Prominence
- November 6, 2015
- Digital Media Workshop
- 9h median play time
"Prominence is a single-player Science Fiction Point and Click game with a sensational story and masterful visuals. As a lone adventurer, you must save the Letarri people and their new home after their interstellar mission goes awry. Solve challenging puzzles, discover clues, and hack computer systems to unravel the mystery and ensure their survival."
Reviews
- Engaging storyline with intriguing twists and a well-executed sci-fi theme.
- Logical puzzles that are enjoyable and not overly difficult, providing a satisfying challenge.
- High-quality graphics and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures.
- Clunky and frustrating control interface, making navigation and interaction cumbersome.
- Some puzzles and items can be difficult to find, leading to excessive pixel hunting and confusion.
- Technical issues such as crashes and inconsistent mouse controls detract from the overall experience.
- story115 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, featuring an engaging sci-fi narrative that unfolds through exploration and puzzle-solving, with many players appreciating its twists and immersive atmosphere. However, some critiques highlight its familiarity and occasional pacing issues, as well as a lack of sufficient backstory provided within the game itself. Overall, while the narrative has its strengths, including logical integration with gameplay, it also faces technical shortcomings that may detract from the experience for some players.
“The story is solid and with the different endings you can come back and experience it again :)”
“An interesting and fun point-and-click adventure game that tells a futuristic story about an interstellar mission gone wrong, and it is left to you to solve the mystery and save the mission.”
“The story aspect, too, is strong and compelling as well.”
“The plot was your average and somewhat 'ho-hum' as a usual sabotage plot is when used over and over.”
“I did feel I was missing some of the back story though; it drops you into a developed universe with very little background and doesn't really explain much by the end.”
“There's very little story, no characters to interact with, visually dull, and most of the time you are clueless trying to figure out what the next step is in fixing this broken down place.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming 3D design and attention to detail, while others find them dated and lacking advanced features. Many appreciate the aesthetic that recalls classic titles, though some note issues with resolution and graphical settings. Overall, the visuals are described as decent to good, complementing the engaging narrative and gameplay experience.
“Great ship design, very charming 3D graphics, and most importantly, a narrative that draws you through its entirety.”
“Crisp, clear graphics, some amazingly so.”
“The chipped yellow paint on the ladder in the elevator shaft, the natural beauty of the hydroponics lab with the large open window looking into space, the large brown CO2 tanks, and the awkward round thing that turns them on... the entire game has so much detail in the artwork - I don't know how the designers knew how to make it seem so real.”
“Graphics do feel dated in some instances, but this game is from 2015.”
“It looks really good and ran solid on my 1080p laptop but the option menu is basically non-existent with no graphic settings at all.”
“That said, though, graphics are very dated.”
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its strong integration with the story and sound design. While some lament that the music is limited to the menu, others highlight its haunting and memorable qualities that contribute significantly to the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack and ambient tracks are considered a standout feature, effectively setting the mood and complementing the game's visuals.
“The voice acting, which is crucial for the story, is strong, as is the original soundtrack.”
“This game is a real treat; the atmosphere is fantastic even with no other NPCs around the ship. The music and sound design really set the mood, and the backstory scattered around is interesting and engaging.”
“From the ship design to the characters you learn about during this game to the haunting music score, everything was so well thought out. This will be one of those games I will return to and play again just for the pure joy of it.”
“Music-7”
“The graphics are clear and crispy, the music and sounds not too intrusive but rather complementing the atmosphere.”
“This game is a real treat, atmosphere is fantastic even with no other NPCs around the ship, the music and sound design really set the moods and the backstory scattered around is interesting and engaging.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of enhanced classic mechanics set in a 3D science fiction environment, reminiscent of 90s and early 2000s adventure games like Myst. Players can explore freely with mouse-driven controls, though some may find the item-finding mechanics frustrating and the ending somewhat rushed compared to the midgame. Overall, the game offers a solid experience with clear goals and immersive elements, despite some minor drawbacks.
“It's an enhanced version of the mechanics of those older games in a science fiction setting.”
“Puzzles are not too hard usually and they make sense; the only small con is the game mechanic which takes some getting used to. It's similar to a 2D point-and-click game, but the environment itself is fully 3D, allowing you to look around and explore.”
“Seamless gameplay with clear goals while also allowing the player to roam freely - definitely no hand-holding!”
“While ending B feels satisfying, game development around the story's conclusion felt a little rushed compared to the higher quality midgame storyline and gameplay, regardless of which of the two endings I chose.”
“The developer also did not make any of the items easily spotable, which is evident from the fact that it took 35 minutes of the game to find the first item I needed, and to be honest that mechanic, the finding of items and tools, doesn't get any better.”
“It's well-written and adds a lot to the experience, because the in-game mechanics are so bad.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beautiful and haunting qualities, effectively immersing players in a mysterious space environment. The combination of clean graphics, engaging sound design, and an intriguing storyline enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature for those who appreciate a casual yet captivating adventure. Players particularly enjoy the sense of loneliness and exploration, which is complemented by light to moderate puzzle challenges.
“Great atmosphere, clean models, and interesting environment, intriguing storyline.”
“This game is a real treat; the atmosphere is fantastic even with no other NPCs around the ship. The music and sound design really set the mood, and the backstory scattered around is interesting and engaging.”
“The atmosphere is perfect; it is beautiful and haunting; the loneliness of space is palpable.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the branching storylines that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find it cumbersome to revisit earlier saves to experience different outcomes. Overall, many agree that the game lacks significant replay value, though it remains enjoyable.
“The branching story adds extra replay value, allowing players to explore different outcomes.”
“I usually prefer games with high replay value.”
“While the game has many strengths, it could benefit from more replayability.”
“The only strike against the game is that it doesn't really have replayability.”
“Not very replayable, but still well-spent money.”
“Branching story is a bit annoying to me as it means I have to load an earlier save to see the rest of the game, but for some that's extra replay value and is a plus.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is noted to be inconsistent, with some players finding the emotional moments lacking in depth and impact. However, it does offer valuable emotional insight into the narrative's backstory, enhancing the overall experience.
“It provided emotional insight into the mystery of how things came to be the way they are today.”
- stability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting occasional freezes and crashes, particularly when completing AI instructions too quickly. However, others have experienced a smooth gameplay experience with no bugs or glitches, suggesting that some issues may have been addressed in updates.
“I've encountered no bugs, no glitches, and no crashes, so the issues that contributed to the negative reviews have apparently been fixed.”
“The game runs smoothly without any interruptions, making for a seamless experience.”
“I've played for hours without a single crash, which is a testament to the game's stability.”
“The game does have some bugs; occasional freezes, a couple of crashes, and I notice you can sometimes run into problems if you complete instructions given by the AI too quickly.”
“I've encountered no bugs, no glitches, and no crashes, so the ones that have contributed to the negative reviews have apparently been fixed.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be somewhat inconsistent, with moments that feel clichéd or overly sentimental.
“The character development felt a bit forced and unrealistic at times.”
“I found the character arcs to be shallow and lacking depth.”
“The progression of the characters was predictable and uninspired.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with monotonous exploration of uninspired environments in search of clickable objects leading to frustration and early abandonment.
“The tedious moving through bland space rooms looking for clickable objects caused me to bail after an hour.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
“I spent hours doing the same repetitive tasks, and it quickly became boring and frustrating.”