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Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness

Made in Abyss: Binary Star offers a unique challenge that's worth trying, but it needs some quality-of-life improvements to be worth paying full price.
67%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
84% User Score Based on 1,759 reviews
Critic Score 52%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 4WindowsPlayStation

About

Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness is an action RPG set in the grim world of the Made in Abyss anime and manga. Players will create their own character and descend into the deadly abyss, facing off against monstrous creatures and making difficult decisions that will impact the story. With beautiful hand-drawn art and a haunting original soundtrack, this game is a must-play for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness screenshot
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84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,759 reviews
story133 positive mentions
stability88 negative mentions

  • The game captures the atmosphere and sense of danger of the Abyss, making exploration feel rewarding.
  • Fans of the Made in Abyss series will appreciate the faithful representation of characters and locations.
  • The gameplay loop of resource management, crafting, and survival is engaging and addictive.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs, clunky controls, and a poorly designed inventory system.
  • The 'Hello Abyss' mode is a tedious tutorial that doesn't effectively prepare players for the main game.
  • Weapon durability is frustratingly low, leading to frequent backtracking and resource management issues.
  • story
    1,068 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is divided into two main modes: "Hello Abyss," which serves as a brief retelling of the anime's first season up to the second layer, and "Deep in Abyss," where players create their own character and embark on an original narrative. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and exploration of the abyss in the latter mode, many criticize the former for being a tedious tutorial that lacks engagement and fails to capture the essence of the source material. Overall, the storytelling is seen as inconsistent, with a mix of original content and recycled elements from the anime, leaving fans divided on its effectiveness.

    • “Amazing storytelling though!”
    • “The exploration, the story, the art, all of it is magnificent as a fan of the original story.”
    • “The game is entertaining, you need to play hello abyss *main story* before you can play deep abyss *custom story* the main one is around 3 hours long, and the second one... I have no idea hahahaha, the graphics are good, clearly not a super detailed the witcher 3 land, but they are ok, it is a... world almost like monster hunter, in the way that is divided in sectors that are somewhat explorable.”
    • “The overall plot of the game is slow, and the gameplay itself is rather buggy in my opinion.”
    • “The story is basically a retelling of the anime in a worse way, with some original stuff on the more difficult custom character mode.”
    • “The main story is quite short (pretty much ends where the first season ends) and glosses over what was told in the anime.”
  • gameplay
    577 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and bogged down by clunky mechanics and a lack of depth. While the core loop of exploration and survival can be engaging, it is often hindered by poorly explained systems, frustrating mechanics like the curse of the abyss, and a tedious inventory management process. Overall, the game offers a unique experience for fans of the series, but its execution leaves much to be desired, making it feel more like a chore than an adventure at times.

    • “The gameplay loop of exploring further and further into the abyss collecting relics to sell back at the surface is addicting, and each time you descend you take on more risks until you inevitably bite off more than you can chew.”
    • “The fundamental gameplay loop of delving, exploring, treasure hunting, and trying to survive the ascent to cash in your haul and upgrade your gear for the next sortie is incredibly satisfying, especially when your well-laid plans inevitably go awry on the way up and you're forced to think on your feet.”
    • “This game, however, does survival in the abyss very very well; it's probably the most I've ever enjoyed a survival mechanic.”
    • “Progress feels sluggish, and the gameplay quickly becomes repetitive.”
    • “The overall plot of the game is slow, and the gameplay itself is rather buggy in my opinion.”
    • “The gameplay is just awful; the user interface is a nightmare on PC, running out of stamina just makes you come to a complete stop and it gets pretty annoying.”
  • graphics
    311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated, often likening them to early PS3 or even PS2 quality. While some appreciate the art style's alignment with the anime's aesthetic and find the environments charming, others criticize the overall visual fidelity and performance issues, suggesting that the graphics do not justify the game's price point. Despite these shortcomings, the atmosphere and unique layer designs have been praised, indicating that the visuals, while lacking, still contribute to an engaging experience for fans of the franchise.

