Project Earth
- October 4, 2021
- anstabo
- 3h median play time
"Project Earth" is a resource management and navigation game where you turn Earth into a spaceship to escape a dying sun. Manage resources to produce fuel, steer the planet with keys, and scavenge extra fuel from nearby planets using a mouse. A demo of this game is available for free on Steam, preferably downloaded rather than played in WebGL for better performance.
Reviews
- Incredibly fun 3D platformer with great physics and level design.
- The low barrier of entry makes it accessible to a wide range of players, while the high skill ceiling keeps it challenging.
- The game features a variety of creative levels and mechanics, providing a satisfying sense of speed and momentum.
- The grappling tongue mechanic can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments and a lack of control.
- Some levels can feel overly long or tedious, especially in later worlds, which may detract from the overall experience.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling it doesn't justify the full price.
- gameplay194 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique mechanics, primarily involving jumping and a tongue-based grappling system, which can be both fun and frustrating. While many players appreciate the fast-paced, physics-driven platforming and the variety of levels, there are consistent complaints about the inconsistency of the grappling mechanic and the overall level design, leading to moments of frustration. Overall, the game offers an engaging experience with potential for enjoyment, but its execution can detract from the fun, especially in later levels.
“From its stunning visuals to its innovative gameplay mechanics, this game is a true masterpiece.”
“With its addictive gameplay, replayable levels, and endless secrets to uncover, this is a game that you'll find yourself coming back to time and time again.”
“The gameplay involves navigating through unstable platforms, swinging with the tongue, and progressing through exciting levels filled with unexpected destructions.”
“Although I really like the gameplay, I can't get past the inconsistent performance.”
“The visuals are great and there are fun moments, but I'm just too frustrated with some of the mechanics to recommend it.”
“I refunded this game after half an hour due to the grapple mechanics being far too inconsistent for my liking.”
- graphics67 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and colorful aesthetic, with a cute art style that enhances the overall experience. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players noted issues with depth perception and optimization, particularly on lower-end devices. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's appeal, showcasing a blend of fun designs and smooth animations.
“The graphics are colorful and cute, and you can find various skins for your slime character hidden throughout the levels.”
“The attention to detail in the game's visuals is commendable, as the crumbling world is brought to life with stunning textures and smooth animations.”
“The game’s graphics are amazing, and the creator went for a fun, cell-shaded look which looks absolutely amazing, especially in the world with the colorful, old buildings.”
“Cons: bad mechanics, repetitive music, graphics that hurt your eyes even on ultra.”
“You can tell that it's designed from the bottom up where graphics come second, because they are the bare minimum to convey the gameplay mechanics on show here.”
“Grappling controls can be clunky as hell, and the graphics have pretty bad optimization at times (I have an Nvidia Quadro P4000 and some sections still have bad lag).”
- music64 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy and varied soundtrack that complements the game's whimsical aesthetic, while others criticize it as bland or repetitive, likening it to "old timey clown music." Many appreciate the emotional impact of certain tracks, particularly during key gameplay moments, but some feel that the music lacks the intensity needed to match the gameplay's pace. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it may not resonate with all players, leading to a somewhat polarized reception.
“The music is also catchy and has a nice variety.”
“The cartoon character and light-hearted style make it instantly likable and the soundtrack is enjoyable and fits with the peculiar setting.”
“The music is great and complements the game very well; very skill-based gameplay and movement, also the game runs like butter when most stuff on my weak PC has been freezing a lot lately; it's just a ton of fun all around and has made me laugh a lot even in the times that it's difficult.”
“The music is so bad, it sounds like old-timey clown music at the best of times.”
“The music is so bargain basic and boring.”
“My least favorite thing so far has been the soundtrack, which reminds me of the kind of generic music you'd find in discount mini-game collections made for young kids.”
- story29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 34 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely absent, with many players noting that there is no traditional narrative or dialogue to follow. While the visual storytelling and stunning landscapes evoke strong emotions, the gameplay is primarily focused on platforming challenges rather than a cohesive plot. Some players appreciate the lack of a story, finding it suitable for a casual gaming experience, while others express a desire for more narrative depth.
“The visual storytelling here is amazing, and some of the landscapes look stunning; some scenes just wow you. Stuff like that gets me so giddy.”
“His quest is a noble one.”
“Great game, honestly pretty good for speedrunning, and also pretty cute and has a storyline if you can put it together properly.”
“This game has no story.”
“There's no story or dialogue from any of the characters, not even in fake language like there was in Tunic.”
“There is literally no story in the game.”
- replayability23 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game boasts significant replayability, highlighted by addictive gameplay, speedrunner modes, hidden levels, and collectibles that encourage players to improve their skills and times. While the main story may be short, the variety of unique stages and performance-based challenges provide ample content for players to return to. Overall, it offers a compelling mix of fun mechanics and incentives for repeated play.
