OSK

About

OSK - The End of Time is a stylishly brutal platformer in which you climb an enormous tree, up towards the sky as a squirrel escaping the chaotic apocalypse down below in this chaotic depiction of the beginning and the end. OSK is a shorter 2.5D platformer developed by the one-man studio Diax Arts in which you climb an enormous tree, up towards the sky as a squirrel escaping the chaotic apocal…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

graphics12 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience.
The soundtrack is well-composed and adds to the atmosphere, making the journey enjoyable.
Despite its challenges, the game offers a unique and engaging experience for those who appreciate platformers.

The lack of a save feature forces players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating.
Gameplay mechanics are often clunky, with inconsistent hitboxes and combat that feels unrefined.
The game is very short, lasting only about 1 to 1.5 hours, which may not justify its price for many players.

graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant art style and stunning visuals, while others criticize the simplistic and lackluster 2D assets that feel outdated for a 2024 PC game. Despite the appealing aesthetics and charming designs, many players express disappointment over the limited graphical options and the overall quality of the visuals, suggesting that they do not meet modern gaming standards. Overall, while the art direction has its merits, it struggles to impress in the context of contemporary gaming expectations.
- “The overall art style of the game is quite beautiful and visually appealing, which I genuinely appreciate.”
- “I haven’t really seen any marketing for this but the visuals are phenomenal and gameplay (although quite hard) really fun once you get used to the controls.”
- “The visuals are stunning and the care for details is fantastic.”
- “While there are options to change the resolution for the game, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets used to make the game, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
- “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lackluster 2D visuals.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game in 2024, such poor quality 2D graphics in the 3D era just aren't good enough, whether it's a deliberate design fault on behalf of the developer or they just couldn't manage to do any better; this is a compromise gamers shouldn't have to put up with.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
26%
16%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its stunning beauty and emotional depth. The inclusion of a free soundtrack adds value, and the compositions are noted for fitting the game's tone perfectly. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The music composed for this game is stunningly beautiful and fits the desperately somber but slightly hopeful tone of the game.”
- “The game is absolutely gorgeous, with a wonderful soundtrack, and I had a great time with it!”
- “Perhaps it's the stunning music, the amazing scenery/artwork, or the easy-to-learn controls, but the whole journey is simply a delight.”
- “If this game had only the art and the music without the gameplay, it would be perfect.”
- “The music Christopher Baklid composed for this game is as stunningly beautiful as the visuals and very much fits the desperately somber but slightly hopeful tone of the game.”
- “The visuals and the soundtrack alone raise this game to above average.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The gameplay has been described as a mix of simplicity and challenge, with mechanics reminiscent of Doodle Jump, though players find the unpredictability of certain elements, like branch stability, adds difficulty. While some appreciate the engaging and challenging aspects, others criticize the gameplay for being stale, buggy, and lacking depth, suggesting that improvements in mechanics and level design could enhance the overall experience. The visuals and music receive praise, but many feel that the gameplay itself detracts from the game's potential.
- “However, I found the gameplay mechanics reminiscent of Doodle Jump, yet it seemed challenging to predict the stability of branches, which added an unexpected layer of difficulty.”
- “I haven’t really seen any marketing for this, but the visuals are phenomenal and the gameplay (although quite hard) is really fun once you get used to the controls.”
- “With simplistic yet challenging gameplay, Diax Games have made a game with nuance and depth.”
- “This is one of the worst games in terms of game mechanics I've ever seen.”
- “Otherwise, it has stale and buggy gameplay.”
- “Praised for its visuals but criticized for its lack of gameplay.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The story in the game is often described as confusing and lacking clarity, with players struggling to understand the narrative or objectives due to the absence of tutorials or explanations. While some appreciate the artistic elements and symbolic implications of the story, particularly regarding a squirrel fleeing an apocalypse, many feel it ultimately fails to deliver a coherent or engaging narrative experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Osk is filled with symbolic implications that suggest a harmonious yet tragic story about a squirrel fleeing the apocalypse.”
- “Artistically, the game is phenomenal and has more roots in filmmaking and conceptual storytelling than in indie games.”
- “I didn't get the story (if there is any to begin with).”
- “I spent several minutes trying to understand where I should go in the beginning and how exactly I should move, because there is no tutorial, plot, or even explanation for what is happening here.”
- “I unfortunately don't have much else to add; it just fails to deliver both its story and its game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being plagued by bugs and lag, particularly during certain attacks, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Despite the impressive graphics, the frequent technical issues significantly impact performance.
- “Otherwise, it has stale and buggy gameplay.”
- “Very buggy attack, big lags here. Please fix that.”
- “The very buggy electric attack is one of the most beautiful I have seen in this category of games.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of Osk to be somewhat tedious, as the combat can become repetitive and challenging if not approached correctly. This can lead to a frustrating experience for those who struggle with the game's mechanics.
- “Although the combat felt a bit tedious.”
- “Osk is designed to challenge the player, and if not played right, it can be tedious to sit through.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charm, enhanced by impressive art and music, though some players find it frustrating at times. Overall, it creates a captivating and immersive experience.
- “I was really surprised by the atmosphere, art, and music.”
- “A wonderful and atmospheric little game, but currently too frustrating for me personally.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game "osk" offers a deeply emotional experience as players connect with a small squirrel fighting for survival, enhanced by stunning visuals from a solo developer. While its simplistic controls facilitate engagement, the game's niche appeal may limit its broader audience.
- “If you can spare an hour or two, and want to invest emotionally into a little squirrel fighting for its life, while enjoying the most beautiful art a game can present, then you should absolutely play Osk!”
- “With extraordinary visuals from a one-man studio and simplistic yet efficient game controls, it takes you on a short but emotional journey and will be admired by the few but probably alienate a large chunk of its possible buyers.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate concerns about the monetization strategy, suggesting that the game's quality resembles that of asset flips or cash grabs, raising doubts about its value despite a lack of concrete evidence. This perception could negatively impact player trust and overall reception.
- “There's no evidence, so we need to give the benefit of the doubt... regardless, asset flip or not, the quality here is indistinguishable from many asset flip/cash grab scams, and that's a problem in itself.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game suffers from poor optimization, with players experiencing significant and sudden drops in frame rates—from 100 fps to as low as 18-20—during various activities, including cut scenes and gameplay transitions.
- “The game is poorly optimized; while I was playing, I had 100 FPS, and suddenly my FPS dropped to 18-20 for no apparent reason. Sadly, this can happen during various activities, from watching a cutscene to jumping from one branch to another.”
- “The optimization is a mess. I frequently experience frame drops that ruin the gameplay experience, making it frustrating to enjoy the game.”
- “Despite having a powerful system, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, leading to inconsistent performance that detracts from the overall experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, particularly for speedrunners who enjoy mastering levels and optimizing their times. The variety of challenges and potential for different playstyles further enhance the incentive to replay. Overall, the game offers ample opportunities for players to return and refine their skills.
- “The game offers incredible speedrun replayability, allowing players to refine their skills and beat their own records.”
- “With multiple endings and various character choices, the replayability factor keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Each playthrough feels fresh due to the dynamic events and random elements, making it a joy to replay.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics means that replaying the game feels repetitive.”