Mushroom 11
- March 9, 2017
- Untame
Mushroom 11 is a strange and unique game that reshapes the way you think about its puzzles.
Mushroom 11 is a unique puzzle-platformer where you guide an amoeba-like organism by pruning its cells, causing new ones to grow. Traverse a mysterious world, solve brain-twisting obstacles, and discover the origins of your strange existence, all while accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack by The Future Sound of London. This innovative game has received accolades from multiple sources, including Rock, Paper, Shotgun, IGN, and The Guardian.
Reviews
- Mushroom 11 features a unique and innovative gameplay mechanic that allows players to manipulate a blob by erasing parts of it, leading to creative puzzle-solving experiences.
- The game has a captivating atmosphere with beautiful visuals and a well-composed soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The puzzles are challenging yet rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment when solved, especially as players progress through the levels.
- The difficulty spikes significantly in the later levels, which can lead to frustration and may deter casual players from completing the game.
- Some puzzles rely heavily on finicky physics and random growth mechanics, making precise control difficult and sometimes leading to tedious gameplay.
- The game is relatively short, with only seven levels, which may leave players wanting more content after completing it.
- gameplay50 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique and innovative mechanic of erasing to grow, which is well-executed and offers a variety of puzzles that challenge players in creative ways. While the core mechanics are engaging and the level design effectively teaches players how to utilize them, some users noted issues with repetitiveness and a lack of control due to the randomness of the mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric presentation and intriguing gameplay, though it can be frustrating at times.
“The mechanic of erasing to grow is executed wonderfully, and there are varied applications in consistently new puzzles throughout the game.”
“Best of all, with few exceptions, the level design teaches you how to use this core mechanic in new ways; it rarely adds a new 'gimmick of the level' to shake up the gameplay as mediocre puzzle games do - the progression feels quite organic.”
“The fungal ooze you play as is awesome, and the mechanics of erasing to get the fungus to grow in other places in order to move is genius, and the first few levels are an absolute blast to play.”
“The mechanics require quick changes and balancing, but the mechanism to do it is a bit flawed in my view.”
“Granted, I got a lot better at moving the blob around by the end, but the randomness and the overall nature of the dissolving mechanic place enough of a ceiling on your level of control that it was always a little touch and go.”
“A platforming puzzle game with the core mechanic being luck!?”
- music19 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an immersive atmosphere, with a unique electronic ambient soundtrack that complements the visuals and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's eerie yet calming qualities, noting that it enhances the overall experience and fits seamlessly with the game's mechanics and puzzles. Many recommend purchasing the soundtrack separately, emphasizing its quality and contribution to the game's aesthetic.
“The visuals are flawless as is the soundtrack, the perfect ether to immerse you in the practical aspect of the mechanics and puzzles.”
“The artist who did the music created an eerie atmosphere with each world, 7 in total that had their own characteristics and enemy types that add to a DNA-based score system when you have the 'bacteria' you control consume it.”
“The smooth graphics and even smoother soundtrack (provided by Future Sound of London) make for a very relaxing experience, in between near heart attacks.”
“The graphic style is okay, nothing special; the music soothes the atmosphere.”
“Developers went with electronic ambient music.”
“Music.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 72 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are praised for their vibrant colors, smooth performance, and artistic quality, contributing to an immersive experience. While many reviewers highlight the visuals as "gorgeous" and "flawless," a few mention minor glitches and a lack of polish in certain areas. The combination of appealing graphics and a fitting soundtrack enhances the gameplay, making it enjoyable for players.
“10 out of 10 for a fascinating new gameplay mechanic, as well as lovely visuals and sound.”
“The visuals are flawless as is the soundtrack, the perfect ether to immerse you in the practical aspect of the mechanics and puzzles.”
“The graphics are really smooth and it doesn't lag, and also it is offline so you can't have internet problems.”
“I'm a fan of post-apocalyptic art styles, but this one was a bit unpolished and overdone.”
“Graphic style is okay, nothing special; music soothes the atmosphere.”
