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.
"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."
Beautiful art style and atmosphere that creates an engaging experience.
Simple yet enjoyable puzzles that are easy to understand and solve.
The game has a charming narrative delivered through audio logs, adding depth to the exploration.
Very short gameplay, typically completed in under two hours, which may not justify the price.
Lacks challenge, making it feel too easy for experienced players of the genre.
The story feels shallow and doesn't provide a strong emotional connection or resolution.
story
204 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The story in "Planet of the Eyes" is primarily conveyed through audio logs and environmental storytelling, creating a personal and somewhat melancholic atmosphere as players explore an alien world. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and charm of the narrative, others find it shallow and lacking in substance, with many noting that the story feels stretched and simplistic. Overall, the game offers a brief but engaging experience, though opinions vary on its depth and impact.
“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 compelling enough and the writer and narrators in particular did a great job with the narration/story parts of the game.”
“Planet of the Eyes is a short but well-polished game that tells the story of a 'wide-eyed' robot that crash lands on a mysterious planet.”
“A story or incentive to play this game are nonexistent.”
“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.”
graphics
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their colorful and unique art style, often compared to titles like "Limbo" but with a more vibrant aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the visuals as a standout feature, noting their ability to create an immersive atmosphere that complements the gameplay. While some mention the simplicity of the graphics, they generally agree that the art design is effective and enhances the overall experience.
“The low-poly art style is super colorful and evocative of an alien world; they did a top-notch job on the visuals.”
“The visuals are unique and together with the sound design really pull you into the experience.”
“The art style is sharp and original, and I liked the little robot, especially its swimming and dance animations.”
“The graphics are very basic, yet they still gave the game a good sense of atmosphere that complemented the story.”
“The art style is obviously more colorful, yet it still feels really basic and uninspired.”
“The problem is that other than the graphic design, this game doesn't shine.”
gameplay
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, often compared to titles like Limbo, featuring basic platforming and puzzle mechanics that are easy to grasp but lack depth and innovation. While some players appreciate the charming visuals and engaging story, many criticize the gameplay for being repetitive and lacking challenge, with a few unique mechanics that don't significantly enhance the experience. Overall, the game offers a short, casual playtime that may appeal to fans of the genre, but it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.
“Gameplay is smooth and straightforward, with puzzles that won’t leave you stuck but add enough to keep things interesting.”
“The gameplay moves efficiently from one puzzle to the next, and there are no gotcha moments where the game feels like it's being unfair.”
“The platforming mechanics are effectively used, and the puzzles, though easy, are varied and paced well such that the game flows well in a single sitting playthrough.”
“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.”
“The mood of the game crafted by Cococucumber is solid, but the gameplay just doesn’t measure up to even the most basic platformers out there.”
music
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of ambient and electronic sounds that complement the vibrant visuals. Many players find the soundtrack to be a standout feature, often describing it as relaxing, beautiful, and well-suited to the game's aesthetic, although some note it may not be particularly memorable. Overall, the combination of music and art creates a captivating environment that resonates with players, making it a key attraction despite the gameplay being considered simplistic.
“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 music ties everything together too.”
“The soundtrack is very pleasing to listen to, and does a wonderful job establishing the atmosphere.”
“The OST is okay, but it's not fantastic or as remarkable as some reviews make it seem, and the story is pretty wholesome at the end.”
“I do like the visual design of the game a lot, and the music is also fairly fitting, if not really all that memorable.”
“There's not a lot to it, whether you're talking storyline, puzzle difficulty, music, or gameplay; it's all rather simplistic.”
atmosphere
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
28%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating art style, sound design, and ability to evoke a sense of loneliness and intrigue, reminiscent of titles like "Limbo" and "Inside." While many reviewers appreciate the game's aesthetic and atmospheric qualities, some note that the depth of the story and gameplay can feel lacking. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and minimal storytelling creates a compelling experience, making it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric platformers.
“The artistic direction is breathtaking, inspiring, and creates a powerful sense of atmosphere and depth.”
“The different environments you play through are stunning and the atmosphere and music are perfectly balanced.”
“The soundtrack is very pleasing to listen to, and does a wonderful job establishing the atmosphere.”
“The start section I played through had the same 'spider' and puzzles from the start of Limbo, but just with far less atmosphere (I'm not really a fan of the visuals here) and with less precise controls.”
“I know I'm not the first person to say this, but this is simply a poorly executed clone of Limbo, with an attempt to add a sense of atmosphere and depth through audio logs - unfortunately, it all fell short.”
“Planet of the Eyes attempts to replicate Limbo's success, but lacks the kind of atmosphere and challenge that made Limbo good.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a personal and heartfelt narrative conveyed through audio logs, which adds depth to the exploration experience. Players find the story to be touching and wholesome, despite its simplicity, with well-acted dialogue that resonates emotionally. Overall, the game evokes warmth and a sense of joy, even amidst its darker themes.
“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.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
Overall, the game has minimal replayability, with many users noting that it offers a brief experience that lacks incentives to play again after completion. While some appreciate its platforming, puzzles, and story, the consensus is that there are better options available for the price, making it difficult to justify replaying.
“There is not much replay value, but it amazed me enough to truly recommend it for its platforming, puzzling, and story.”
“It's a brief game, and it hasn't got much replayability, but it's an excellent experience for all its brevity.”
“It’s cheap, but there is almost zero replayability unless you missed an achievement, and for the money it costs (6€), there are better games out there.”
“This is a decent casual game; it has no replay value and only lasts an hour and a half.”
“Would play again, except no replay value :)”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable due to its relatively short length, which prevents excessive tedium. However, the platforming is criticized for being unimaginative and occasionally tedious, while the simplicity of the puzzles may not provide enough challenge to engage players fully. The timing-based puzzles are noted for their user-friendly design, allowing for smoother progression without frustrating delays.
“However, Planet of the Eyes' platforming is unimaginative at best and slow and tedious at its worst, while even the most complex puzzles in Planet of the Eyes are just too simple.”
“The platforming can get a little tedious, and I was able to complete it in about 2 hours.”
“The game isn't too long, which is a decent enough choice because it stops the gameplay from becoming too tedious and repetitive.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a key feature, with players finding it genuinely funny and enjoyable, particularly during moments of character mishaps and unexpected interactions. The lighthearted tone and amusing mechanics contribute to a pleasurable gaming experience, making it a great choice for casual play, especially during relaxed moments.
“This is a funny, but simple platformer.”
“Nice and funny game, that was a pleasure to play on a Sunday hangover :D”
“The absolute best part of the game is what happens when you hit the 'y' button on the controller (not sure what the keyboard equivalent would be... try hitting random buttons!) made me laugh out loud and I'm still grinning just thinking about it ;D”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
Both games are praised for their exceptional 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 good-looking design and a lovely smooth run at high FPS.”
“The game runs incredibly smoothly, maintaining high FPS without any noticeable bugs.”
“I experienced no crashes or glitches, making for a stable and enjoyable gaming experience.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is considered decent but lacks depth and intrigue, with players noting that while the main character's design and movement are well-executed, the overall narrative and character progression do not meet expectations. The atmosphere is enhanced by sound and graphics, but these elements do not compensate for the limited character development.
“The sound, graphic environment, and voiceover provided a very good atmosphere, and I felt the main character design and movement were very well done.”
“The way it was done was pretty decent with the logs, but don't expect intrigue, character development, or anything like that.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that the $10 price point is unjustified for the content offered.
“At $10, I would have to say this is a cash grab at best.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall.”