Polarity

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"Polarity is a clever action game with puzzle-platforming that offers an incredible single-player experience and a full-featured co-op campaign for 2 players, both with compelling gameplay, pretty visuals, and an ingenious soundtrack. The separate coop campaign features 15 levels and a kinetic 2-player versus mode. However, expect lots of grinding, some bugs, and laughter throughout."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,445 reviews

gameplay205 positive mentions

story93 negative mentions

gameplay
725 mentions
28 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Polarity" is often compared to "Portal," featuring a core mechanic of switching polarities to solve puzzles, but many reviewers note that it lacks the depth and challenge of its inspiration. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and find the puzzles enjoyable, others criticize the game for its short length, simplistic challenges, and buggy jumping mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and frustration, with potential for improvement in level design and mechanics utilization.
- “The level design is smart; gameplay is very good, the music is fantastic & inspired.”
- “Polarity has a cool mechanic and some really good use of the mechanic in their puzzles.”
- “The gameplay is solid, the physics are mostly solid (excluding bugs), the graphics are a bit lackluster, but are generally clean and consistent, it has trading cards, it's a good time and the game goes on sale enough to be worth its sale price.”
- “The real problem of the PC Steam version is the 'jump' mechanic: sometimes it doesn't work (referring to keyboard controls).”
- “Unfortunately, polarity feels like the beta version of a game that was developed in about a month by a single person, which brings us to the third reason: poor gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is rather lackluster.”
story
546 mentions
10 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The story in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting that it consists of little more than a brief setup and a few lines of text at the beginning and end. While some players appreciate the focus on puzzles over narrative, the lack of a compelling storyline leaves many feeling that the game lacks depth and purpose, often comparing it unfavorably to titles like Portal. Overall, the consensus is that the story is either non-existent or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The story is not the focus of the game; it's more just setting the stage.”
- “It is not a super in-depth story, but it tries to at least give a reason to why we are doing this instead of a game without any reason for doing these puzzles.”
- “The game doesn't have a lot in terms of story, which is perfect for this game because it keeps the game moving smoothly.”
- “The end of the game has a small dialogue sequence where the mystery man is talking to you but gives nothing to the story described on the home page.”
- “The plot is a joke: 'you are a hacker, win the game and I give you money' - there's no plot at all in the game besides the intro and when you beat the last level.”
- “There's really no narrative or story to what's going on.”
graphics
423 mentions
34 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as simplistic, unpolished, and reminiscent of late 90s or early 2000s aesthetics. While some appreciate the clean and minimalist design, others criticize the visuals as cheap and lacking variety, often comparing them unfavorably to more polished titles like Portal. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for an indie game, but they do not stand out and may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- “The graphics are easy on the eyes, simple, clean, and aesthetically appealing.”
- “The art style is very reminiscent of late 90's early 2000's games, whether that was intentional or not, it adds to the charm.”
- “I was very impressed by the slightly retro 3D graphics, cool art style, nice music, really well designed puzzles.”
- “The graphics are rather unpolished (more so the UI than the world graphics), and the level graphics have no variety.”
- “The main levels are offensively easy, the graphics are painful (look at a doorway or a button from the side!), the physics are glitchy, the story is so bad having no story would have been better, etc. I don't care if it's cheap, I say avoid it even if you can get it for free.”
- “It has worse graphics than an N64 game.”
music
213 mentions
30 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as ambient and soothing, providing a pleasant background that complements the puzzle-solving experience without being intrusive. While some players found the soundtrack forgettable or generic, others appreciated its calming qualities and retro electronic style, noting that it enhances the overall atmosphere of the game. However, there are criticisms regarding the limited variety and volume of the music, with some players opting to play their own music instead.
- “The level design is smart; gameplay is very good, the music is fantastic & inspired.”
- “The soundtrack has a nice ambient, soothing quality that I think really suits the gameplay.”
- “Great game, a very calming background song while you make your way through varying difficulty puzzles.”
- “The soundtrack is incredibly forgettable, but honestly it's nice background noise that doesn't assault your senses when you're figuring out how to solve the puzzles.”
- “The music and sound effects are poor.”
- “The music is underwhelming, and the graphics are entirely from 20+ years ago.”
stability
119 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, affecting core mechanics like jumping and movement, which can make gameplay frustrating and inconsistent. While some players report that the issues are not game-breaking, the overall experience is marred by graphical problems and unfinished design elements. Many reviewers suggest that the game could be enjoyable if these stability issues were addressed through updates.
- “This does puzzles very well, and it runs great.”
- “The game is almost bug-free; it handles pretty well.”
- “It runs great on low-end computers or high-end.”
- “That would be bad enough, but the game is also the most buggy, unfinished mess I have ever seen on Steam in nearly a decade of using the platform.”
- “The game is laughably made, being easily broken and I found glitches that would've been found in five minutes of actual playtesting, such as getting red batteries through blue gates by simply switching polarity halfway through and grabbing it again, and morphing through horizontal moving blocks by simply sitting in its way.”
- “Do you call mindlessly stumbling around unfinished levels with broken textures and general UI and mobility glitches thrilling?”
