Over The Void
- November 11, 2014
- Exquisite Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Over The Void" is a relaxing 3D platformer that offers exploration of unique universes, each with a common theme of gravity-defying doors leading to the void. The game encourages players to move with dexterity, using tools to navigate in a 3-dimensional environment, while enjoying the abstract art style, soothing music, and psychedelic elements. The main objective is to clear your mind and wander through the beautiful environments at your own pace.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Visually stunning with a unique artistic style and a relaxing soundtrack that enhances the experience.
- Offers a trippy and surreal atmosphere that can be enjoyable for those who appreciate abstract and artistic games.
- Simple controls and mechanics allow for a casual exploration of beautifully designed environments.
- The game is extremely short, often completed in under an hour, leaving players wanting more content.
- Gameplay mechanics are frustrating, with platform placement issues that detract from the exploration experience.
- Technical glitches and poor control mapping can hinder enjoyment, making it difficult for players to fully engage with the game.
- music79 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and psychedelic qualities, enhancing the dreamlike visuals and overall atmosphere. However, some players find certain tracks repetitive or annoying, particularly in the early levels, and note that the abrupt pauses in music during transitions disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, opinions vary on its consistency and integration with the game mechanics.
“The environment you get to explore looks stunning, the music that goes along with it is perfect, and the gameplay is quite interesting.”
“The music is amazing, environments stunning, spending a few minutes/hours in the game is the best way to relax and empty your head.”
“More of a psychedelic experience than a game, Over the Void manages to pack incredible art and music into a half-hour game time.”
“Oh and the 1st level music is annoying.”
“Instead of meditative, the music is annoying and repetitive, and all you do is fight the game's horrible mechanics and scenario, so you don't fall in the abyss and have to look for the buttons that open the door to the next level all over again.”
“Some of the music is okay, some is barely tolerable (looping often).”
- gameplay46 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it janky and unengaging, often feeling that the mechanics hinder rather than enhance the exploration of the visually appealing environments. While some appreciate the simplicity and intuitive nature of the controls, others criticize the limited mechanics, such as jumping and platform placement, which fail to provide a satisfying gaming experience. Overall, the game struggles to balance its aesthetic appeal with functional gameplay, leaving players frustrated with its execution.
“A majestic game, where simple gameplay allows you to challenge gravity while wandering in a cosmic universe.”
“This game gave me what I was looking for; gameplay and objectives are quite simple to understand, so I felt free to explore astonishing environments while playing.”
“An intuitive gameplay, easy to master!”
“I wanted to enjoy this game, but I couldn't get past the gameplay.”
“Instead of meditative, the music is annoying and repetitive, and all you do is fight the game's horrible mechanics and scenario, so you don't fall into the abyss and have to look for the buttons that open the door to the next level all over again.”
“The platform spawning mechanic really doesn't seem to offer anything engaging in terms of gameplay; it seems to only exist to provide some kind of challenge to the audience to meet the minimal definition of a game.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are described as artistic and visually appealing, with dreamlike aesthetics that complement the soundtrack beautifully. However, some players find the visuals to be bland for a surreal game, and technical issues like lag detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are praised for their creativity, they are often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics that limit players' ability to fully appreciate them.
“Dreamlike visuals with mellow, lovely music in the background.”
“I adored the aesthetic and the music, despite the platforming mechanics affording you little time and space to appreciate your surroundings.”
“A very nice detail of how the sound ties with the visuals is the way some of the objects and particle effects pulse with the music, as well as your jumps emit a fitting sound effect.”
“Visuals are bland (for a surreal game), and the gameplay is jank and unengaging.”
“That'd be acceptable, but even the pretty graphics are limited to strict untextured polygons and particle effects.”
“The graphics are very artistic but as a game, it's not much to 'play'.”
- story16 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely perceived as minimal or non-existent, with players noting a lack of coherent plot and objectives, focusing instead on the audio-visual experience. While some elements, like architecture, hint at a narrative, the overall sentiment is that the game prioritizes atmosphere and sentiment over traditional storytelling. Players suggest that any attempt at a complex narrative might detract from the immersive experience of exploring its surreal environments.
“There are messages in the architecture, and the architecture itself tells a story; what sort of complex storytelling needs to accompany you while you're hopping about these impossible places?”
“Each level has that bit of floating text (the name of the level) - I might just be too enthralled with it, but at times, with that music, the visuals seem to convey not so much a story but just a projection of sentiments (the rainy level and 'get high,' especially).”
“The supposedly trippy atmosphere just felt like a lack of plot and random assets.”
“There's no story or objectives for you to complete, necessarily, and each level is self-contained.”
“This is something you play for the audio-visual experience, and not for the challenge or the story.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as both captivating and frustrating; while some players appreciate its psychedelic elements and soundtrack, others feel that the lack of coherent plot and awkward navigation detracts from the overall experience. The game is seen by some as more of an atmospheric art piece than a traditional game, highlighting its artistic potential but also its shortcomings in gameplay.
“Good little psychedelic platformer, excels in atmosphere, nice soundtrack.”
“Over the Void is more of an atmospheric art piece than a game.”
“The supposedly trippy atmosphere just felt like a lack of plot and random assets.”
“A lot of potential, but the techniques required to awkwardly navigate the surreal and formless levels hinder the player's ability to absorb the atmosphere and appreciate the artistic style of the game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits notable stability issues, with frequent bugs causing players to fall through platforms and requiring them to restart after falling. While these glitches are somewhat expected due to its Unity development, they detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, some players still find the game enjoyable and worth trying.
“It's certainly weird - it's actually not too bad - kind of like puzzles and portal, but if you fall, you have to start over - which would be fine, but it's buggy - it's super easy for the game to bug out - and you fall through your pads.”
“Given that it's developed in Unity, it does have some glitches and problems, but that is to be expected. Other than that, it's great, so check this game out if you get the chance!”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its poor optimization, making it unsuitable for players concerned about their hardware's performance capabilities. Users strongly advise against purchasing it if they have any reservations about their system's ability to run it effectively.
“Do not buy this unoptimized game if you are wary about your card's capabilities.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While the game offers replayability, many users find that it can become monotonous over time, and they suggest that a more user-friendly tutorial would enhance the experience.
“It's replayable, but it gets kind of boring, and the tutorial could be a bit more user-friendly.”
“It's replayable, but it gets kind of boring, and the tutorial could be a bit more user-friendly.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for being more natural and less forced compared to similar titles, such as Sickbrick, which is reminiscent of Portal. Players appreciate the absence of over-the-top comedic elements and weaponry, allowing for a more organic comedic experience.
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely unengaging, with objectives described as boring, monotonous, and tedious, leading to frustration during gameplay.
“The objectives are boring, monotonous, tedious, and even aggravating at times.”
