Norman's Great Illusion
- August 29, 2019
- Civil Savages
Get on Steam"Norman's Great Illusion" is a 2D pixel art visual novel for mature audiences, examining the societal dynamics that lead to the rise of opposing forces. As an engineer at a plant, navigate a year of increasing social tensions and make difficult decisions with lasting consequences. This game contains mature themes and requires critical thinking, so it is not recommended for those who lack understanding of class struggle, imperialism, or capitalism.
Reviews
- The game effectively conveys a thought-provoking political message about the struggles of the working class and the nature of capitalism.
- The mini-games, while frustrating, are intentionally designed to reflect the stress and monotony of daily work life, adding depth to the experience.
- The unique art style and overall concept of the game are appreciated, making it more of an artistic commentary than a traditional game.
- The dialogue and writing quality are poor, making it difficult to engage with the story and its themes.
- The mini-games are frustrating and poorly designed, leading to a negative gameplay experience that detracts from the overall message.
- Many players find the game lacks meaningful gameplay and depth, with repetitive choices and limited interaction that fail to deliver on its ambitious themes.
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story is heavily influenced by player choices, which is its main appeal; however, many users find the execution flawed due to rough edges like grammatical errors and poor interface design. While there is curiosity about exploring different story paths, the frustrating gameplay mechanics, particularly in minigames, detract from the overall experience and may discourage players from fully engaging with the narrative.
“The choices, along with the resulting story that plays out, are the real point of all this.”
“I want to see how this game's story progresses.”
“In addition to the story and gameplay being a bitter pill to swallow, the game has a lot of rough edges common to 'designed in a basement' games: grammatical errors, little explanation of controls or the interface, and so on.”
“I want to see how this game's story progresses, but the minigames are so terrible that I don't want to play it at all.”
“I want to see some of the other story options and find out if there is ever anything like a 'win' that you can achieve (I suspect there is probably not).”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily centered around two essential minigames, which are criticized for their poor design, while other gameplay elements and animations can be frustrating at times. However, these issues are considered minor compared to the overall message of the game.
“Actually, the two mini games are the mandatory and indispensable parts of gameplay.”
“Some of the gameplay aspects, animation, and a few other things may be frustrating sometimes (just like real life lol), but all of that is not so important in comparison with the game's message.”
“Apart from two badly designed minigames, there is hardly any gameplay.”
“Actually, the two minigames are the mandatory and indispensable parts of gameplay.”
“Some of the gameplay aspects, animation, and a few other things may be frustrating sometimes, but all of that is not so important in comparison with the game's message.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often praised for their artistic quality, with some users considering it more of a visual artwork than a traditional game. The appealing cover art has also attracted players, even those who were initially deterred by negative reviews.
“It is more of an artwork than a game.”
“I bought this, despite quite a few bad reviews, simply because I liked the cover graphic so much (and it was on steep sale).”
“The graphics look outdated and lack detail.”
“The art style feels inconsistent and doesn't match the game's theme.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack realism.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with users expressing enjoyment and appreciation for its quality.
“I really enjoy the music in this game; it adds so much to the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is absolutely fantastic and perfectly complements the gameplay.”
“The music is incredibly immersive and enhances the emotional depth of the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is perceived as intentionally unsettling, with some users questioning whether the lack of enjoyment in certain elements was a deliberate choice to enhance the overall ambiance.
“The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into a world that feels both familiar and unsettling.”
“Every sound and visual detail contributes to an immersive experience that keeps you on edge.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and layered, creating a sense of depth that enhances the overall storytelling.”
“These elements are not enjoyable, but I wonder whether they were intentional, or at least intentionally left unfixed to enhance the atmosphere of the game.”
“The atmosphere feels hollow and lacks the depth needed to immerse players in the experience.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is marred by a lack of engaging elements, making it difficult to feel invested.”
