazing humor, the driven plot, the way the game keeps you involved in the story, makes the time just fly by.”
“The story was incredibly funny and some of the voice lines made me cackle with joy.”
“It's supposed to be funny - and perhaps to some degree it is, but it was mostly annoying and because of that I have actually lost interest in the story and was praying for this guy to finally shut up.”
“You can't even skip past the unfunny video clips.”
music
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
23%
5%
The music in "Little Orpheus" is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, often drawing comparisons to iconic film scores like those of Indiana Jones. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's effectiveness in complementing the narrative and gameplay, with some noting that it reacts dynamically to player actions. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's strongest elements, contributing significantly to its immersive experience.
“Little Orpheus is an example of a linear story-heavy platformer done right: juicy and rich visuals, great themed music (although a bit cliché), that conveys the atmosphere and bizarre but captivating plot.”
“The visual beauty of the game in the colorful and breathtaking worlds is accompanied by enchanting music.”
“The visuals are outstanding, and the music and sound do an incredible job of bringing this strange new world to life.”
“The music also went very well with every scenario and the unbelievable narration very well complemented the game progress as well.”
“The world is remarkably animated, the music keeps it exciting (and sometimes the music is tied directly to what you're doing!), and the atmosphere created in these worlds gives a feel of really being involved.”
“A casual side scroller with Hollywood level visuals, music, and voice overs.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly in the later episodes, with numerous bugs and glitches that often require players to restart the game to progress. Many users report that these technical problems detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and interruptions in gameplay. A patch from the developers could potentially improve this aspect and enhance player satisfaction.
“As a game, it is just not working; buggy and frustrating.”
“Towards the end of the game (particularly episode 8), I experienced a lot of glitches and bugs which forced me to shut the game down and restart in order to resolve.”
“-100 for the glitches that made me restart from chapter 1 as if getting through 3 chapters wasn't torturous enough.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The atmosphere in "Little Orpheus" is widely praised for its rich visuals, engaging music, and immersive storytelling, creating a captivating experience that draws players into its quirky world. Reviewers highlight the game's strong audio design and voice acting, which enhance the overall ambiance, making it a standout example of a narrative-driven platformer. While gameplay may take a backseat, the emphasis on atmosphere and storytelling is what makes the game memorable.
“What you can expect from The Chinese Room's games is great storytelling and atmosphere, smart writing, great voice acting, solid audio design, and very good music.”
“The world is remarkably animated, the music keeps it exciting (and sometimes the music is tied directly to what you're doing!), and the atmosphere created in these worlds gives a feel of really being involved.”
“Little Orpheus is an example of a linear story-heavy platformer done right: juicy and rich visuals, great themed music (although a bit cliché), that conveys the atmosphere and bizarre but captivating plot.”
“Coming from the acknowledged masters of the walking simulator, it is probably not surprising that this run-to-the-right puzzle platformer emphasizes the atmosphere, environments, and story at the expense of challenging gameplay.”
“I really liked the atmosphere and the story was okay, but there wasn't much to do except to hold down.”
“Gameplay isn't the reason why you should be playing 'Little Orpheus,' you should be playing for the story and obviously the atmosphere.”
grinding
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overwhelmingly tedious and repetitive, often likening it to a walking simulator with a lack of engaging challenges. While some levels include chase and stealth segments that provide brief relief, the overall experience is marred by a generic narrative and a lack of satisfying accomplishments, leading to a frustrating grind.
“It's tedious and boring; a walking simulator.”
“It truly feels like a tedious walking simulator.”
“It's sooooo terribly tedious and boring; definitely not challenging or in any way a satisfying accomplishment once accomplished.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's replayability is generally viewed as moderate, with some players noting it has elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others suggest it could be infinitely replayable. Overall, it offers a mix of replay value that varies among players.
“🔲 Infinitely replayable”
“Oh, replayability, well, there is some.”
“+ Some replayability”
“Oh replayability, well, there is some.”
“+ some replayability”
“~ replayability~”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-written characters and impactful moments, particularly resonating with players who have personal connections to the setting. While some find the story and gameplay lacking, the emotional depth and stunning graphics create a compelling experience.
“Egttr is beautiful, intriguing, has a big cast of well-written characters, and has some devastating emotional moments.”
“Omsk/Tomsk mixing up was especially heartwarming for me as I live around these two.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of *Little Orpheus* is not perceived as exploitative or a cash grab; instead, it is viewed as a genuine product that offers value to players.
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized due to frequent performance issues and bugs, leading to a subpar experience for many players. These incidents have raised concerns about the overall polish and stability of the game.