humor
58 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally perceived as lacking, especially when compared to titles like Portal, which is often referenced as a benchmark for humor in puzzle games. While some players find enjoyment and humor in local co-op play, many reviews highlight that the solo campaign feels short and uninspired, missing the charm and wit that could elevate the experience. Overall, the game is described as having moments of fun, particularly in multiplayer settings, but it ultimately falls short in delivering a consistent humorous experience.
- “Soulful, character-rich story with an emphasis on humor.”
- “Weell, I'm here to say that this is not as much fun by yourself unlike Portal 2, but when you play with a friend (or girlfriend/boyfriend) it's really fun and hilarious when they or you get mad because you're struggling at a certain level or being killed by the turrets one too many times in a row (happens a lot). So those people who say this isn't worth it don't have a humorous side or don't have any friends (jk). I would like to say that I would have bought this for $10 any day.”
- “When you start this game, read the 'read me' in-game :D it's funny.”
- “And I know it's not funny.”
- “And I know it's not funny.”
atmosphere
43 mentions
67 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its enjoyable and immersive qualities, often compared to classic titles like Portal, with a charming futuristic and old-school vibe. While the soundtrack can be repetitive, it effectively complements the gameplay, creating a satisfying mood for puzzle-solving. Overall, the game is recognized as a competent entry in the atmospheric puzzle genre, offering a nice blend of art style and sound design that enhances the experience.
- “The futuristic atmosphere, even with its simplicity, is kinda charming.”
- “This and the quiet, ambient soundtrack really creates a satisfying atmosphere which really sets a good mood to solving the puzzles.”
- “Great, immersive atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely the same; however, the game includes no portals at all, more like cubes and laser stuff mixed with some ninja-jump-skill way of playing.”
- “It is a very competent entry into what I would call the 'atmospheric puzzle game' genre.”
- “One could argue that it gives the game some sort of old school atmosphere.”
replayability
36 mentions
8 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that the single-player experience is short and unengaging, offering little incentive to replay. While some elements like collectibles and co-op modes provide a slight boost to replay value, the absence of features such as leaderboards and level creation significantly limits its appeal. Many players feel that without substantial improvements or additional content, the game fails to justify its price.
- “+ collectibles and achievements, as well as the co-op campaign, encourage replayability.”
- “If players could create their own levels and share them with the community on the Steam Workshop, it would improve the game's replay value.”
- “While this game was short, it was good, but if it was longer and had a different amount of replayability, it would be even better.”
- “No story or replay value.”
- “Finished in about an hour of casual play, but I don't really see it offering much single-player replay value.”
- “I don't recommend it; they made the price even higher and have fixed no issues with the game... it still feels like an alpha game at best, and for $10.99 for 1 hour of gaming really isn't worth it, especially when the game doesn't have any replayability.”
optimization
15 mentions
33 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it maintains a solid 60fps on older hardware, users report issues such as stuttering, jitteriness, and poor menu quality. There is minimal customization available, and some players experience headaches due to these performance inconsistencies, indicating that the game is not well-optimized overall.
- “The game looks simplistic and the performance remains at a solid 60fps.”
- “Performance is great too, solid 60fps all the time on a pretty old PC.”
- “Great performance even on my wooden PC.”
- “Barely any option customization, menus are in terrible quality, stuttering which causes frequent headaches, tedious and boring puzzles with no personality or motive to complete them. I do not recommend this game at all, although I feel like it's not completely unplayable at least if you don't mind the headaches.”
- “-somewhat jittery, even at 120fps on a 144hz g-sync monitor, either due to poor optimization or locked v-sync.”
- “-not the best optimized game.”
grinding
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with collectables often hidden in uninteresting locations and puzzles lacking personality or motivation. The movement mechanics can also feel cumbersome, leading to frustration, while menu navigation adds to the overall sense of tedium. Overall, the grinding experience detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the game.
- “This feels like a tedious requirement as hunting for the cubes is not particularly interesting and they are often hidden behind corners or in alcoves.”
- “None of the collectibles were hard to get, so I skipped some that were a long distance away because gathering that is not interesting, only tedious.”
- “Polarity mingles in tutorials from start to finish, as if testing my patience for repeating the same handful of puzzle types for hours on end, chuckling to itself at how cleverly it has hidden its simplicity by placing it within tediously large levels that have a habit of breaking halfway through and forcing you to restart.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a sense of accomplishment and intelligence while navigating the game's mechanics, which involve manipulating colored cubes and toggling polarities. This feeling of mastery contributes to an emotional connection with the gameplay, reminiscent of the satisfaction found in puzzle-solving experiences like those in the Portal series.
- “Made me feel like a genius.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with some puzzles being described as frustrating enough to detract from the overall experience.
- “Some puzzles feel so aggravating that I nearly cared about this cash grab.”
- “Some puzzles feel so aggravating that I nearly cared about this cash grab.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game lacks significant character development, with players noting a minimal focus on story and character arcs, primarily portraying the characters as robots engaged in repetitive testing without deeper narrative engagement.
- “Doesn't really go in for the story or character development (you are robots, who do these tests for... I dunno?).”