Lona: Realm Of Colors
- July 9, 2021
- SpaceFox Studio
Get on Steam“Lona: Realm of Colors” is a point and click adventure in nature focusing on art and narration instead of fetch puzzles and dialogue. Each level is an abstraction of Lona’s story and it is up to you to bring peace and balance to her painting and find out what has happened to her. Each level has two sides: a chaotic side represented by Ms. Schmidt the cat and a dark side represented by Mr. Ruppel …
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Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style that captivates players.
- The music is relaxing and complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game effectively conveys themes of loss and emotional struggles through its visual storytelling.
- Many puzzles are frustratingly vague and require excessive clicking without clear indications, leading to a lack of intuitive gameplay.
- The game is quite short, with a playtime of around an hour, which may leave players wanting more content.
- There are several polish issues, such as inconsistent hotspot recognition and abrupt music transitions, which detract from the overall experience.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story in the game is a wordless exploration of loss, mourning, and the struggles of the mind, conveyed through beautiful hand-drawn art and music that enhances its emotional depth. While some players appreciate the visual storytelling and the interactive picture book format, others find the narrative vague and the gameplay frustratingly simplistic. Overall, the story is seen as both poignant and open to interpretation, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its abstract nature and lack of traditional dialogue or character development.
“The story deals with loss, mourning, and depression, and I personally consider this very well done.”
“Lona is a very particular sort of game, a story of loss and a mind's struggles with it, and it is excellently designed for telling that story: the music, the imagery, the hand-drawn style of the art, all fit perfectly with what it seeks to convey.”
“I tend to enjoy games that are more heavy on story, and the visual storytelling in this game is really excellent.”
“There is no character who walks around, no dialogue, and any story such as there is is impressionistic and implied.”
“The story is inferred from the artwork and its transformations.”
“Story is nothing original.”
- music18 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmospheric experience, complementing the art style and emotional narrative. While many find it relaxing and fitting for the game's themes, some users express concerns about abrupt transitions and looping issues. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's ambiance, though some feel it could be better integrated with sound effects.
“The visuals, the art style, and the music are fantastic.”
“The atmosphere, music, and gameplay help to unwind and relax, and think about one's own pains and sorrows and how one got through those.”
“Lona is a very particular sort of game, a story of loss and a mind's struggles with it, and it is excellently designed for telling that story: the music, the imagery, the hand-drawn style of the art, all fit perfectly with what it seeks to convey.”
“My only complaints are that I wish the music would transition a little better in the game instead of cutting off, and I think the price is too high for the amount of content.”
“I didn't like that you had sound effects for some actions, but not for others, and I wish you looped the music in a less distracting manner.”
“On a side note, I felt like the game didn't have enough sound effects for every action, and in general, I wish you looped the music without stopping the soundtrack.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and animation, creating an aesthetically pleasing and emotionally resonant experience. Many reviewers highlight the dreamy, watercolor-like visuals and the calming music, which enhance the overall atmosphere, although some note that the visuals may not be particularly memorable. Overall, the artwork and sound design are considered standout features, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-driven and puzzle games.
“The visuals, the art style, and the music are fantastic.”
“Graphics and animation are amazing.”
“The visuals won't leave a mark in your memories.”
“Solid art style.”
“It's aesthetically pleasing, peaceful but creepy, and I connected on an emotional level, so I still don't regret playing it.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by simple point-and-click puzzles that can sometimes feel obtuse and overly metaphorical, leading to a lack of clarity in their purpose. While the mechanics are basic and repetitive, the overall atmosphere and emotional resonance provide a comforting experience that some players find appealing for introspection and relaxation. However, there is a consensus that the gameplay could benefit from more complexity and intuitive design to enhance engagement.
“The atmosphere, music, and gameplay help to unwind and relax, allowing players to reflect on their own pains and sorrows and how they got through them.”
“Despite the simple gameplay and the fact that the puzzles aren't different every time, this is absolutely a game I can see myself returning to when I need some comfort, inspiration, or just to wallow in an unnamed emotion for a little while.”
“The gameplay is fairly basic, with interaction based more on associations than on complex logic.”
“The point-and-click puzzles are on the simple side but are occasionally a little obtuse.”
“I'm not a fan of the almost static puzzle gameplay.”
“I was disappointed with the gameplay experience as it often felt too metaphorical; I didn't really know why I would do something this way, and what it was telling me about.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful visuals, soothing music, and ability to evoke reflection and relaxation, reminiscent of titles like Samorost. While some find the overall aesthetic and emotional tone captivating, others feel that the themes are somewhat clichéd and lack a lasting impact. Overall, it is regarded as a calming experience, particularly for those who appreciate 2D art and illustration.
“It is very atmospheric, with its focus on the images and the colors, accompanied by fitting music.”
“The atmosphere, music, and gameplay help to unwind and relax, allowing players to reflect on their own pains and sorrows and how they got through them.”
“If you're looking for a calming game and have an appreciation for illustration and 2D art, the atmosphere and design of this game are seriously gorgeous.”
“I don't have too much to say in regards to the visual storytelling. I didn't mind it, but it's also a very overused theme these days. While it had a decent atmosphere with the whole melancholy, it just didn't impact me in the end.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally resonant, appreciating its aesthetic appeal and the way it evokes a mix of peacefulness and creepiness. The metaphors used in the game enhance this emotional connection, leaving players with a sense of fulfillment despite any unsettling elements.
“It's aesthetically pleasing, peaceful but creepy, and I connected on an emotional level, so I still don't regret playing it.”
“I still enjoyed the metaphors because they resonate on an emotional level with me.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users report that the game's stability can be compromised when rapidly altering the game world, leading to glitches such as the game mistakenly recognizing the player as being in a previous state, allowing interaction with outdated objects.
“If you change the world too fast, it can create some strange glitches. For example, the game will think that you are in the last picture, and you can interact with objects from the previous world.”
“The game crashes frequently, especially during key moments, which ruins the overall experience.”
“I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, making it hard to progress without restarting.”
