OU | Game Brain — video game discovery

About

"OU is a single-player Fantasy Adventure game set in the hazy world of U-chronia. As a young boy with no memories, you'll journey through a pen-drawn world with music full of nostalgia, meeting characters that challenge and shape your story. Discover who you are, and uncover the truth behind your existence in this game-shaped experience."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 22 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

The hand-drawn artwork and soothing soundtrack are standout features that enhance the overall experience.
The game offers a unique and melancholic story that resonates emotionally, especially after reaching the true ending.
It's a gentle, story-driven game that encourages players to take their time and savor the beautiful scenery.

The gameplay is overly simplistic and repetitive, requiring multiple playthroughs to reach the true ending, which can feel tedious.
The game lacks significant choices and meaningful interactions, making it feel linear and limiting player agency.
Pacing issues arise from frequent loading screens and short scenes, which disrupt the flow of the narrative.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The game's story is described as deep yet meandering, with a slow-paced, interactive storybook format that may not hold everyone's attention. While the art and music are praised for enhancing the melancholic narrative, the gameplay is considered simplistic and lacking engagement. Overall, it appeals to those seeking a calm, story-driven experience, though some players may find the storytelling insufficient to maintain their interest.
- “The art is extremely lovely, and the OST is very soothing, so if you are looking for a calm story-driven game, I absolutely recommend this.”
- “Art and music are clearly the standout qualities here; they bolster the melancholic story.”
- “It's definitely more story-focused than having super engaging gameplay, but I think it's worth playing!”
- “The game certainly has some kind of deep story it wants to tell, but the path it takes to get there is meandering and inconvenient, and after 1.5 hours I don't really see much point in continuing.”
- “The art and music are beautiful, but the gameplay is non-existent and the storytelling never really kept my attention.”
- “It's best to think of it as a slow-paced interactive storybook.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The gameplay is characterized as simple and easy, primarily involving walking through storybook-like scenes and adding sticky notes to points of interest. While this minimalist approach suits the adventure's narrative focus, many reviewers feel it lacks challenge and depth, suggesting that the gameplay and level design could benefit from more attention. Overall, the game is more about the emotional experience and storytelling than engaging gameplay, making it a worthwhile play for those who appreciate its artistic elements.
- “The gameplay itself is very easy and simple; you spend most of the time adding sticky notes to points of interest as you walk through storybook pages, which is just enough for this kind of adventure.”
- “The gameplay is pretty simple, most of it walking from one scene to the next, and you have to play through the game several times to get the true ending, but it's worth it for the warm feeling it leaves inside your heart.”
- “It's definitely more story focused than having super engaging gameplay, but I think it's worth playing!”
- “The gameplay is very easy and simple; you spend most of the time adding sticky notes to points of interest as you walk through storybook pages, which is just enough for this kind of adventure.”
- “There isn't any real challenge in the gameplay.”
- “It would've been fine for the game to keep a minimalist gameplay formula, only if there was a more seamless presentation.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing quality and ability to enhance the melancholic atmosphere of the story. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, alongside the beautiful hand-drawn artwork, making it a recommended choice for those seeking a calm, story-driven experience. However, some note that while the art and music are exceptional, they do not compensate for shortcomings in gameplay and storytelling.
- “The art and music are, as you can tell from the store page, absolutely incredible.”
- “Art and music are clearly the standout qualities here; they bolster the melancholic story.”
- “The art is extremely lovely, and the OST is very soothing, so if you are looking for a calm story-driven game, I absolutely recommend this.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their rich hand-drawn artwork and captivating art style, which evoke a sense of fairy tale nostalgia. Reviewers express strong emotional connections to the characters, despite minimal dialogue, highlighting the effectiveness of the character design. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature that significantly enhances the gaming experience.
- “I could easily recommend you for the rich hand-drawn artwork and soundtrack alone!”
- “This game caught my eye back then because of the amazing art style, and it does not disappoint.”
- “I didn't expect to get so attached to characters that barely had dialogue, but you did great at hitting some kind of fairy tale nostalgia with the art style and character design.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is appreciated, with players finding it enjoyable enough to recommend waiting for a significant discount before purchasing, particularly due to regional pricing disparities. Overall, while the comedic elements are well-received, the value proposition is a common concern among users.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its relaxing qualities, making it an enjoyable experience for players looking to unwind and immerse themselves in the environment.
- “But it's pretty good if you want to relax and take in the atmosphere.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players express a surprising emotional attachment to characters with minimal dialogue, attributing this connection to the game's effective use of art style and character design that evokes a sense of fairy tale nostalgia.
- “I didn't expect to get so attached to characters that barely had dialogue, but you did great at hitting some kind of fairy tale nostalgia with the art style and character design.”