NaissanceE

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,073 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • music
NaissanceE Game Cover
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"NaissanceE is a single-player, science fiction platformer game known for its splendid graphics and beautiful music, offering a dense atmosphere and wholesome story. As a first-person exploration game, players navigate a mysterious primal structure, solve puzzles and encounter entities while maintaining breath and coordination. This is a philosophical trip and artistic experience, offering a unique and exigent journey."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,073 reviews
gameplay50 positive mentions
story44 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and unique architectural design create an immersive atmosphere.
  • The game evokes a strong sense of isolation and existential dread, enhancing the exploration experience.
  • The soundtrack complements the eerie ambiance, making the journey feel haunting and memorable.
  • Frustrating platforming sections with poor checkpoint placement can lead to repeated deaths and annoyance.
  • The lack of a clear narrative or direction may leave some players feeling lost and confused.
  • The breathing mechanic, while interesting, can become tedious and detracts from the overall gameplay experience.
  • gameplay320 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and first-person platforming, with a unique but often criticized breathing mechanic that requires players to click rhythmically while running to manage stamina. While some players appreciate the atmospheric design and innovative mechanics, many find the controls frustrating and the gameplay lacking depth, often describing it as a walking simulator with minimal engaging elements. Overall, the experience is heavily reliant on its visuals and atmosphere, with gameplay that may not appeal to those seeking a more traditional or intense gaming experience.

    • “Most of the gameplay consists of exploring, puzzle solving, running, and jumping, with a unique breathing mechanic to prevent your character from running out of stamina.”
    • “The gameplay probably isn't going to appeal to those looking for something intense or meaty but it generally does the job of adding texture and friction to the first person walking/running experience.”
    • “The puzzle mechanics, the architecture, the music, the lighting, and everything else piece together incredibly well and immerse you completely.”
    • “The gameplay is ..... meh, mostly a walking simulator with some puzzles, and the last one is really annoying.”
    • “There's not much in terms of gameplay at all, it's just running and jumping, and some areas are plain frustrating to get through (breath compression really stands out in that regard).”
    • “The breathing mechanic, where you have to keep clicking the mouse when you run, gets old really fast, and there is just too much distance to cover until something interesting happens again.”
  • atmosphere304 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting, immersive quality, enhanced by a minimalist art style and a compelling soundtrack that evokes feelings of isolation and wonder. Players are encouraged to take their time to explore the surreal environments, which are described as both beautiful and eerie, creating a unique experience that prioritizes ambiance over traditional gameplay mechanics. While some find the gameplay frustrating, the overwhelming atmosphere is often deemed the game's standout feature, making it a must-try for fans of atmospheric exploration.

    • “What makes this game truly unforgettable is the atmosphere, so take your time, stay still for a moment, and immerse yourself in the environments.”
    • “The atmosphere alone gives me chills every time I open the game up.”
    • “The world looks beautiful despite (or exactly because) it being made entirely of white blocks, and the atmosphere it creates in combination with the fantastic soundtrack is something truly special.”
    • “It's largely about the atmosphere, exploring a hostile environment that doesn't feel like you're supposed to be in it.”
    • “The atmosphere alone, always limited to cubic architecture in an environment of only three colors (two of which are always black and white), gives a spacey, alien, and technologically apocalyptic vibe.”
    • “The atmosphere, mystery and exploration elements are fantastic and it has some remarkably unsettling imagery and design but it's crippled by terrible gameplay decisions.”
  • music252 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of haunting, eerie, and beautiful tracks that complement the visuals and gameplay. While some players found certain pieces annoying or out of place, the majority appreciated how the soundtrack effectively conveys feelings of isolation, tension, and wonder, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the music is considered a crucial element that significantly contributes to the game's unique mood and artistic direction.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the visuals are amazing, the soundtrack is great.”
    • “The music is fantastic when it appears and is always tied in perfectly with the aesthetics of your immediate environment.”
    • “The soundtrack helped, with beautifully atmospheric tracks that perfectly suited the mood.”
    • “The puzzles are not that interesting, the music not that immersive and it's just so grey, black and white, just looks so boring... I tested it again and played the whole game this time.”
    • “Many of the puzzles are frankly awful - I must've toggled noclip on a dozen times after getting sick of the latest segment - and there are a few sudden, jarring tonal shifts that completely lose track of what the game is good at, including one chapter that is essentially one long chiaroscuro acid trip where everything becomes abstract and the music takes on a manic, wacky tone that doesn't at all fit with anything else.”
    • “One thing that did kind of bum me out was there was no feature (that I could find) to disable the in-game music in case you'd like to play your own.”
  • graphics216 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique aesthetic, characterized by minimalistic designs and clever use of lighting that creates a captivating atmosphere. While some players find the lack of textures and detail frustrating, many appreciate the artistic direction and the emotional impact of the visuals, which evoke a range of feelings despite their simplicity. Overall, the visuals are considered the standout feature of the game, making it a worthwhile experience for those who value artistic presentation.

    • “The main selling point of this game are its visuals and the way the game plays with its architecture and light is well worth seeing, as the visuals of this game are truly something else.”
    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the visuals are amazing, the soundtrack is great.”
    • “Stunning visuals, very fun exploration game.”
    • “Dull graphics.”
    • “Graphic options are severely limited (resolution, anti-aliasing, anisotropy, screen ratio, gamma, fullscreen, and v-sync).”
    • “Most of the game's platforming sections are very frustrating because the simple geometric art style, the lack of textures, and the randomness with which some blocks are placed make it challenging to judge the distance that you have to jump.”
  • story190 mentions

    The game's story is minimalistic and largely ambiguous, with players primarily relying on environmental storytelling and their own interpretations to piece together any narrative. While some appreciate the atmospheric exploration and artistic visuals, many find the lack of a clear plot or character development disappointing, leading to a sense of aimlessness. Overall, the experience is more about the journey through a surreal world than a traditional story-driven adventure.

