Novus Inceptio
- October 4, 2015
- McMagic Productions
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Novus Inceptio" is a sandbox survival game set in a procedurally generated world. Players must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters to survive against harsh environments and hostile creatures. With a focus on player freedom, the game offers various activities such as farming, hunting, and building, providing an immersive experience in a persistent world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and immersive world
- In-depth crafting system with unique mechanics
- Active developer engagement and frequent updates
- Game development has been abandoned for years
- Combat system is clunky and unresponsive
- Lack of content and objectives, leading to boredom
- graphics272 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and detail, with many players noting stunning visuals and immersive environments. However, some users report performance issues, glitches, and a need for further optimization, especially on lower-end systems. While the graphics are considered good for an early access title, there are calls for improvements to enhance the overall experience.
“The graphics are stunning and very detailed.”
“The game has beautifully graphics with such detail to everything you look at.”
“The graphics are amazing, you can see individual leaves, the flow of the water.”
“The graphics look like absolute shît, even on the highest graphical settings, the framerate is even worse than Arkham Knight and AC Unity were at the time of their release, and the so-called 'in-game help' is an absolute joke!”
“I would think to expect better graphics, but this is a major change and the dev will need to put a lot more work into it just to get it to the state at which it was left off in the old Unity 5 version.”
“The graphics are terrible, the gameplay is very terrible.”
- gameplay203 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its clunky mechanics, poor user interface, and lack of depth or direction. While some appreciate the potential of its crafting and leveling systems, others find the overall experience frustrating and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to more polished titles. Overall, the game is seen as unfinished and in need of significant improvements to become truly engaging.
“Even so, the gameplay is great and addictive.”
“In fact, I played 10 hours on it to find some really interesting gameplay, tons of crafting mechanics, and a boatload of potential, all of which I found enjoyable and exciting.”
“The gameplay is engaging and fun.”
“The game has basically nothing to offer gameplay-wise right now, and the developer specifically stated that development will not continue for the foreseeable future.”
“Overall, it's an unfinished 'game' (more like a tech demo) that's far from polished, and lacks direction in terms of game mechanics.”
“I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but this is a slow grind game... it has no depth, no story, no meaning... it's an adventure game with no adventure, sure it looks great but gameplay is extremely boring.”
- story139 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with players primarily focused on survival and resource gathering rather than engaging narratives or quests. While there are hints of a backstory involving cloning and a fallen civilization, much of the lore remains unexplored and underdeveloped, leading to a sense of emptiness in the gameplay. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to introduce a more compelling storyline and quest system, as the current early access version lacks depth and meaningful objectives.
“Incredible atmosphere, very complex system of crafting and gathering, different materials that allow you to make stuff the way and with the attributes you want, devs that really do care about the game and their community, simply wonderful game, worth the time, the story makes you feel curious about what happened and how things ended like that, and what waits for you in the future.”
“I really like the idea and lore behind the game as I think that there are many possibilities for the devs to weave into the storyline.”
“Novus Inceptio is a very good early access sandbox survival MMO RPG with the awesome story behind.”
“Other than waking up in a cloning facility in some strange valley with ruins of a fallen civilization, there is no story.”
“There isn't any story line, but they truly do need some ridiculous reasoning to explain why there is a bunch of clones inside a spacebase, inside a cave, inside a castle, inside a waterfall, inside a forest, inside a valley...etc. this is all inside a 500-meter range out of the immediate spawn.”
“I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but this is a slow grind game... it has no depth, no story, no meaning. It's more like this is your life, meaningless and empty now survive.”
- grinding100 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's grinding mechanics are a significant point of contention among players, with many describing the experience as tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the depth of crafting and farming systems, others find the lack of meaningful rewards and the sheer volume of material gathering to be frustrating, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grinding for progression, but it may deter players seeking a more dynamic and engaging experience.
“There is not much to do in the game and it feels very grindy, unfinished, and a bit like a scam.”
“I want to give this a good review but after 5 years it's still early access and I get it's one man, but nothing has really changed in that time. This is a grind fest game, which grinding for materials is all you do. One tree gives you 9 wood, a beginner's foundation takes 8, so if you want to make a big base to start, forget it, you'll be grinding for hours.”
“Points of interest on the map are too far apart, plec (the in-game currency) is too scarce to buy any meaningful blueprints. I had supposedly the best gear within 2-3 hours, and skills and stats go up so slowly that you'd have to slog through lots of gameplay grinding mindlessly to get anywhere.”
- stability94 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. While some players acknowledge that minor glitches are expected in early access titles, the frequency and severity of the problems have led to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's development. Overall, the consensus is that the game remains unfinished and unstable, making it difficult for players to fully enjoy its potential.
“It's pretty much bug-free, though the detailed buildings and landscape tend to overwhelm my system, and I can get minor graphics glitches.”
“If you want a perfect, bug-free, content and feature-rich game with an amazing story and phenomenal graphics and audio, then you shouldn’t be looking at any early access game.”