“With its addictive gameplay, replayable levels, and endless secrets to uncover, this is a game that you'll find yourself coming back to time and time again.”
“All in all, worth the money especially since it offers tremendous replay value by trying to find new ways to beat your best time or the time of other players.”
“Including performance-based stars and unlockable bonus levels adds replay value and incentivizes players to improve their skills and achieve better precise times.”
“There is plenty of content here, probably around 10 hours worth, and there is plenty of replayability with hidden secrets and speedrunning leaderboards.”
“All in all worth the money especially since it offers tremendous replay value by trying to find new ways to beat your best time or the time of other players.”
- humor13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its whimsical and chaotic elements, such as the hilarious cannon sections and the unpredictable mechanics of the slime character, which often lead to amusing accidents and unexpected moments of speed. Players find the game consistently funny, with its lighthearted tone and entertaining gameplay providing plenty of laughs, even amidst challenging segments. Overall, the humor enhances the fun factor, making it an enjoyable experience despite occasional frustrations.
“The sections where you get to just roll really fast through massive lanes are among the most fun and interesting parts; also, the sections with the cannons are hilarious.”
“The music is great and complements the game very well. It's very skill-based gameplay and movement, and the game runs like butter. It's just a ton of fun all around and has made me laugh a lot, even in the times that it's difficult.”
“A small circle shows where your tongue will go if you press the swing button, but it's hilariously inconsistent and only shows up 10% of the time, so you'll be mostly praying for your tongue to go where you want it to go, and you'll never be sure if you're in range.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the charming graphics and solid performance, others report inconsistent performance issues and lag, particularly with certain hardware configurations. There is potential for improvement through tweaks and bug patches, which could enhance the experience, especially for those interested in speedrunning and achieving better performance-based rewards.
“Including performance-based stars and unlockable bonus levels adds replay value and incentivizes players to improve their skills and achieve better precise times.”
“The graphics are charming and the performance of the game was top notch, especially given the physics of everything.”
“With some tweaks, bug patches, and more game optimization, it would be even better than it already is.”
“Although I really like the gameplay, I can't get past the inconsistent performance.”
“I've been starting it on and off for two days now, and the performance issues are consistent.”
“Grappling controls can be clunky, and the graphics have pretty bad optimization at times (I have an Nvidia Quadro P4000, and some sections still have bad lag).”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant patience and effort to achieve goals. While some enjoy the challenge, particularly speedrunners, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks and the difficulty of certain mechanics, such as grappling and wall climbing.
“I like the idea but it's tedious as hell; I lost my patience super quick.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It is an incredibly tedious task, trying to find every skin in the game.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players acknowledging the effort put into it while others criticize it as a cash grab, particularly due to its inclusion in low-quality game bundles that mislead consumers. Overall, the game is seen as flawed but not entirely exploitative, though concerns about ethical practices persist.
“To double down on this unethical attempt to dupe gamers into paying for something available for free, they also dumped this into cheap, nasty game bundles as a further cash grab/scam attempt, misleading both gamers and the bundle sellers.”
“There's clearly effort behind this game; it's a flawed project but far from a cash grab.”
- stability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for frequent glitches and unpolished segments that can disrupt gameplay, particularly in a key level, leading to frustrating restarts. However, it runs well on the Steam Deck, though the swinging mechanic is inconsistent, affecting player control and experience.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“I love stuff like this in other games, like Super Meat Boy and Crash Bandicoot, but here it was only one level and the level ends with a very unpolished segment with frequent glitches that will launch me to my death, ruining the 4-minute run and making me start over.”
“The game is pretty short, and the swinging mechanic is pretty buggy. Sometimes you can grab an item super close, other times far away, and other times neither.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the player's experience of frustration and triumph, as the physics-based mechanics create a sense of immersion and challenge. Players feel a mix of satisfaction when successfully navigating obstacles and disappointment when they lose momentum, reflecting the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses through its gameplay dynamics.
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is highlighted by the charming design of the slime protagonist, which adds a whimsical element to the game and enhances the overall experience.
“The character design, particularly the ball of slime protagonist, is charming and adds a touch of whimsy to the overall experience.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally considered effective, with music and overall ambiance contributing positively, despite the graphics being described as merely adequate.
“The graphics are serviceable, but the music and atmosphere truly elevate the experience.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in and makes you feel part of the world.”
“The haunting soundtrack combined with the detailed environments creates an unforgettable atmosphere.”
“The graphics are serviceable, but the music and atmosphere feel lackluster and do not enhance the experience.”
“The atmosphere is bland and fails to immerse players in the game world.”
“While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere is uninspired and does not evoke any strong emotions.”