Planet of the Eyes
- August 23, 2015
- Cococucumber
- 4h median play time
Planet of the Eyes is a competent puzzle platformer, short enough to be played in one sitting, but with a sterile and empty world it fails ultimately to leave any lasting impression.
Get on Steam"Planet of the Eyes is a finalist for 'Best Indie Game' at the Canadian Videogame Awards. Play as a service robot stranded on a mysterious planet, with physics-based puzzles and quick respawns testing your platforming skills. Explore handcrafted levels with a retro sci-fi aesthetic and uncover secrets in this immersive and visually striking game."
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
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Windows
Xbox One
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PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a mesmerizing soundtrack that create an immersive atmosphere.
- The gameplay is smooth and straightforward, with puzzles that are engaging without being overly challenging.
- The story, conveyed through audio logs, adds an emotional layer to the exploration, making the experience feel personal and meaningful.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 1 to 2 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
- Puzzles and platforming mechanics are often too simple and lack depth, leading to a less satisfying challenge.
- The narrative feels shallow and stretched out, with limited character development and minimal interaction with the environment.
- story57 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story in "Planet of the Eyes" is primarily conveyed through audio logs from the robot's creator, offering a personal and emotional layer to the gameplay, though many players find it shallow and stretched out. While some appreciate the touching and atmospheric narrative, others criticize its lack of depth and engagement, describing it as a brief experience that doesn't fully capitalize on its potential. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the simplicity and style, while others feel it lacks substance and immersion.
“The story, told through audio logs from the robot’s creator, has a personal, almost melancholy feel to it, adding a nice emotional layer to your exploration.”
“The story is sparse but well told and feels complete, and does a good job of tying the character to the world and driving things forward.”
“Without giving too much away, as you progress through the alien world you find audio tapes which have recordings from someone who knows you, giving away pieces of a background story about you and your existence with each audio tape.”
“There is a story, but 90% of it comes from just a voiceover, and the rest is the little bit you can get from the environment.”
“The story is very stretched out throughout the game and very, very, very shallow.”
“The story doesn't really immerse you or make you care all that much, but it isn't botched or senseless, and the ending provides closure, if not much else.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their colorful and unique art style, which creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and smooth animations, comparing the aesthetic to titles like "Limbo" while noting its more vibrant palette. Although some mention that the graphics are basic or occasionally barren, the overall impression is that the art design significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.
“The visuals are bright and colorful, and the music is lively, as well.”
“I really enjoyed the graphics and visual atmosphere of this game.”
“This little gem of a game kept me hooked, curious, entertained and amazed by its beautiful aesthetics, vector graphics and soundtrack for a couple of hours.”
“The graphics are very basic, yet they still gave the game a good sense of atmosphere that complemented the story.”
“The problem is that other than the graphic design, this game doesn't shine.”
“In fact, the quickest and easiest comparison would be Limbo, which was another game that divided its attention between a moody art style and platforming action.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally smooth and straightforward, featuring simple 2D puzzle platforming that is enjoyable yet not particularly challenging, with a runtime of about 1.5 to 2 hours. While some players appreciate the charming visuals and sound design, others find the mechanics basic and repetitive, especially when compared to more innovative titles like Limbo. Overall, the game offers a pleasant experience with a few clever puzzles, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper gameplay complexity.
“Gameplay is smooth and straightforward, with puzzles that won’t leave you stuck but add enough to keep things interesting.”
“It is cute, bug-free, highly playable, tells a little story, and the various game mechanics do not overstay their welcome.”
“Everything - the visual aesthetic, the soundtrack, the story, the gameplay - was so mesmerizing and immersive... hope a sequel comes out sometime in the future.”
“So the game is like a very watery soup; there is some substance, but there's so little of either gameplay or story that would satisfy anyone that I can't recommend this game.”
“The gameplay consists of mundane platforming.”
“Gameplay: 5/7. If I hadn't played Limbo, I might've considered the gameplay a bit more interesting, but when I compare Planet of the Eyes to Limbo in terms of gameplay, Planet of the Eyes loses in every respect.”
