Oblitus
- February 27, 2015
- Adult Swim Games
- 100h median play time
A charming platformer to match those in the indie game hall of fame blow-for-blow, Oblitus is an experience that mixes pleasure with pain and can be in parts both utterly punishing and wonderfully rewarding.
"Oblitus" is a single-player platformer with compelling visuals and intense difficulty, offering around 100 hours of playtime. It features four procedurally-generated realms, spear-based combat, and a magic system with 22 unique enchantments. Every playthrough provides a unique experience with multiple endings to discover, set in a haunting and mysterious atmosphere.
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful art style and an engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- Combat is responsive and satisfying, with a variety of power-ups that add depth to gameplay.
- The game offers a challenging experience reminiscent of classic platformers, appealing to hardcore gamers who enjoy trial and error mechanics.
- The lack of checkpoints and save points leads to significant frustration, as dying means starting the entire game over.
- Technical issues, such as resolution problems and unresponsive controls, detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The game suffers from a lack of content and replayability, with only a few bosses and limited enemy variety.
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style and atmospheric presentation, with many reviewers highlighting the aesthetic appeal and unique design elements. However, some users noted a lack of graphic options and expressed concerns about certain visual aspects being off-putting or underdeveloped. Overall, while the visuals are a strong point, there are calls for improvements and additional content to enhance the experience.
“The presentation of the game is done very well, the atmosphere and art style of the game is absolutely gorgeous and definitely one of the stronger aspects of the game.”
“The detail put into the graphics is astonishing though the storyline could use a little more.”
“The art style was the initial draw for me and it doesn't disappoint.”
“The visuals, world/level design, and story seemed like they would shape up as I got further, but a few things are severely lacking.”
“The game has no graphic options except window or fullscreen, and the window can be a bit small if your desktop resolution is equal to or larger than 1920x1080.”
“The art style can be off-putting; I think the game looks bad.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its challenging mechanics and 'souls-like' satisfaction, while others find it frustrating due to laggy jump mechanics and a lack of impactful upgrades. The game features a variety of scrolls and armor that create different styles, but many feel that the execution is incomplete and not as polished as expected. Overall, while the art and fluid movement are praised, the gameplay experience can be inconsistent and may not appeal to everyone.
“The positives outweigh the negatives, because the gameplay is fun and at the very least does provoke the same 'souls-like' feeling of satisfaction when you progress despite the game's limitations.”
“There are 22 scrolls and armor variations total in the game and these create the differing gameplay styles.”
“Gameplay and movement are very fluid and engaging.”
“I think the game is difficult enough mechanically without needing to prevent saves/checkpoints.”
“It's a really frustrating game, because it looks like the artists made a good game, then whoever was responsible for the gameplay just kind of threw something together from another game, didn't finish, and called it good.”
“The randomly generating map at some areas does little to affect gameplay at most points!”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful composition and engaging quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience. While many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature that complements the art style, some express frustration over the inability to adjust the music volume, with a few even finding it overwhelming. Overall, the music is described as both captivating and integral to the game's emotional highs and lows.
“The music in particular is really well mixed, composed, and engaging.”
“The soundtrack is just as colorful, lulling you into a sense of calm before piling on a little pressure at those critical moments.”
“Great atmosphere, really tough and a great soundtrack.”
“The part which is really bad is that I can't even change the controls in the options; I can't change much in the options at all, I can't even turn down that annoying music.”
“I did not play this game for very long because the music made me want to kill myself. Well, I think it's the music... maybe it's the music and getting lost wandering in this ugly mess.”
“I did not play this game for very long because the music made me want to kill myself. Well, I think it's the music... maybe it's the music and getting lost wandering in this ugly mess.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story is generally considered underdeveloped, with a basic premise involving the collection of powerful souls, but it becomes confusing and lacks clarity, especially towards the end. While the visuals and world design are praised, many players feel that the narrative does not hold the same level of engagement, suggesting that the game is more focused on gameplay than storytelling.
“While yes, the idea of collecting powerful souls to achieve a goal is the story, the controls are similar.”
“Once you make your way through the underworld, you face the final boss and complete the game, but the story gets really fuzzy here.”
“The visuals, world/level design, and story seemed like they would shape up as I got further, but a few things are severely lacking.”
“The detail put into the graphics is astonishing, though the storyline could use a little more.”
“We all know we aren't playing for the storyline, though.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its gorgeous art style and immersive qualities, creating a captivating dark fantasy environment reminiscent of "Dark Souls." Reviewers highlight it as one of the strongest aspects, complemented by a challenging gameplay experience and an impressive soundtrack.
“The presentation of the game is done very well; the atmosphere and art style of the game are absolutely gorgeous and definitely one of the stronger aspects.”
“Overall, if you enjoy a dark fantasy atmosphere with 'Dark Souls'-inspired combat, then I think you'll get your money's worth out of this game.”
“Great atmosphere, really tough, and a great soundtrack.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Many users express concerns about the game's replayability, noting that once the final boss is defeated, there is little incentive to replay the game, especially considering its price point.
“The only other issue I have with the game is its lack of replayability once you finally beat the last boss.”
“At the moment, there is not enough game nor replayability for 15 dollars.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with clunky combat mechanics and repetitive level clears. Additionally, the risk of falling back to the starting area in certain zones exacerbates the grind, leading to further annoyance in navigating back to progress.
“The fighting is mostly clunky, and the level clears become very tedious after you've done them even once.”
“Equally irritating in the Skyforge area, you can actually fall all the way back down into the starting area, resulting in more tedious fighting and navigating to get back to where you were.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the connection players feel when retrieving the spear, as it symbolizes resilience and the bond between the player and their tools. This mechanic fosters a sense of attachment and satisfaction, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game's enemy AI, which often leads to comical situations where foes struggle with basic navigation, such as failing to jump over ledges or forgetting the player’s presence. This creates amusing opportunities for players to exploit the AI's shortcomings while engaging in combat.
“The humor in the game is top-notch, especially when the AI of the enemies has some hilarious moments, like failing to jump over simple ledges or just standing there confused.”
“I love how the enemies can be so oblivious at times, forgetting about you and walking away because they can't navigate narrow spots. It adds a funny twist to the gameplay!”
“The comedic elements in the game really shine through, particularly when you can exploit the enemies' ridiculous AI, making for some laugh-out-loud moments.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The main character's design stands out as a highlight, but overall, the character development in the game is perceived as lacking appeal beyond the protagonist.
“The main character design is the highlight, but other than him, the game doesn't look that appealing.”
“The supporting characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the story.”
“I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved; their arcs were predictable and uninspired.”
Critic Reviews
Oblitus Review
A charming platformer to match those in the indie game hall of fame blow-for-blow, Oblitus is an experience that mixes pleasure with pain and can be in parts both utterly punishing and wonderfully rewarding.
80%An Unending Cycle
Oblitus is a challenging 2D platformer where you have a shield, a spear, and one life. Dying means restarting the game from beginning and doing everything all over. Is it possible to break the cycle? Our review.
80%Oblitus Review (PC)
Oblitus could have been a great game, but unfortunately it's not. It's hard to get into, what with the lack of story and context for your actions and the fact that you have to start all over when you die. Furthermore, it seems uncertain of its goal. It requires precision while moving but lacks the crisp controls of titles like Super Meat Boy, and it requires the trial and error of timing-based combat games like Dark Souls, without having its mechanics as refined. It has a lot of heart and it could have been a lot of fun, but it keeps reminding you that it chose to be tedious and obstructive instead.
65%