    • “The art style and music create a beautiful atmosphere of the abyss, and the challenge of surviving is rewarding.”
    • “I was absolutely stunned at times when entering a new area and seeing what lay ahead, which really goes to show how well the game fosters the atmosphere, dread, and wonder of exploring deep into the abyss, even with its simple visuals.”
    • “The graphics are simple yet capture the beauty and theme of the game perfectly, so you won't even need a high-spec computer to run the game!”
    • “The graphics are nowhere near worthy of making it onto PC.”
    • “The game play sucks, the writing is sub par but serviceable, the graphics are atrocious for the modern day and age, the AI is dated, and it's a bugfest with loads of jank.”
    • “Every time you feel like you're close to finally feasting your eyes on something exciting, you're instead met with drab visuals, comically bad camera work, rushed animations and a frankly stunning lack of graphical detail for a game released in 2022.”
  • music
    162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to create an atmospheric experience that complements the game's exploration and emotional moments. However, numerous critics express disappointment that it fails to capture the depth and beauty of Kevin Penkin's original soundtrack from the anime, often describing it as repetitive or generic. Some players have opted to use mods to replace the in-game music with the anime's score, indicating a strong preference for the original compositions.

    • “The game’s atmosphere is perfect, with beautiful art and music that heightens the emotional moments.”
    • “I wholeheartedly love the music so much.”
    • “The soundtrack is very good, it sets the mood well.”
    • “The soundtrack is all over the place; it's composed of short tracks which don't really fit the environment, and since they quickly loop, they become annoying.”
    • “While trying to copy the sound of Kevin Penkin (composer of the music for the anime), it completely misses the mark and often struggles to set a mood. It also feels very repetitive after some hours of game time.”
    • “The music doesn't even come close to what's in the anime, forcing you to play through the story of the anime with lackluster gameplay drags.”
  • stability
    92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unpolished mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Players have noted issues such as enemy spawn rates, graphical glitches, and frustrating gameplay elements, leading many to recommend purchasing the game only on sale. Despite these problems, some users still find enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it offers a rewarding experience if players can overlook its many flaws.

    • “The whole game feels buggy and unfinished, in an old-school Obsidian kind of way.”
    • “This game is a buggy mess of garbage.”
    • “The game is ugly, clunky, and buggy as all hell.”
  • grinding
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that it often feels like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element. While some fans of grind-heavy RPGs appreciate the depth and challenge it offers, others find the mechanics frustrating, particularly due to issues like inventory management and resource scarcity. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who embrace the grind, but it may deter players who prefer a more streamlined or less labor-intensive gaming experience.

    • “It's more of a game about tedious inventory management than anything else.”
    • “It's tedious and boring.”
    • “There is no endgame context except grinding, so experiences may vary in length.”
  • atmosphere
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to capture the essence of the abyss, enhanced by beautiful art and evocative music that heightens emotional moments. While some players noted that the visuals and voice acting could be lacking, the overall sense of dread and wonder during exploration is compelling, making the experience engaging despite some inconsistencies in later levels. Overall, the atmosphere effectively immerses players in the game's world, making it a significant draw for fans of the source material.

    • “The game’s atmosphere is perfect, with beautiful art and music that heightens the emotional moments.”
    • “I was absolutely stunned at times when entering a new area and seeing what lay ahead, which really goes to show how well the game fosters the atmosphere, dread, and wonder of exploring deep into the abyss, even with its simple visuals.”
    • “Another notable mention is despite the game’s PS3-ish graphics, each map and area has an overabundance of the mysterious, alluring, and dangerous atmosphere as is mentioned in the anime and manga.”
    • “With such atmosphere, it's so strange that the game struggles with its own motive of getting you to play.”
    • “A stain on the atmosphere is that by the fourth layer, parts of the world begin lacking.”
    • “If the idea was to make it seem claustrophobic, good job, but it makes the atmosphere terrible.”
  • emotional
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its atmospheric art and music that enhance poignant moments, while others criticize the lack of character development and impactful storytelling. Fans of the anime may appreciate the expansion of its world, but many feel that the game fails to deliver the emotional depth and memorable moments found in the source material, relying instead on poorly executed cutscenes and forgettable characters. Overall, while there are moments of emotional intensity, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a sense of disappointment for those seeking a deeper connection to the narrative.

