Nephise Begins

About

Nephise Begins is a single player action game. It was developed by Tonguç Bodur and was released on April 24, 2017. It received neutral reviews from players.

"Nephise Begins" is a short, atmospheric puzzle game set in a sunny and foggy forest. Gather animal skulls to use on tall amphoras and toggle the HUD for details. The game features relaxing music and a narrating elder voice, with a focus on creating a relaxing mood for players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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56%

Audience ScoreBased on 537 reviews

music65 positive mentions

story39 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics and atmosphere that create a calming experience.
Relaxing music and soothing narration enhance the overall ambiance.
Easy to complete with straightforward objectives and quick achievements.

Very short gameplay, typically completed in under 30 minutes.
Lacks a compelling story or meaningful gameplay, feeling more like a tech demo.
No save feature, which can be frustrating if players get lost or need to stop playing.

story
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
63%
20%
The story in "Nephise Begins" is generally criticized for being minimal, nonsensical, and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and coherence. While some appreciate the atmospheric visuals and soothing narration, the narrative is often described as confusing and abrupt, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and disconnected from the plot. Overall, the game is seen more as a walking simulator with a weak storyline rather than a compelling narrative experience.
- “Nephise begins is a short, atmospheric puzzle-adventure focused on exploration and storytelling.”
- “The music perfectly enhances the environment, and the storyteller adds a wonderful layer of guidance by providing hints on where to go and what to do.”
- “'Nephise begins' is a delightful, atmospheric game that tells the story of Nephise before she became an orb collector.”
- “The little story there is extremely short and narrated by a text-to-speech service and doesn't make sense.”
- “The story is pretty much nonexistent and it is a very short game.”
- “The whole story didn't make sense at all and frankly as one of walking simulators, I don't think this stands out at all.”
music
127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
43%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and relaxing qualities, effectively enhancing the tranquil atmosphere of the environment. However, many players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the combination of beautiful visuals and calming music creates a pleasant walking simulator that many found enjoyable for short, stress-relieving sessions.
- “The music perfectly enhances the environment, and the storyteller adds a wonderful layer of guidance by providing hints on where to go and what to do.”
- “The atmosphere is the game’s standout feature, enhanced by soothing music and an elder narrator who guides the story.”
- “The music and voice acting fit perfectly and create an enjoyable, relaxing experience.”
- “The same music track looping in that short time even became annoying.”
- “Also the music is worse than in the original and extremely repetitive, apart from the ending where it gets slightly better, although the entire ending sequence is probably the most appalling and embarrassing I have ever seen in a video game.”
- “The music...it's okay...as is the narration, but if there was any detail worth commenting on, it's that the apparent budget appears to have gone into the scenery and the map layout...which feels much larger given that there is no way to run (or move faster)...so I hope you're used to exploring at a walking pace.”
graphics
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
4%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and enchanting atmosphere, often compared to AAA titles despite the game's low price. While many players appreciate the stunning visuals and calming ambiance, some note issues such as graphical glitches and inconsistent texture quality. Overall, the graphics are considered the standout feature, enhancing the experience of this short walking simulator.
- “The atmosphere is enchanting, and the attention to detail is remarkable; the game nearly rivals AAA visuals despite its price of just around a dollar.”
- “The visuals are simple but effective, creating a dreamlike experience.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, as is the music.”
- “Even though there are a few places in the game that are definitely worth seeing and worth a screenshot, if you look closer, you will notice that there are a lot of graphical errors, muddy textures, and a lot of reloading.”
- “What bothers me is that the environment is very monotonous, the places that the light touches look weird, the texturing looks rough, and the graphics feel rushed.”
- “Even though the setting is completely different, the graphics are quite bad this time, with very unnatural lighting and frequently glitched textures.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
79%
8%
The gameplay of the game is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, primarily consisting of walking and collecting items with little to no story or challenge. Many reviewers describe it as a basic walking simulator that offers a visually pleasing environment but ultimately feels unfinished and boring, with gameplay lasting only 30 to 60 minutes. Overall, players seeking engaging gameplay or a compelling narrative are likely to be disappointed.
- “The gameplay is centered around exploration, with players taking on the role of a young girl who wanders through a variety of environments, including forests, caves, and mountains.”
- “It certainly won’t bother fans of the genre and perhaps even new players might find the brief gameplay to be an excellent introduction to more complex, future forays into this particular type of video game which have no expectations from their player base other than to relax while taking a hike across a peaceful environment.”
- “No gameplay whatsoever, no story whatsoever.”
- “For those seeking more complex gameplay or longer playtime, 'Nephise Begins' might feel a bit light, as it is primarily designed for players who appreciate mood and ambiance over challenge.”
- “While beautiful, the game provides near nonexistent gameplay or story.”
atmosphere
