Meridian 157: Prologue

About

"Meridian 157: Prologue" is a free point-and-click puzzle game with a spooky atmosphere, featuring detective David Zander investigating a mysterious weather anomaly on a remote island. Solve challenging puzzles, enjoy immersive visuals and music, and uncover the mystery behind the 157th meridian, available in eight languages with no ads.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Engaging puzzles that range from easy to challenging, providing a satisfying experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
Atmospheric graphics and sound design that create a spooky and immersive environment.
The prologue is free, making it an accessible introduction to the series that encourages players to explore further chapters.

Several technical issues, including bugs that prevent players from entering coordinates and navigating effectively.
Lack of clear cursor feedback and navigation options, leading to frustration and pixel-hunting gameplay.
The story feels minimal and the game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content and depth.

story
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
63%
9%
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it captivating and intriguing, particularly in the context of a dark sci-fi narrative, while others criticize it for being minimal or lacking depth. Many appreciate the balance between engaging puzzles and the storyline, though some feel the prologue does not adequately set up the narrative, focusing more on gameplay mechanics than story development. Overall, while the story may not be the main focus, it is enough to keep players interested and eager for more.
- “A fascinating storyline and creepy ambiance make up for the lackluster graphics.”
- “Very captivating dark sci-fi story; if you play the prologue and all chapters.”
- “I have only played through the prologue, but the story has gripped me enough to want to know what happens.”
- “Story is non-existent.”
- “It does not tell much of a story, features uninspired puzzles, inconsistent visual quality, and dreadful navigation.”
- “Prologues usually set up a story, and leave you with many mysteries you want to see resolved; this one focuses more on puzzles, which are standard, clichéd, adventure game puzzles.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric visuals and good artwork, while others criticize them as dated or lacking polish compared to modern standards. Many appreciate the game's aesthetic and ambiance, likening it to classic titles like Myst, but note that the graphics may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to contemporary gaming visuals. Overall, the graphics are described as adequate, with a blend of charm and limitations.
- “Graphics are great, puzzles are not too hard.”
- “The graphics are good and the game runs smoothly.”
- “Great graphics, workable puzzles not hindered by timelines.”
- “A fascinating storyline and creepy ambiance make up for the lackluster graphics.”
- “My only complaint is that partway through, the graphics messed up so I wasn't able to take photos or view my inventory unless I clicked on every single item.”
- “It has a nice mood but it feels too old tech in two ways: one, it's static movement frame to frame as you walk along - this feels less involving, less 'real' for the day and age we're in with games; and two, the graphics feel lowish in resolution or render quality with that awful lens aberration effect everything seems to use these days.”
gameplay
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The gameplay features two difficulty levels, with improvements noted from previous titles by the same developers, though some players found the mechanics unclear and certain puzzles frustrating. While the game offers engaging elements and nostalgic appeal for adventure gamers, it suffers from uninspired mechanics and lackluster visual feedback, leading to mixed reviews on its overall execution.
- “I found this after playing 'Aurora Hills: Chapter 1' by the same devs. While it uses a lot of the same mechanics, there are definite improvements in AH:C1, so it’s good to see that the devs are on an upward trajectory.”
- “Good ambience, graphics are fine, gameplay engaging; they even threw in a few puzzles with moon logic to appeal to old-school adventure gamers.”
- “The gameplay and graphics are reminiscent of Myst.”
- “What I didn't love was the mechanics - there's no clear indication of what's clickable and what's not, and I found the clues not helpful at all.”
- “Gameplay's uninspired and has lackluster visual feedback.”
- “Gameplay also seemed a little off, but perhaps that's because I'm used to more classical adventure games, where you choose in which direction you go in every screen, unlike this one.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
36%
27%
The music in the game is generally described as a subtle and effective ambient soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere without being distracting. While some players find it almost unnoticeable, others appreciate its ability to evoke feelings of mystery and isolation, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered decent and well-suited to the game's themes.
- “The visual is nice and the music is great, love the atmosphere and the mystery.”
- “The music, the art, the ambiance, they give a sense of isolation, mystery, and dark.”
- “That you for the hints as I just needed a memory jog sometimes (ex: oh, yeah! oil is good for rust!) the music was just right because it didn't distract my train of thought.”
- “For my taste, the music is almost unnoticeable, just a light background that adds atmosphere a bit, so it's not bad.”
- “The music, the art, the ambiance, they give a sense of isolation, mystery, and darkness.”
- “Music is truly background.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its compelling and spooky elements, enhanced by atmospheric sounds and visually appealing graphics. Players appreciate the balance of mystery and tension, with a layout that supports engaging puzzles, although some find the music to be subtle and less impactful. Overall, the game's ambiance effectively immerses players in a captivating experience.
- “Nice layout, spooky atmosphere, and pretty good puzzles.”
- “The visual is nice and the music is great; love the atmosphere and the mystery.”
- “Although it's a pretty laid-back type of game, Meridian 157 creates a bit of a grim atmosphere and keeps you alert, like something's gonna pop up any second right in front of you.”
- “Although it's a pretty laid-back type of game, Meridian 157 creates a bit of a grimy atmosphere and keeps you alert, like something's going to pop up any second right in front of you.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report that the game has notable stability issues, including buggy cutscenes, disappearing interface elements, and camera problems that hinder gameplay. While some aspects, like the puzzles, are enjoyable, the presence of glitches detracts from the overall experience.
- “Playing using Proton, the cutscenes didn't play, so I had to quickly skip/click for the game to work. One puzzle interface was buggy; otherwise, it ran okay and had nice puzzles. I would give further installments a go if they work.”
- “I want to like this, but the game is buggy - interface elements (like the home icon) disappear at times, and the camera is useless - I cannot see the pictures.”
- “I did encounter some glitches, though.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat excessive, with some puzzles being illogical or tedious, contributing to a frustrating experience.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “The game feels a bit grindy, yet it adds to the overall experience.”
- “Some puzzles are truly illogical, others just tedious.”
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It feels a bit grindy.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be engaging and effective, with one reviewer noting that the earlier prologue, "Meridian," offers a more compelling and atmospheric experience compared to the developer's later work, "Aurora Hills."
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with certain puzzles, such as the flag puzzle, which can lead to emotional distress due to their challenging nature and lack of reset options. This difficulty can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game, highlighting the emotional impact of gameplay mechanics.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, featuring good graphics and smooth performance, which enhances the overall gaming experience.
- “The graphics are good and the game runs smoothly.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how well the game manages resources, providing a stable frame rate throughout.”