    • “It brings the abyss to life with exploration, combat, and emotional storytelling.”
    • “The game’s atmosphere is perfect, with beautiful art and music that heightens the emotional moments.”
    • “Reaching the seeker camp made me want to cry from how sad one of the fights was, and the cutscenes did not do the story justice.”
  • optimization
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting glitchy performance and notable frame drops, particularly on lower-end systems. While some players with high-end setups experienced smooth gameplay, the overall graphics quality is deemed subpar, reminiscent of older console generations, and many feel it is not well-optimized for PC, especially compared to other titles. Overall, the performance issues detract from the gaming experience, making it less appealing for extended play.

    • “I ran the game at 4K 144fps, max settings on my RTX 3080 Ti with no performance-related issues.”
    • “First off is graphics and performance.”
    • “Despite making a good effort to adapt the series' best attributes, its gameplay, short story, and poor performance greatly hinder the overall experience.”
    • “It's glitchy, unpolished, the performance ranges from acceptable to kinda awful in some areas. There were notable frame drops in several areas that weren't shockingly bad, but still jarring when you consider this game is not exactly pushing technological boundaries.”
    • “The game is not pretty; it has graphics that range from good PS2 to bad PS3 at best, and the performance is mediocre.”
    • “Like many other Japanese games, especially those made for Switch, it’s not optimized for PC.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of amusing moments and frustrating glitches, with players finding the absurdity of the mechanics and NPC behaviors entertaining. While some aspects, like repetitive voice lines, can be annoying, they often become funnier over time, contributing to a challenging yet humorous experience. Overall, the game's humor is appreciated, even amidst its technical flaws.

    • “Pretty funny and challenging if you are willing to give it a go; it is buggy and can be unfathomably unnecessarily hard sometimes, but it really enhances the experience.”
    • “One thing you will find very early on is that anytime you pick something up, they will say something generic, which was annoying at first but really funny the more I played (but that might have just been because I was happy to finally do something other than suffer).”
    • “Allied NPCs also tend to do funny things at times due to how their AI works.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with users labeling it a blatant cash grab that fails to deliver on its promises. Many feel that the game is a low-quality console port, offering a disappointingly short main campaign that feels more like a tutorial than a full experience. Overall, the monetization strategy has left players feeling exploited rather than entertained.

    • “I was really hyped for this because of the anime, but the game is crap; this is nothing more than a low-quality cash grab.”
    • “Awful blatant cash grab.”
    • “So, as much as I liked the setting and the anime itself, the game just seems like a horribly messy console port cash grab on first glance.”
  • replayability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while the abyss offers countless expeditions and hidden secrets that encourage exploration, the lack of additional gameplay elements, such as new game plus or collectible mechanics, limits its depth. Players appreciate the nostalgic layers of the abyss but feel that more lore and interactive elements could enhance the experience. Overall, the replayability is enjoyable but could benefit from more engaging content.

    • “It was perfect, the entire experience was just marvelous from the start, with replayability on point and countless expeditions that can be made through the wonderful and nostalgic layers of the abyss.”
    • “Replayability: the abyss itself is a great replayable device, with lots of secrets hidden everywhere. While it lacks typical collection mechanics, this absence is both a boon and a missed opportunity for adding extra lore through hidden stories.”
    • “The replayability is impressive, as each journey into the abyss offers new experiences and discoveries, making it a game that invites players to return time and again.”
    • “There are no additional gameplay elements for replayability, no new game plus, and no interesting late-game relics other than making big numbers go up.”
    • “There are no additional gameplay elements for replayability, no new game plus, and no interesting late-game relics other than making big numbers go up.”
  • character development
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While the game features impressive visuals and character design, reviewers consistently note that character development is significantly lacking, despite the story's potential. The simplistic environmental art further detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The story has good potential, but character development is very much lacking.”
    • “The character design is pretty neat, but the environmental art and backgrounds look too simplistic.”
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10h Median play time
18h Average play time
4-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs
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