Onde
- March 17, 2022
- 3-50
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Onde is a single-player fantasy platformer game with good visuals and a masterful soundtrack. The game offers smooth, intuitive puzzle-platforming, where you create ephemeral paths along waves of sound and light to follow. Explore a meditative, ethereal world filled with wonders and adaptive soundscapes, offering a Zen-like journey through manifold areas, from the deepest ocean to the depths of space."
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Reviews
- Beautiful visuals and immersive soundtrack create a unique and relaxing experience.
- Innovative gameplay mechanics that engage players in a satisfying and enjoyable way.
- The game offers a poetic narrative that resonates emotionally, enhancing the overall journey.
- Some players found the platforming mechanics frustrating and difficult, disrupting the relaxing experience.
- The lack of clear guidance can lead to confusion, making it hard to navigate at times.
- Certain sections of the game have poor checkpoint placement, which can be aggravating during gameplay.
- music33 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of relaxing and stimulating sounds. While some players found certain tracks grating or felt that the gameplay could disrupt the zen-like experience, many appreciated the soundtrack's ability to complement the stunning visuals and create a unique synesthetic journey. Overall, the combination of music and art contributes to a beautiful and memorable adventure, though some players noted challenges that could detract from the intended relaxation.
“The visuals and music are excellent and make you feel immersed in the moment.”
“A beautiful game, with a relaxing soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack pairs excellently with the gameplay, often amplifying certain moves and making it feel satisfying as you work your way through the game.”
“Infuriatingly frustrating at points, while the music was decent, it certainly is not a relaxing experience at all.”
“The checkpoints are also really bad in some areas, further disrupting the experience, sending you back a minute or more in places in a game that presumes to be a zen-like music experience; it is far from it.”
“This game's graphics and music make you feel like you are on a very relaxing psychedelic trip.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and immersive quality, featuring unique art styles that create beautiful patterns and a relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciate the combination of visuals and music, which together enhance the overall experience, although some note that the visuals can occasionally obscure gameplay paths. Overall, the aesthetic design contributes significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact, making it a memorable journey.
“The visuals and music are relaxing, the world is stimulating, and solving the puzzle of getting from one place to the next is interesting but not frustrating.”
“Every second, the beautiful visuals and sounds coalesce to usher in pure bliss and tranquility.”
“Amazing visuals and soundtrack for an unforgettable experience!”
“The bigger issue is that the visuals obfuscate the intended path a lot of the time.”
“Checkpoints behind periods of waiting and timing things at weird angles, a rotating camera with controls that don't mirror the visuals until they suddenly do, endless dramatic buildup constantly popped by being sent back multiple screens, etc.”
“This game's graphics and music make you feel like you are on a very relaxing psychedelic trip.”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its unique and engaging mechanics that blend puzzle-solving and platforming, offering a fun and visually captivating experience. While some players find certain mechanics challenging, the overall design is considered intuitive and well-paced, allowing for organic discovery and enjoyment. The combination of beautiful animation, sound, and innovative gameplay elements creates a satisfying and immersive experience, though it may not be relaxing for everyone.
“Unique gameplay that is really fun, doesn't feel gimmicky, and actually provides some interesting and novel challenges!”
“The mechanics are really unique yet also intuitive, which is impressive.”
“The gameplay is very original and the discovery of the different game mechanics is nice.”
“Being progress-blocked by mechanics that are difficult to get the timing down on is not my idea of a good time.”
“Maybe original, but not relaxing at all thanks to a slow and frustrating gameplay.”
“Instead I found myself discovering the world's mechanics on my own.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players initially finding it pretentious but ultimately appreciating its emotional depth and charm. Others noted the narrative's subtlety, describing it as perplexing yet magical, enhanced by engaging mechanics and art. Overall, the story is seen as simple but effective, resonating with players in unexpected ways.
“The story seemed a little pretentious at first, but I was really digging it after a while, and the end actually tugged at my heartstrings a bit!”
“A game which doesn't say much, but you feel like the story just unfolds.”
“It's not a very difficult game, and you could say it is somewhat simple, but there's just something magical about it between the super fun mechanics, the art, the music, and the symbolic story told.”
“A game which doesn't say anything, but you feel like the story just unfolds.”
“Was very perplexed on what was going on in the case of themes/story, but the friend creature that we bonded with was quite cute once I realized he wasn't trying to kill me.”
“It's not a very difficult game, and you could say it is somewhat simple, but there's just something magical about it between the super fun mechanics, the art, the music and the symbolic story told.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Onde is praised for its stunning visuals and immersive soundtrack, transforming it from a typical atmospheric game into a captivating synesthetic experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend beautiful colors with atmospheric music, creating a unique and engaging environment that enhances the puzzle-solving experience.
“The first minutes it felt like exactly that, but what I did not expect was the game unfolding into way, way more than that, turning into a wonderful synesthetic experience of atmospheric music paired with beautiful colors.”
“Onde is an exceptionally beautiful atmospheric puzzle game that has a great soundtrack.”
“I normally do not like atmospheric games like Journey and Abzu that much, but this one surprised me.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort, akin to needing a second life to complete it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players found the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, highlighting a heartwarming ending complemented by breathtaking visuals and sound design, which collectively contributed to a memorable experience.
“The actual ending was really heartwarming and nice; the visuals and sound design in this game are absolutely breathtaking, making it a truly great experience.”