“The graphics are really smooth, and it doesn't lag, but overall, it lacks any standout features.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to blend vibrant and bleak elements, creating a haunting yet beautiful experience. Players appreciate the unique art style, evocative music, and well-crafted environments that enhance the storytelling and gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive, with a combination of eerie and calming elements that contribute to the game's distinct feel.
“Gameplay aside, it has a nice score, fantastic atmosphere with a style that can switch from bleak to vibrant just screens apart.”
“I love the post-apocalyptic puzzles and I love the whole atmosphere of this game.”
“Atmosphere is beautiful and landscapes are haunting.”
“The artist who did the music created an eerie atmosphere with each world, seven in total, that had their own characteristics and enemy types that add to a DNA-based score system when you have the 'bacteria' you control consume it.”
“Graphic style is okay, nothing special; music soothes the atmosphere.”
“It's what I imagine you'd get if you crossed the Ecco the Dolphin game with the World of Goo game and the Blade Runner movie, in terms of its combination of gameplay and atmosphere.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by atmospheric storytelling and an intriguing post-apocalyptic setting, though it lacks traditional narrative elements like cutscenes or dialogue. While some players appreciate the implied backstory and open-to-interpretation nature of the plot, others feel that the storytelling could be more developed, particularly regarding the wasteland's history. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience, despite some frustrations with level progression.
“Great story open to interpretation and amazing post-apocalyptic setting.”
“The authors decided to go with visual narration for their story, so the levels and backgrounds will tell you what happened.”
“A really great game, it has some frustrating moments, but the story kept me going and the mechanic is fun, especially when you can finish situations in your own way.”
“There's no cutscenes, no dialog, nothing in your face about the story.”
“But I do feel that the creator could have put more effort into telling the story of the wasteland in the background.”
“On that note, there is only a 7-level 'story,' if you want to call it that, that has nothing else to do when you complete the 7 levels.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in later chapters where platforming challenges become frustrating due to awkward physics and imprecise controls. While some puzzles are engaging, many players feel that the requirement to manipulate the mushroom's growth leads to repetitive and uninteresting gameplay, especially when checkpoints force them to repeat tedious sections. Overall, the experience can quickly become frustrating and overly challenging.
“But it gets to the point where the game stops using clever puzzles that exploit the clever grow, mold, and shape play style, and exchanges it for incredibly tedious platforming.”
“Unfortunately, the game becomes too tedious and hard on chapter 5 and downright impossible on chapter 7.”
“Since you only control where the mushroom is destroyed and not where it grows, puzzles that require you to spread your mushroom thin (or avoid spreading into dangerous areas) can be tedious and frustrating.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game generally runs well on Linux, showcasing vibrant graphics; however, players have reported occasional glitches that detract from the overall experience.
“Runs great on Linux.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
“I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which is impressive for a game of this scale.”
“The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the poignant experience of cutting your fungus in half, which symbolizes sacrifice and loss, as players witness their smaller pieces struggling while the untouched parts thrive. This mechanic evokes feelings of helplessness and reflection on the nature of growth and change, creating a deep emotional connection to the gameplay.
“Several times, the game asks you to cut your fungus in half in order for you to move on. Since you have no control over what grows where, you'll find yourself moving smaller and smaller pieces while the half you're not touching grows bigger and bigger.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users express concerns about the game's replayability, indicating that it may not offer enough incentive or variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“The game's replayability is questionable at best.”
“I found the replayability to be lacking, making it hard to return to the game after finishing it.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play through it again.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, featuring impressive visuals and sound, along with well-designed levels that contribute to a smooth and fast performance.
“The game looks and sounds great, the level designs are really cool, and perhaps most importantly, it runs smoothly and quickly.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for seamless gameplay without any noticeable lag.”
“I appreciate how well-optimized the game is; it maintains a high frame rate even during intense action sequences.”
Critic Reviews
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0%Dismantle, repair -- Mushroom 11 review
Mushroom 11 is an elegant and innovative game that keeps surprising me. Though its central mechanics are impressive on their own, the entire game has been skillfully designed. It’s easy to brush aside lofty claims, but Untame has delivered the distinctive gaming experience they promised and then some.
90%Mushroom 11 Review
Mushroom 11 is a strange and unique game that reshapes the way you think about its puzzles.
90%