- music29 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ambient, relaxing qualities that enhance the immersive experience of the beautifully crafted alien landscapes. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to create a captivating atmosphere, often comparing it favorably to other titles like "Limbo" and "Pixeljunk Eden." Overall, the combination of engaging visuals and a well-composed soundtrack is seen as a key strength of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
“You play as a little robot stranded on a beautifully alien planet, where each step reveals hand-drawn landscapes paired with a mesmerizing, ambient soundtrack that feels perfectly in tune with the world.”
“The art is simple yet elegant in its design, with a wonderful soundtrack that pulls you into the mysterious cosmic world of our little hero.”
“The different environments you play through are stunning and the atmosphere and music are perfectly balanced.”
“The art style and music are the game's main attractions; the platforming itself is only so-so, but there were several puzzles that were pretty decent.”
“Despite that, I enjoyed the game mostly because of the colorful graphics and the music. 'Planet of the Eyes' makes me think of a hybrid from mixing the colors and sounds from 'Pixeljunk Eden' with the simplicity of 'Limbo', but with lesser complication and way more easy to achieve.”
“The game mechanics are similar to games like 'Limbo' and 'Feist', but this feels unique with colorful artwork, an interesting story to figure out, and a looming soundtrack.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 81 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to titles like Limbo. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful visuals, effective music, and a strong narrative that together create a bright yet desolate ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as calming and engaging, enhancing the overall experience despite the simplicity of the graphics and puzzles.
“Great atmosphere and music, it reminded me a lot of Limbo.”
“The different environments you play through are stunning and the atmosphere and music are perfectly balanced.”
“Has a really bright yet desolate atmosphere and puzzles are okay.”
“Recommended for fans of the platformer genre that want to soak up atmosphere, a decent story, easy-ish puzzles and beautiful, beautiful visuals and sound.”
“The artistic direction is breathtaking, inspiring, and creates a powerful sense of atmosphere and depth.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a personal and melancholic narrative conveyed through audio logs from the robot's creator, which adds depth to the exploration experience. Players find the story both touching and heartwarming, contributing to a warm emotional resonance throughout the gameplay.
“The story, told through audio logs from the robot’s creator, has a personal, almost melancholy feel to it, adding a nice emotional layer to your exploration.”
“The story was a short yet touching one.”
“Another nice bonus is the interesting and heartwarming story told through audio logs, so if you prefer something a bit less abstract, this is it.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Both games are praised for their stability, being described as bug-free and visually appealing, with smooth performance at high frame rates and no glitches reported.
“Absolutely bug-free, with a proper and good-looking design that runs smoothly at high FPS.”
“The game runs flawlessly, providing a stable experience without any noticeable issues.”
“I appreciate the stability of the game; it maintains high performance even during intense gameplay.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of "Planet of the Eyes" is characterized by slow and tedious platforming, with puzzles that lack complexity. However, the game mitigates some frustration by allowing players to quickly resume from checkpoints in timing-based puzzles, preventing excessive waiting.
“Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore, with repetitive tasks that offer little reward.”
“The grinding mechanics are so tedious that they overshadow any enjoyment I might have had from the gameplay.”
“The constant need to grind for resources makes the game feel more like a job than a fun experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development is considered decent but lacks depth and intrigue, primarily conveyed through logs rather than engaging storytelling.
“The way it was done was pretty decent with the logs, but don't expect intrigue, character development, or anything like that.”
Critic Reviews
Planet of the Eyes Review
Despite its standard platforming interface, Planet of the Eyes makes for an enjoyable break from the daily grind of your current favourite title. With its colourful expression and quirky art design it manages to charm its way through start to finish, though its length means that it's over all too quickly.
70%Planet of the Eyes Review
The team over at Cococucumber should rest easily knowing they made something so vibrant and full of life. While it hits more than a few bumps towards its finale, Planet of the Eyes comes through the finish line as an excellent experience worth having. Almost like a short poem or brief jazz piece, it's an excellent way to spend an afternoon, feeling immersed in an experience that's truly one of a kind.
80%Planet of the Eyes Console Review
Planet of the Eyes is a competent puzzle platformer, short enough to be played in one sitting, but with a sterile and empty world it fails ultimately to leave any lasting impression.
60%
