Our Nation's Miner
- December 22, 2015
- Curtis Holt
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamTake on the role of 'MINER #4268' - a genetically engineered mining unit. Decimate asteroids in spectacular fashion to prove your worth to the empire. Smash your expectations and be rewarded with your freedom!
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The graphics and aesthetic of the game are stunning, providing a visually appealing experience.
- The core gameplay is enjoyable and offers a satisfying experience, especially for fans of arcade-style shooters.
- The writing and story elements, particularly the tie-in with the ARG, add depth and intrigue to the game.
- The game is very short, with limited content and little variation in gameplay, making it feel repetitive.
- Controls are unresponsive and difficult to manage, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- There is a lack of a compelling story or motivation, making the gameplay feel aimless and less engaging.
- story16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging writing and multiple endings that enhance replayability, while others criticize it for being basic or lacking depth. Despite its relatively short length, many encourage players to delve into the narrative and participate in the alternate reality game (ARG) elements. However, a significant number of users express disappointment over the absence of a compelling story or lore, indicating a divide in player experience regarding this aspect.
“Our nation's miner has proven to be a pretty damn fun experience; I'm mostly in it for the story, as the writing and ever-evolving endgame content has kept my interest easily.”
“I won't spoil anything, but I hope players see that this new overhaul is about creating a complex and intricate story for members of ARG communities and gamers alike.”
“Great writing, and an enjoyable story.”
“The game is short, but there are multiple endings that can be achieved, each having their own effect on the story.”
“I was a bit disappointed because there was no story.”
“There is no story to speak of, and honestly no gameplay to speak of either.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and engaging, though it suffers from repetitiveness and limited level variety, with many levels feeling similar. While some players appreciate the active nature of the gameplay, others find it lacking depth and excitement, leading to mixed recommendations based on personal preferences and price considerations.
“The gameplay itself is easily enjoyable, though slightly repetitive. I'd gladly recommend it to a friend, especially at such a relatively low price. I've easily gotten my money's worth with this one.”
“Little level variety, but the style of gameplay fit in such a way that I don't believe it affected gameplay too much.”
“Each level quite honestly felt like it was the same map, but because of how active the gameplay can be, it was hardly noticeable.”
“The game is pretty, for sure, but the gameplay is boring.”
“There is no story to speak of, and honestly no gameplay to speak of either.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised as the standout feature, showcasing stunning visuals that effectively convey the sci-fi theme. Players appreciate the impressive background aesthetics and the overall graphical quality, which enhances the immersive experience, particularly in serene hub areas.
“The graphics never disappoint, and the sci-fi theme is very prominent throughout the game.”
“The aesthetic of the game is absolutely stunning, and graphically it certainly plays well overall.”
“Flying around the hub areas can be surprisingly serene, with impressive background aesthetics and a soothing sci-fi soundtrack.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its seamless integration with the theme, featuring a techno-synth instrumental style that enhances the overall experience. Players find the soothing sci-fi soundtrack particularly effective during exploration, creating a serene atmosphere amidst impressive background aesthetics.
“The music fits perfectly with the theme; a techno-synth instrumental works very well.”
“Flying around the hub areas can be surprisingly serene, with impressive background aesthetics and a soothing sci-fi soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is underwhelming and fails to enhance the overall experience.”
“While flying around the hub areas can be surprisingly serene, the music feels repetitive and uninspired.”
“The background music lacks variety and quickly becomes forgettable.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting poor performance even on the lowest settings, resulting in frustratingly low frame rates of 5-10 FPS. Many users note that their hardware runs other recent games smoothly, highlighting the game's significant optimization issues.
“Absurdly badly optimized; it runs like garbage on the lowest settings. It's not an old graphics card; lots of other new games run great, but this one only gets 5-10 FPS, which doesn't make any sense.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized as quirky and entropic, inviting players to engage with its narrative and participate in its storytelling elements. Overall, it adds a unique charm to the experience, enhancing the enjoyment of the game's intricate plot.
“In conclusion, the game is a pretty, entropic experience, and I encourage players to take interest in the story and participate in the ARG and decoding this masterpiece of a story.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a satisfying blend of visual effects and audio that creates an oddly calming experience, even while engaging in the action of blasting asteroids and experimenting with various weapons.
“When it comes to blasting asteroids, playing around with the various weapons as you unlock them can be a satisfying experience, and the visual effects combine with the audio to create an oddly calming atmosphere.”
