Magrunner: Dark Pulse

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 501 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Magrunner: Dark Pulse Game Cover
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Magrunner: Dark Pulse is a horror-themed action-puzzle game that combines technology with the Cthulhu Mythos. As Dax, a trainee in MagTech Corporation's space program, you must use your Magtech glove to manipulate objects and solve challenging puzzles in order to survive and confront the monstrous creatures of Cthulhu. The game features 40+ levels set in high-tech training rooms and the cosmos.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 501 reviews
story52 positive mentions
music5 negative mentions
  • The game features clever and challenging puzzles that require creative thinking, making it engaging for fans of the genre.
  • The Lovecraftian aesthetic and atmosphere add a unique twist to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The graphics are visually appealing, with well-designed environments that create a sense of immersion.
  • The story is poorly executed, with weak character development and unconvincing voice acting that detracts from the overall experience.
  • The game mechanics can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where the physics do not behave as expected.
  • The pacing is uneven, with some levels feeling tedious and overly long, which can diminish player enjoyment.
  • story254 mentions

    The story of "Magrunner: Dark Pulse" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted, poorly written, and lacking in character development. While some appreciate the Lovecraftian themes and the initial intrigue, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and filled with clichés, ultimately detracting from the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game offers interesting puzzle mechanics, the story fails to engage or resonate with players.

    • “I liked how the levels, story, and atmosphere changed more and more in a dark and threatening direction.”
    • “The story is decent, although there were parts I wish were better explained, and I think the ending inadvertently undercuts itself.”
    • “The story is told with gusto and never lets up; as what starts out to be a sci-fi story about energy consumption and finding new power sources soon turns into a horror-induced nightmare.”
    • “The story is a joke and the Cthulhu background is just a pretext to glue the puzzles together; don't expect epic fights or deep story, everything is incoherent and not fun.”
    • “The backstory to the setting and events of the game is jarringly lengthy and complex.”
    • “The story is really lame, though.”
  • gameplay196 mentions

    The gameplay of "Magrunner: Dark Pulse" is characterized by its unique magnetism mechanics, which allow players to manipulate objects through attraction and repulsion. While the initial levels are engaging and introduce the mechanics effectively, many players find that the gameplay becomes repetitive and frustrating as the game progresses, particularly due to poorly communicated mechanics and a lack of polish. Overall, the game offers a challenging puzzle experience reminiscent of the "Portal" series, but it struggles with consistency and clarity in its design.

    • “The gameplay is surprisingly fun and challenging.”
    • “The mechanics are interesting and open up a lot of possibilities that are well exploited as you progress through the game.”
    • “Magrunner pretty much starts where the portal series left off, offering absolutely awesome physics puzzles which require you not to think in portals, but in magnets, offering just as satisfying gameplay.”
    • “This issue becomes worse when the mechanic that lets you create your own magnetic fields is introduced - using it feels so much like fudging that I'm never confident in my own solution plan and I rarely get the 'aha' moments that the best puzzle games give you.”
    • “The core mechanics of the game are unreliable and often require lots of retries to do what the game expects you to do.”
    • “The problem is that the mechanics are quite apparently hacked on top of some physics engine, quite often don't make sense beyond the basic scenario, or are downright broken.”
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant environments and impressive textures, while others criticize them as outdated or lacking polish. Many players appreciate the unique art style and immersive atmosphere, particularly in space levels, but note that certain elements, like character animations and visual feedback during gameplay, could be improved. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are generally considered decent and contribute positively to the gaming experience.

    • “The game's environments are beautifully designed, with stunning visuals that create a sense of realism and depth.”
    • “The graphics are nice, the colors are interesting, and the level design is actually really decent.”
    • “Graphics are perhaps 10 years behind.”
    • “The graphics and sound design in Magrunner: Dark Pulse are impressive, creating a vivid and immersive gaming experience.”
    • “Unfortunately the graphical design does not distinguish between scenery and puzzle elements.”
  • music27 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and overwhelming, particularly the intense violin tracks that can detract from gameplay. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and fitting soundscapes that enhance the game's tension, others criticize the soundtrack as bland or poorly executed, suggesting it may be better to mute it altogether. Overall, the music seems to struggle in balancing engagement with the gameplay experience.

    • “The soundtrack -- sometimes techno/EDM, sometimes background/ambient -- adds to the urgency and terror of the situation.”
    • “It's difficult not to notice the haunting music and top-notch look and feel to the game as well.”
    • “The graphics in Magrunner are good and the music and overall feeling of dread that something may be coming for you at any point is quite intense at some points during the game.”
    • “The soundtrack is downright terrible, mostly screeching violins for hours straight.”
    • “The dumb transitions between levels, the repeating soundtrack, (note: trying to solve a puzzle while a violin is screaming into your ear is not fun.) the terrible puzzle design, I can't recommend this game.”
    • “Music is royalty-free garbage (very obvious during 'horror' scenes and you'll be better off just turning it off at the beginning of the playthrough).”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, particularly as it evolves from a sterile environment to more horrific landscapes, enhancing the overall tension and creepiness. While the graphics and audio contribute positively to the atmosphere, some players feel that the dialogue and story elements detract from the experience, often feeling like filler. Overall, the combination of challenging puzzles and a strong atmospheric presence makes for an engaging experience, despite some criticisms regarding voice acting and narrative coherence.