“I bought this buggy mess back 8 years ago when it went into early access and it's still in early access and still a buggy mess!”
“The current state of Novus Inceptio is buggy to say the least.”
“I really want to play this game but in its current state it's super buggy and just kind of a headache to play.”
- music66 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its beautiful and immersive quality, often compared to the iconic soundtracks of titles like Skyrim. Players appreciate the relaxing ambiance during exploration and the exciting themes during combat, with many expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack for personal enjoyment. Overall, the musical accompaniment significantly enhances the game's atmosphere, contributing to a captivating and engaging experience.
“The musical accompaniment to the game is amazing.”
“The music is nice and mellow while exploring and exciting while fighting, truly inspiring one to continue over the next hill.”
“At first sight, the game attracts with beautiful graphics, amazing music, and a very engrossing and surprisingly relaxing atmosphere.”
“I kept waiting for something interesting to happen, but this is a slow grind game. It has no depth, no story, no meaning. The music is relaxing, but overall it's an adventure game with no adventure. Sure it looks great, but gameplay is extremely boring unless you're high, which is the only way I'd recommend this now.”
“I completed the tutorial and have bought the version which included the soundtrack... I've yet to hear a sound other than the effects.”
“Title screen music is decent, and the in-game music will remind you of something in Elder Scrolls.”
- optimization59 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates even on high-end systems. While some improvements have been noted, particularly in user interface and overall performance, many feel that the game remains unpolished and buggy, typical of early access titles. Users recommend waiting for further updates and optimizations before fully committing to the game.
“Some performance issues and obvious room for lots of polishing, but this is a really impressive early access game.”
“Constant optimizations, updates, and bug fixes, sometimes in a matter of hours from being reported.”
“Performance is as expected from an early access survival game, made by a very small team; you could use an SSD, but it's not really necessary.”
“Runs like trash. I surpass recommended specs and barely get 45 fps on all lowest settings. It is very, very unoptimized Unity engine junk.”
“The performance is critically bad. On a GeForce GTX 970, even the rendering performance is nearly always below 50 fps while not looking close to what you see in the screenshots or the trailer.”
“Optimization could also use some work because I encounter some stuttering and frame rate drops every now and then.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is often described as beautifully designed and tranquil, with engaging graphics and sound that enhance the experience. While some players find it nostalgic and relaxing, others note that it feels generic and unfinished, suggesting a need for more depth. Overall, the atmosphere is a highlight, making it appealing for those who enjoy crafting and exploration, despite some concerns about the game's development status.
“Edit: the developer of this amazing little gem went on a hiatus for a little while, with no definite return date which was very sad to hear but I held out hope for this game. I loved every minute playing this; it's a beautifully designed tranquil atmosphere and despite what was an uncertain future of the game, I feel that I more than got my money's worth playing as is.”
“At first sight, the game attracts with beautiful graphics, amazing music, and a very engrossing and surprisingly relaxing atmosphere.”
“Incredible atmosphere, very complex system of crafting and gathering, different materials that allow you to make stuff the way and with the attributes you want. The devs really do care about the game and their community; simply a wonderful game, worth the time.”
“The graphics are acceptable, but need more atmosphere and depth.”
“There are some elements here, but they are not stingy (they just create the atmosphere) - though the fight with the creatures is sometimes very heavy nuts (with better equipment it is better).”
“At first sight, the game attracts with beautiful graphics, amazing music and very engrossing and surprisingly relaxing atmosphere.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many users expressing concerns about its prolonged early access status and lack of meaningful updates. Players fear that the developers are using the game to fund other projects without delivering substantial gameplay, and there are strong objections to the potential introduction of microtransactions or pay-to-win mechanics. Overall, the sentiment suggests a lack of trust in the developers' intentions and the game's future.
“Well done, mcmagic! Can't wait to see where this game goes. Just please don't implement microtransaction systems or make the game pay-to-win.”
“It was one of the more blatant cash grabs I've seen on Steam.”
“Pretty much a cash grab to fund other projects that will probably fund the next one and the next one while all of them stay in early access forever.”
“Edit: 6 years and still early access; it's an abandoned cash grab, nothing has been updated in years, and multiplayer will never be a thing.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from its poor English translation and low-effort sound design, which users find amusing despite the overall buggy experience. Many reviewers highlight the hilariously bad spelling and performance issues as unintentional sources of comedy, though some still express reservations about recommending the game.
“Yes, it's a bit buggy (runs stable without crashes, but occasional performance issues or just weird stuff that shouldn't happen, happens, and the English translation is humorously bad... but you should expect that from an early access game.”
“Sound design is low effort, and honestly so bad it's funny.”
“Spelling is hilariously abominable.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game currently has limited replayability, with users noting a lack of content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While the experience is enjoyable as it stands, the addition of PvE elements, such as unique bosses, could enhance replay value in the future.
“Yes, there is no replay value for now, at least not much, but it is nice as it is.”
“Replayability 2”
“Replayability 2”
