Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
- February 21, 2018
- Osmotic Studios
- 5h median play time
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Get on SteamIn Orwell: Ignorance is Strength, you continue as an agent in the Orwell program, monitoring citizens and networks to uncover threats to the nation. This second season delves deeper into the themes of manipulation and information control, as you struggle with the morality of your actions and the government's agenda. Your choices will shape the ultimate outcome of the narrative, with multiple endings available based on your investigative focus.
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Reviews
- Engaging storyline that explores themes of surveillance and media manipulation.
- New mechanics, such as the Influencer tool and time management, add depth to gameplay.
- Voice acting enhances immersion and character development.
- Significantly shorter than the first game, leading to a feeling of abruptness in the story.
- Less character depth and fewer characters compared to the original, making it harder to connect with the story.
- The episodic release format can disrupt the flow of the narrative and lead to confusion about plot details.
- story1,416 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Orwell: Ignorance is Strength" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it lacks the depth and complexity of its predecessor. While some appreciate the engaging narrative and the intertwining of characters from the first game, others criticize it for being shorter, more linear, and less impactful, often feeling like a side story rather than a full sequel. The introduction of new mechanics, such as the influencer tool, is seen as a positive addition, but many feel that the overall storytelling and character development do not reach the same heights as the original game.
“This game's story is great and intertwines in places with the original's, so again get that!”
“A story game, like the first, where choices make differences to how the story plays out, and there are lots of twists and big moments that keep you invested.”
“Amazing game with a gripping storyline and lots of depth.”
“Overall, the plot was far too simple/surface-level in comparison to the first.”
“Just a lackluster experience that could have been saved by a longer story or a couple more chapters.”
“The story is much shorter and less in-depth, the narrative is all over the place, and it feels like a lot of context is missing.”
- gameplay602 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Orwell: Ignorance is Strength" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new elements like a time management system and an "influencer" mechanic, which, unfortunately, are underutilized and only come into play late in the game. Players appreciate the unique narrative-driven experience and improved voice acting, but many feel the game is shorter and less engaging than the original, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel tedious. Overall, while the new mechanics add potential, they often feel rushed or inadequately explored, leaving players wanting more depth and freedom in their interactions.
“It's a unique gameplay experience, I'll give it that.”
“The game has new mechanics that are interesting and voice acting that does leave me feeling chills.”
“The new mechanics were a nice touch and I would love to see more done with this.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay loop soon starts to feel like actual work.”
“The new time passing mechanic either has you punished for playing the game the wrong way or you remain utterly stuck between passage of time moments trying to find minor trivialities to submit to make the time pass.”
“The time mechanic adds unnecessary pressure and sometimes feels like a chore rather than a fun gameplay element.”
- music96 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the storyline, particularly in its more intense moments. While some tracks are noted for their quality and emotional resonance, others are criticized for being monotonous or lacking dramatic shifts that could elevate key narrative moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, though some players feel it could benefit from more variety and emotional depth.
“The game soundtrack is genuinely really good and captures the atmosphere exceptionally well!”
“This dystopian themed game will give you a great experience in its great story, accompanied with good soundtrack and good vocal characters.”
“The music is well done and suits the moods of the story.”
“The games improves on its predecessor with audio phone calls and a much clearer plot, however its length and music do leave some things to be desired.”
“Continuous twists and turns alongside the dramatic cuts in music were thrown aside, and the story became predictable, simple and uninteresting.”
“The chosen music makes me feel rather negative due to the monotonous and heavy sounds.”
- graphics66 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received positive feedback for their unique art style, which combines low-poly aesthetics with vibrant colors, creating an immersive atmosphere. Many reviewers appreciate the graphical interface and overall design, noting that the visuals complement the storytelling without being distracting. While some express a desire for more content, the consensus is that the graphics enhance the gaming experience significantly.
“The pictures in Orwell itself are also quite well-made, with its own unique low-poly art style that resembles both paintings and photos.”
“The game has a well-crafted story, beautiful music, good voice acting, and a colorful art aesthetic.”
“🔲 Graphics don't matter in this game.”
“Great job to the developers for creating a storyline which holds your interest, with graphics that don't distract you, and a whole atmosphere which leads you to feeling immersed in your job.”
“This is higher quality with fancier graphics and voice acting but I do agree that I liked the original slightly more.”
- replayability58 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its branching storylines and multiple endings that encourage exploration, while others find the overall narrative too fixed, limiting the incentive to replay. Many agree that despite its short length, the game offers considerable replay value, though some feel it lacks the depth of its predecessor. Overall, it is seen as a short but intense experience with potential for multiple playthroughs, particularly for those interested in uncovering different narrative paths.
“This game is quite short and has considerable replay value.”
