OddPlanet
- May 11, 2016
- Indievision
Get on Steam"OddPlanet is a single-player side-scrolling adventure game, inspired by Limbo and Oddworld, offering around 29 hours of playtime. Players will help a lone little girl survive on a hostile alien planet, navigating through a beautiful, hand-painted world and interacting with fascinating creatures. The game is available in 5 languages: English, German, French, Polish, and Russian, and features atmospheric sounds and stereo music."
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and atmosphere reminiscent of Limbo, creating an engaging visual experience.
- The story has emotional depth, with some players finding it relatable and impactful.
- The game is mercifully brief, which prevents it from overstaying its welcome.
- Gameplay mechanics are frustrating, with stiff controls and poor signposting leading to confusion and repeated deaths.
- The game suffers from performance issues, including low frame rates and technical glitches that detract from the experience.
- The ending feels abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving players wanting more closure and resolution.
- story18 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is centered around a young girl who crash-lands on a perilous alien world, evoking strong emotional responses from players. While the narrative is intriguing and features a poignant ending, many reviewers feel it is too short and lacks resolution, leaving them wanting more and feeling that the plot is incomplete. Additionally, some found the story's enigmatic elements and lack of alternate paths frustrating, which detracted from their overall experience.
“The story is about a little girl who crash lands on an extremely hostile alien world where everything wants to kill you.”
“The ending itself is a tear jerker, but it feels incomplete, like it was forced to stop right after the tear jerk moment but there was still more story to tell.”
“I really do not like the way the story ends.”
“My main issue with it though, is that it is too short, only 3 episodes, and it feels incomplete, like there is more story to be told that you can't get to.”
“It's not enough really; there doesn't feel like there's any real resolution at the end of the game which, for an experience that relies heavily on its plot to balance its plain platforming and puzzles, will leave some players feeling a bit short-changed.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its unintuitive mechanics, stiff controls, and clunky jump mechanics, which detract from the overall experience and make puzzles frustrating rather than engaging. While the art style is appreciated, many players feel that the gameplay lacks polish and can be tedious, with some elements reminiscent of better-executed games like Limbo. Overall, the combination of poor control responsiveness and frustrating mechanics leads to a less enjoyable gaming experience.
“Though gameplay is not as intricate as Limbo, it's mainly jumping, pushing, and collecting items.”
“Most definitely in my humble opinion, especially if you enjoyed the art style and gameplay of Limbo.”
“I bought this game in order to make a video out of it and finally upload it on YouTube, which I did even though I had some technical issues (lagging) throughout the gameplay.”
“The art is nice and all, but it just seems like the gameplay was implemented by someone who isn't actually a gamer themselves, as nothing is intuitive.”
“The gameplay needs a lot of polish because the controls feel heavy and unresponsive.”
“The jump mechanic is clunky, leading several of the puzzles to be more about getting the timing of your jump absolutely dead set perfect rather than having the challenge be about solving the puzzle itself.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising its unique art style that evokes comparisons to "Limbo." While not groundbreaking, the visuals are described as sweet, cute, and effective in enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
“Great graphic style (similar to Limbo).”
“The art style and visuals are nice, nothing too fantastic, but sweet and cute.”
“Funky graphics and feel.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful music, immersive atmosphere, and compelling story, which resonate deeply with players. Many users express that the experience evokes strong feelings, making it particularly enjoyable for those who are more sensitive and imaginative.
“The music, atmosphere, graphics, and story made me emotional.”
“She is curious, friendly, and emotional.”
“For me, being the more emotional and fanciful kind, the experience was pleasant each time.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its picturesque scenery, emotional music, and strong art direction, creating a captivating yet dark environment. However, some reviewers note that certain elements feel derivative, despite the presence of memorable set-pieces, such as encounters with a terrifying neanderthal tribe.
“The game is focused on picturesque scenery and a pretty yet dark atmosphere.”
“There's some great set-pieces here, the best of which involves being captured by the terrifying resident neanderthal tribe and your subsequent escape from their cave. While much of the art direction and atmospherics are on point, the entire experience sometimes feels overly derivative.”
“The music, atmosphere, graphics, and story all contributed to an emotional experience.”
“That is because the game is focused on a picturesque scenery and a pretty yet dark atmosphere.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for enhancing the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story, with particular appreciation for the credits song. Overall, it contributes significantly to the player's experience and engagement with the narrative.
“The music creates an incredible atmosphere that enhances the graphics and story, making me feel emotional.”
“I really enjoy the credits song, and I would love to see the story continue in some way.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in the mobile version is criticized for being intrusive, with frequent advertisements disrupting gameplay, particularly during critical moments like jumps, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The mobile version has terrible controls, and you're bombarded with constant advertisements that interrupt gameplay just when you try to make a jump.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game may lack significant replay value in terms of gameplay mechanics, players find enjoyment in exploring the beautifully crafted game world and appreciate the charming details, such as the delightful character interactions.
“The game offers a wealth of different choices and paths, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With multiple endings and various character interactions, I find myself coming back to explore every possible outcome.”
“The dynamic events and random encounters keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
“There is not much replay value in terms of gameplay, yet I am delighted by the nicely arranged game world and chuckle every time over the small, sweet pepito.”
“The game lacks significant replayability, as once you've completed it, there's little incentive to return.”
“After finishing the game, I found that there was no real reason to play it again, as the experience felt complete and unchanging.”