    • “Good puzzles, challenging achievements, suspenseful atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics and atmosphere are pretty damn cool, the puzzles are quite tricky.”
    • “No guns, no way to defend yourself except using the environment, a very creepy atmosphere, occasional terror and running away, all while slowly going insane.”
    • “The atmosphere is atrocious; no amount of pitiful wailing and moaning is going to make me scared of your double-digit polygon models.”
    • “However, as the game progresses, this gives way to horrific landscapes and an unsettling atmosphere.”
    • “The story's atmosphere was a bit weird for me because of the puzzle part of the game.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in the later stages where puzzles become repetitive and finicky. While the initial concept and some puzzles are enjoyable, many reviewers noted that the experience often devolves into a chore, leading some to abandon the game entirely in favor of watching playthroughs. Overall, the game struggles to maintain engagement as it progresses, with grinding becoming a significant drawback.

    • “Nice concept but it just becomes tedious in the late game.”
    • “Pretty good portal style game but it just got more tedious and irritating as I went on, and when I got to the jump/miss/die/jump/miss/die of the first room with the loops, I ended up just watching the rest on YouTube so I could uninstall it.”
    • “It's fun in theory, but in execution it's just a more physics-heavy portal with less cleverly designed/more tedious puzzles.”
  • humor8 mentions

    Overall, the humor in "Magrunner" is noted as a significant shortcoming compared to "Portal," with many reviewers highlighting the absence of memorable, charismatic characters like GLaDOS and Wheatley. While some found moments of humor, particularly in the game's ending, the consensus is that the game leans more towards intrigue and horror rather than comedy, resulting in a less engaging narrative experience.

    • “I laughed so hard at the very end; the magtech and IRL footage was hilarious.”
    • “This was hands down the most fun I've had with a 3D puzzle platformer since Portal 2, and the only reason why Magrunner falls mildly short is the lack of hilarious characters like Wheatley or GLaDOS.”
    • “I do like the game though... but I prefer a funny villain like GLaDOS.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is notably inconsistent, with players reporting various glitches, such as physics issues, getting stuck, and problematic auto-saves that can lead to frustrating experiences. While some users appreciate the overall polish and lack of major crashes, others highlight the presence of bugs that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in critical moments. Overall, the stability issues detract from the enjoyment of the game, despite its appealing graphics and engaging puzzles.

    • “There were a few glitches I encountered, such as one level where the magnetism wasn't working right, causing a cube to lose all its magnetism properties at a certain height in the room. This made a really simple solution extremely annoying to accomplish. Another issue was getting stuck in place where I couldn't move, and in the last level, the game auto-saved half a second before I died, so every time I loaded in, I would immediately die, forcing me to restart the last level.”
    • “The physics are buggy and inconsistent, the level design is a mess, and this all inversely correlates with the story getting pulpy and fun.”
    • “It can be a bit buggy, such as when the final boss just stood there pointing at a block halfway through the battle, leaving me to wreck everything unopposed.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users noting significant performance issues, including stuttering and freezing during cutscenes. While some aspects, like texture masking, are praised for accommodating lower-end systems, the overall experience is marred by a lack of polish and disconnect in voice acting performance.

    • “The game features impressive optimization, allowing for smooth gameplay even in graphically intense scenes.”
    • “The optimization of the game ensures that players can enjoy a seamless experience without significant lag or performance issues.”
    • “The developers have done a commendable job with optimization, making the game run efficiently on a variety of systems.”
    • “Also very, very badly optimized.”
    • “The game does not seem to be optimized properly, though the scenery in Act 3 is very beautiful and reminded me of Dead Space 3.”
    • “Only issue I had (bug-wise) was that cutscenes seemed corrupted, stuttering and freezing every ~10 seconds, although alt+tabbing and waiting a few seconds fixed this.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while the main voice actor delivers a strong and invested performance, the overall emotional impact is lacking, with some reviewers noting it feels less engaging than iconic elements like the companion cube. Additionally, clever puzzle design can evoke a sense of accomplishment, but the need to search for hidden elements detracts from the emotional experience.

    • “The main voice actor sounded really good, invested, and emotional.”
    • “A lot of the puzzle design is pretty clever, and it often made me feel clever when I solved things.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being weak and unengaging, with some characters described as repulsive and lacking depth. The storyline fails to enhance character arcs, and the clumsy voice acting and dialogue further detract from the overall experience. Additionally, unskippable cutscenes contribute to a frustrating narrative flow.

    • “Weak storyline and character development.”
    • “Unskippable cutscenes are everywhere, character development is worse than flat (some of my allies are actually repulsive), and the voice acting and dialogue are clumsy (no one talks like that).”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with some players finding enjoyment in timed achievements that encourage revisiting levels, while others feel that once completed, there is little incentive to play again. The varying difficulty of levels may provide some challenge, but ultimately, many users agree that the game lacks significant replay value.

    • “But be aware that the replay value here is absolutely zero; once it's done, there is nothing to bring you back.”
    • “The levels range from super easy to figure out to hair-pullingly tricky, and with the addition of timed achievements, there is a lot of replay value if you get stuck and miss the deadline.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of Magrunner: Dark Pulse is perceived as lacking, with users noting that its difficulty and minimal advertising may have hindered its popularity and financial success within the first-person shooter genre.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

10hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
8-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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