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
33%
6%
The atmosphere in "Nephise Begins" is widely praised for its enchanting and calming qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals, soothing music, and thoughtful design. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a relaxing environment perfect for exploration, despite its short length and limited gameplay. While some note that the narrative can detract from immersion, the overall presentation and atmospheric elements make it a delightful experience for fans of walking simulators.
- “The atmosphere is enchanting, and the attention to detail is remarkable; the game nearly rivals AAA visuals despite its price of just around a dollar.”
- “The atmosphere is the game’s standout feature, enhanced by soothing music and an elder narrator who guides the story.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is great; the colors and the design of the forest match the mood, and the soundtrack is beautiful too.”
- “Basically, the atmosphere conveyed in the forest is well implemented and, as in every Tonguç Bodur game, there are always 'eye-catchers' that convey a great atmosphere, but I think that is simply not enough.”
- “The atmosphere is calming but not a whole lot to do.”
- “When I started the game, the atmosphere was full of life and I felt like I was roaming around my own little tale. It fades real quick though. The problem is surprisingly with the narration and design of the game; it's just too much. The constant narration telling you exactly how to do every puzzle without trying ruins the immersion all the other aspects create.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
23%
69%
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to complete repetitive tasks or fetch quests. Many reviewers express frustration with the lack of a save feature, which exacerbates the monotony and makes the grinding feel even more burdensome. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, leading some to feel that it detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The view which takes place in the forest is not bad, but you can't run, so the whole process is very tedious.”
- “It was pretty boring and tedious; I'm terribly glad I didn't pay anything for it.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
17%
58%
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in under an hour and offers little incentive to play again. While some appreciate its storytelling and calm exploration, the consensus is that the game has minimal entertainment value and no significant replay value.
- “Infinitely replayable, especially in multiplayer.”
- “The game offers almost infinite replayability.”
- “New item pickup locations enhance the replay value.”
- “While it lacks challenge and replayability, its storytelling and mood-driven design cater to those who enjoy calm, exploratory games.”
- “The game can be completed in less than an hour and offers very little replayability.”
- “Replay value - very bad - none at all as all the achievements can be easily gained in the first playthrough.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and absurd elements, reminiscent of "The Stanley Parable," but with a lighter touch and less narrative interaction. Players appreciate the comedic scenarios, such as a giant fox's amusing ascent and the playful absurdity of collecting skulls and mushrooms. Overall, the game delivers a mix of visual gags and clever wordplay that elicits laughter throughout the experience.
- “Another very short casual walking simulator that is a prequel to the game called 'Nephise', featuring a colorful autumn valley, collecting skulls for a puzzle to solve, picking mushrooms, and yet another funny parody at a boss fight.”
- “Walking in the forest, eating magic mushrooms, looking for bones to let the gigantic fox fly away; it's a funny concept.”
- “The guardian fox just casually ascending had me laughing for some time.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players found the voice acting comforting and the experience reminiscent of a fairy tale, others criticized the story as poorly optimized and dull. Overall, the emotional engagement varies significantly among players.
- “The voice actor was good and made me feel cozy.”
- “The game made me feel like I was part of a fairy tale.”
- “The story is poorly optimized and quite boring.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it boasts stable performance with an average of 60 fps and good graphics, many users criticize it for being poorly optimized overall and lacking an engaging story, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “The graphics are really good and the performance is stable; using the default settings, I got an average of 60 fps.”
- “Concluding, it's a program with good performance and development, but it's not enjoyable to be considered a game.”
- “The game is horribly optimized.”
- “But poorly optimized and pretty boring story.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is marred by frequent graphical glitches, including shadow issues and texture flickering, even on capable hardware. While the visuals are appealing at first, performance inconsistencies and occasional freezing detract from the experience, suggesting potential coding problems.
- “And even with low graphics, it still freezes a little on a PC that can handle ultra graphics in other games; it might be due to bad coding or something.”
- “The graphics are good but still have many glitches; the stones on the sides flicker often and look like the texture on the side is missing (GeForce GTX 1050 Ti).”
- “The graphics are nice at first glance but have strange shadow glitches on rocks, and the overall ambiance slowly falls flat.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express skepticism about the monetization strategy, noting that they only discovered the game through a discount coupon, which raises questions about Steam's advertising priorities. There is a sense that cheaper products are not promoted as heavily as more expensive ones, potentially due to the platform's profit margins.
- “I would never have heard about it before receiving a discount coupon; is Steam feeling guilty for not advertising this kind of product as much as they do for the more expensive ones (with their lucrative 30% cut)?”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “I find the constant ads and push for in-game purchases really frustrating.”