Octahedron
- March 20, 2018
- Demimonde
Intelligent puzzle design, striking visuals and a soundtrack straight out of late 90s raves make for one of the most interesting titles I’ve experienced so far this year, even if it is occasionally marred by difficult and frustrating puzzle design.
Octahedron is a single-player psychedelic action platformer game with delightful graphics and excellent music. Players surf through a pulsating, underground world, pulling platforms from thin air and defying gravity to a pumping beat. Challenging and exhilarating, Octahedron offers an unforgettable gameplay experience.
Reviews
- Octahedron features tight controls and innovative platforming mechanics that keep gameplay engaging and challenging.
- The game boasts a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, syncing beautifully with the gameplay.
- Visually stunning with a vibrant art style, each level offers unique challenges and encourages replayability through collectibles and medals.
- The visual design can be overwhelming at times, making it difficult to distinguish between safe platforms and obstacles.
- Some players find the default controls awkward, particularly on keyboard, which can hinder the precision required for platforming.
- The difficulty spikes in certain levels can be frustrating, especially for players aiming for time-based challenges or collectibles.
- music46 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its epic, trance-inducing soundtrack that perfectly complements the vibrant visuals and challenging gameplay. The seamless integration of rhythm into the platforming mechanics enhances the overall experience, making it feel uniquely engaging. However, a few critics noted that while the soundtrack is enjoyable, it may not stand out as particularly innovative compared to other titles.
“The music is great and the gameplay feels rewarding.”
“The amazing platforming, creative puzzles, and incredible music all built to make this one of my favorite games ever!”
“Clever platforming, beautiful psychedelic visuals, and a pulsing, trance-inducing soundtrack.”
“The only disappointment relating to the music soundtrack is that it couldn't interact with the gameplay further than platforms moving to the BPM.”
“If you listen to the OST separately, you're actually not hearing all of the music.”
“That said, from the trailers I expected to be more engaged with the art style and the music.”
- gameplay35 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Octahedron is praised for its innovative mechanics, rewarding challenges, and tight controls, creating a satisfying platforming experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful level design that introduces new obstacles and mechanics in a natural progression, enhancing the overall engagement. While some users note issues with character control and visual design choices, the game's unique platform-creation mechanic and captivating soundtrack contribute to its appeal as a standout title in the 2D platformer genre.
“Each level and mechanic is thoughtfully constructed, offering a gameplay experience that's both challenging and satisfying.”
“The gameplay is incredibly solid and varied, and if you're looking for a challenging platformer with a well-explored gimmick, this is an excellent choice.”
“Beautiful platformer with tight controls, a near-perfect difficulty ramp, and new mechanics introduced on almost every stage.”
“That's fine, trial and error isn't unusual for platformers; however, this is yet another visual design flaw, and you can end up confusing yourself as you progress and more mechanics are introduced.”
“Speaking of controls, this character controls poorly, feels sluggish to balance the platform mechanic, and sometimes platforms are created slightly below the character, which doesn't seem like an issue until you try to create a platform and quickly jump, thus not being able to jump due to not being on a surface. This is hell for time challenges.”
“Some people may find the noise distracting (there are options to dull the effects in the menu); however, it never felt like it was getting in the way of gameplay.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Octahedron" are widely praised for their vibrant, psychedelic art style and neon aesthetics, which complement the game's energetic soundtrack and arcade-like platforming. While many players appreciate the striking visuals and cohesive design, some note that the overblown graphics can occasionally make it difficult to distinguish safe platforms from obstacles. Overall, the game's artistic presentation is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
“What truly sets 'Octahedron' apart is its holistic and unified approach in its design and aesthetics.”
“With its psychedelic visuals and groovy tunes, the game transports you to a neon-infused dance party in the clouds.”
“Its '80s-derived neon aesthetic is a very cool backdrop for one of the most impressive 2D platforming experiences on offer so far this year.”
“The visuals of the game are also way overblown.”
“That said, from the trailers, I expected to be more engaged with the art style and the music.”
“Intelligent puzzle design, striking visuals, and a soundtrack straight out of late 90s raves make for one of the most interesting titles I’ve experienced so far this year, even if it is occasionally marred by difficult and frustrating puzzle design.”
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and largely forgettable, revolving around a man who is transported to a strange world with little narrative development in between. While there are brief cutscenes at the beginning and end, the gameplay is prioritized, leaving the story feeling uninteresting and lacking depth.
“Strange story, but really good gameplay.”
“There isn't really a story; a man is sucked into a strange world and is trying to progress. Honestly, the intro is so forgettable that I sometimes forget it even happened.”
“There are some unobtrusive story cutscenes at the start and end of the game; however, everything in between can be played through with no barriers or any text to read.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is centered around overcoming challenges and personal growth, as players navigate obstacles and create their own platforms, fostering a sense of achievement and resilience.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the consistent art style enhances the arcade-like platformer experience, making the grinding feel engaging rather than tedious.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the grinding mechanics to be a chore rather than a fun challenge, which really dampened my experience.”
“After hours of grinding, I still felt like I was making no progress, which was incredibly frustrating.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its striking presentation, engaging music, and unique concept that offers a satisfying challenge, making it a worthwhile investment for players.
“Striking presentation with great music, unique concept that provides a decent challenge, and great replay value. Well worth the price.”
“The game offers endless possibilities with different strategies and outcomes, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and character choices, I find myself coming back to explore every option available.”
Critic Reviews
Octahedron review
Octahedron gets more mileage than you'd think out of the ability to summon platforms beneath your feet.
79%Octahedron Review
For just under a tenner, Octahedron is a mightily impressive package. Its '80s-derived neon-aesthetic is a very cool backdrop for one of the most impressive 2D platforming experiences on offer so far this year. The sense of challenge is very finely-tuned and progressive, being unforgiving while still managing to keep the player coming back for yet another round. While there's a very detached introductory cut-scene, which is weird and ultimately is context that nobody needs, the gameplay itself is addictive, inventive, and something all indie platforming fans will want to try out. It looks amazing and runs at a smooth 60fps, which really helps the sense of fluidity. In addition, the chiptune and electronic soundtrack is so good that Cubed3 just had to bust out the studio monitors. The only disappointment relating to the music soundtrack is that it couldn't interact with the gameplay further than platforms moving to the BPM.
80%Octahedron Review
Intelligent puzzle design, striking visuals and a soundtrack straight out of late 90s raves make for one of the most interesting titles I’ve experienced so far this year, even if it is occasionally marred by difficult and frustrating puzzle design.
90%