“I highly recommend what is ultimately a short but intense experience of a few hours that has a lot of replayability potential as you explore what could have been without ever forgetting your first run and its consequences.”
“The game has a good amount of replay value and again this game hits the sweet spot of not too short but not too long.”
“Replayability is limited, as everything just feels like it's so set in stone, and that there's such little variation in the story that there's little point in trying to explore different avenues.”
“Short, no replayability, lackluster compared to the original.”
“This kind of left the game feeling really boring and tedious and unreplayable for me.”
- emotional38 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding it more personal and engaging than its predecessor, while others feel it lacks the emotional depth and character connection that made the first game impactful. Many reviewers noted feelings of guilt and complicity in their actions, but also criticized the sequel for a rushed narrative and a less compelling storyline that fails to build emotional investment in the characters. Overall, while there are moments of emotional resonance, the game struggles to create the same level of connection and significance as the original.
“Its an excellent story, interesting characters, greatly timed emotional and heart-wrenching beats.”
“This one honestly made me feel pretty guilty with how I had to expose this guy, even though he was planning something bad.”
“Well, you did it again, you made me feel conflicted about the nature of safety and truth.”
“The sequel to Orwell comes with a much more boring storyline and less control over its development, shorter play time, and an irritating protagonist (now with voice dialogues! Wow...).”
“The developers may have been trying to make a point that totalitarian governments are thin-skinned, but it often just feels like they wrote themselves into a corner with a boring story about a blog.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, especially when pursuing 100% achievements. While some appreciate the branching storylines and replayability, many feel that the process of gathering information and completing tasks becomes monotonous, leading to a long and often frustrating experience. Overall, the grinding is perceived as more burdensome than in the previous installment.
“No grinding needed.”
“Decent grinding.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“Somehow more repetitive and tedious than the first game, even with new things added in.”
“Regardless, it sure became a long and tedious experience to obtain all of the achievements.”
“This kind of left the game feeling really boring and tedious and unreplayable for me.”
- humor18 mentions
- 89 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as dark and immersive, with moments that provoke both laughter and anxiety, particularly through its satirical take on surveillance and societal issues. However, some players find the humor to be overshadowed by a predictable story and tone-deaf messages, leading to mixed feelings about its effectiveness. Overall, while there are humorous elements, they are often intertwined with serious themes that may not resonate well with all players.
“Dark, humorous and hella immersive.”
“+ funny investigation game”
“It's funny to play this game and think how it's easy to make and operate this kind of surveillance system in our time.”
“Just take a coffee, and get ready to be bored rapidly while waiting for Orwell to digest the smallest piece of information... not funny!”
“Just take a coffee, and get ready to be bored rapidly while waiting for Orwell to digest the smallest piece of information... not funny!”
- optimization16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while many players report solid performance with minimal bugs, some have experienced frustrating mechanics that feel like glitches. A few users noted that the game does not run as smoothly as earlier episodes and encountered specific bugs that hindered gameplay. Despite these issues, there is a general confidence in the developer's ability to improve performance in future updates.
“The game itself runs smoothly but has some mechanics that honestly feel like bugs, even if they probably aren’t.”
“Amazing performance.”
“O solid performance with no bugs but annoying mechanic”
“[h1]system info & performance report[/h1]”
“I’m going to recommend this game based on past performance and knowledge that the developer has a lot of skill.”
- stability12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with multiple users reporting significant bugs and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While it runs well on Linux, the general consensus is that the game feels unfinished and often leads to player frustration due to its numerous issues.
“Runs great on Linux.”
“This game was a buggy mess, that often turned into 'grab useless data so the next useful piece of information will appear'.”
“I've lost patience with this short and buggy game unfortunately.”
“In short: I didn't like the story at all, I was stuck for too long, the game is too short & a little buggy.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities, bolstered by an exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the thought-provoking storyline and ethical dilemmas, which are complemented by engaging graphics and effective voice acting, creating a cohesive and captivating environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both intriguing and conducive to deep engagement with the game's themes.
“The game soundtrack is genuinely really good and captures the atmosphere exceptionally well!”
“Great job to the developers for creating a storyline which holds your interest, with graphics that don't distract you, and a whole atmosphere which leads you to feeling immersed in your job.”
“I do agree that the Orwell series is a thought-provoking game with a nicely arranged atmosphere.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of this game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with reviewers expressing disappointment in its value and questioning its classification as a sequel. Overall, players do not recommend purchasing it.
“This game feels like a cash grab that makes no sense. I wouldn't call it Season 2; it's more like a prequel or something. I don't advise buying it.”
“This game feels like a cash grab that makes no sense. I wouldn't call it Season 2; it's more like a prequel or something. I don't advise buying it.”