    • “This game is a masterwork in environmental storytelling.”
    • “The story, or lack thereof, is best experienced firsthand and left to interpretation, and that's the beauty of it.”
    • “Naissancee expresses story through visuals, which is one of the most beautiful points of this game.”
    • “The game's story is very minimalistic; you are a girl, you are lost, so get yourself un-lost.”
    • “There's no story, no dialogue, no drive to continue.”
    • “The game provides no story, no explanation, no end and no beginning, beyond that which you want to assign it.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The game elicits a profound emotional response, immersing players in a surreal environment that evokes feelings of isolation, anxiety, and introspection. While some players found the experience overwhelming or unsettling, many appreciated its artistic approach, likening it to a dreamlike journey that challenges conventional gaming narratives. Overall, it offers a unique emotional rollercoaster that resonates deeply, making it a memorable, if sometimes uncomfortable, experience.

    • “It's really more of an art piece than a game in some ways - it's more about your emotional connection to the environment of the game than rewarding your skill or work in a more typically 'gamey' way.”
    • “The emotional response to this beautiful world is almost like that feeling deep in your chest when you watch a TV show that focuses on something a little too close to home to be comfortable watching; like it's almost invasive and weird to see an outsider's view into your world.”
    • “All in all, if you're looking for a game that will take you on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride while making you feel small, forgotten, and alone, then play it.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is mixed, with some players finding it enjoyable to play with friends in a dark setting, while others note that it lacks significant replay value once puzzles are mastered. Exploration and environmental appreciation offer some incentive for replay, but overall, many reviewers suggest that the game may not hold long-term appeal, especially at full price. Speed running is mentioned as a potentially entertaining way to revisit the game.

    • “Definitely a great replay value; I would recommend playing this game with your friends while in a dark room, as it adds a lot of extra fun.”
    • “It can be a long trek or a shorter one depending on if you get lost a lot (whether literally getting lost or just admiring the expansiveness and beauty of the environments). There is some replay value to it just because of the environment and ambience.”
    • “As for replayability, trying to speed run it could be quite entertaining.”
    • “I think it would be worth 9.99 tops, there is zero replay value to the game.”
    • “Not much replay value either, unless you really want to explore.”
    • “It can be a long trek, or a shorter one depending on if you get lost a lot (whether literally getting lost, or just admiring the expansiveness and beauty of the environments). There is some replay value to it just because of the environment and ambience, but if you've got the puzzles down it can lose its appeal fast, like other puzzle games.”
  • grinding14 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly due to the repetitive jumping mechanics and the need to wait before executing jumps, which disrupts the flow of exploration. While the scenery is praised for its beauty, the constant focus on navigating obstacle courses can detract from the enjoyment of the environment. Overall, the experience is marred by a sense of monotony and a lack of engaging variety in gameplay.

    • “But the whole experience comes out frustrating and tedious.”
    • “Having to wait a few seconds every time you want to jump to make sure you don't fall to your death is well and good, but when the room in question is composed mostly of jumps, it gets tedious.”
    • “The chase scene was, I'll admit, tedious and a bit unforgiving.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting poor performance characterized by low frame rates (often below 30fps), lag, and screen tearing, making certain gameplay sequences challenging. Conversely, a few players noted that the game is nicely optimized on PC, indicating a disparity in performance experiences across different setups. Overall, many feel the game is untested and clunky in certain areas.

    • “PC performance; nicely optimized.”
    • “The game runs smoothly with great optimization, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The optimization allows for seamless gameplay, making it enjoyable even on lower-end systems.”
    • “It's a bit clunky and I had serious performance issues in some areas.”
    • “Very atmospheric, but seems to be poorly optimized (<30fps and/or vsync doesn't work, lots of tearing), and feels very untested.”
    • “For my first try, the performance was just bad.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The game effectively balances tension with moments of humor, providing players with unexpected laughs amidst its unsettling atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the developers' clever sense of humor, highlighted by quirky elements like a "curiosity killed the cat" area and a strip bar, which add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.

    • “While the game has you feeling on edge and unsettled throughout most of it, there were times that made me laugh or smile too.”
    • “I liked the developer's sense of humor, including a 'curiosity killed the cat' area. They also totally included a strip bar.”
    • “Those two short comparisons and analogies, one of them humorous, do not do this game its proper justice or prompt you to play the game.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game experiences notable stability issues, particularly during boss battles, with users reporting glitches and buggy collision mechanics. Many hope these problems will be addressed in future updates, as they detract from the overall gameplay experience.

    • “Unless you're really aching for hours of super floaty first-person jumping puzzles with buggy collision while staring into a strobe light.”
    • “Aside from actual glitches, which I hope will be ironed out in an update, the gameplay itself simply doesn't help.”
    • “Some glitches during the boss battle.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy of the game is perceived as exploitative, with many users labeling it a cash grab rather than a fully realized product. The game is criticized for being unfinished and misrepresenting its genre, further fueling dissatisfaction with its monetization approach.

    • “This is not creativity, this is an alpha version of an unfinished idea and a cash grab, nothing more.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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