Pulse

31%
Game Brain Score Based on 28 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Pulse Game Cover
Pulse, if nothing else, doesn't feel finished. It feels like an alpha build that got pushed out so early it may have upset Early Access customers. While it obviously has potential (it's walked away with awards, after all), it feels largely incomplete, and like it should have been pushed through play-testing a bit further. If it gets some more depth, or, at least, if the depth it has gets fixed up and becomes more cohesive, it may live up to a lot of the hype it's generated. Until then, it's a game that exemplifies that just because an idea is good, it doesn't mean the product will be.
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"Pulse" is a first-person exploration game featuring a protagonist, Eva, who lost her sight and navigates the world through sound. Players uncover the truth of a collapsing world using Eva's unique ability and with help from forest spirits, all while experiencing a beautiful thematic soundtrack. The game offers a unique visual style with handcrafted environments and a transitent world to explore.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

31%
Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews
story4 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Incredible visuals and art direction that create a unique atmosphere in each level.
  • Lovely soundtrack that adds personality and charm to the experience.
  • Interesting story concept with a mysterious world that captivates players.
  • Very short gameplay length, often leaving players with many unanswered questions about the story and mechanics.
  • Poorly designed narrative with vague dialogue that can be difficult to follow.
  • Frustrating gameplay mechanics, including imprecise jumping and confusing navigation that can lead to disorientation.
  • story21 mentions

    The game's story features an intriguing concept centered around a crow that provides vague guidance, leading to a narrative that many players find confusing and lacking clarity. While some appreciate the dark and mysterious elements, others feel the brevity and nonsensical aspects detract from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the story is noted for its unique approach and emotional resonance, particularly in its conclusion.

    • “The story is mysterious, though not completely unexplained.”
    • “The story revolves around helping the guide, simply by following its path and finding our way out of the hell of each level, and listening to the guide explain its dreams and memories as we try to piece together what happened.”
    • “I really love the concept and the story, and the use of color and sound is so great.”
    • “I didn't really understand the story other than the general gist of it.”
    • “The story was a bit confusing; I dare say it's almost intentional that the story doesn't even make sense until it's over.”
    • “The story was a bit nonsensical to me, and the game was very short too.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by unique thematic levels that create an immersive atmosphere, but many players feel that new mechanics and environments lack sufficient development time. While the concept is intriguing, issues such as frustrating mechanics, imprecise controls, and a short playtime detract from the overall experience. Despite some enjoyable elements like sound design and visuals, the gameplay often leaves players wanting more depth and polish.

    • “Each level has a unique theme, both mechanically and visually, and they really nail the atmosphere of never fully knowing your surroundings, in a good way.”
    • “Still a very unique and interesting gameplay concept.”
    • “The problem that comes with 'seeing' using echolocation does not really frustrate over the short duration of the game and is balanced out by the wonderful sound design and interesting mechanics.”
    • “Any new gameplay mechanic you're introduced to, or new environment, doesn't get enough time to flesh out or breathe.”
    • “The gameplay can be extremely frustrating.”
    • “There was seemingly no real affection put into the gameplay design, the plot, or the art.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their incredible visuals and unique art direction, featuring psychedelic elements and vibrant colors that create a visually striking experience. However, some players find the aesthetics overwhelming, likening them to a chaotic blend of 70s influences. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they may not appeal to everyone, especially those sensitive to intense visual stimuli.

    • “Incredible visuals and art direction.”
    • “The art style is similar to titles like Meadow and Shelter, but with flashing bright colors and a see-through, pulsing landscape.”
    • “Graphics are great, the music is nice, and the spirits are adorable.”
    • “There are people here praising the visuals, but aside from the idea that theoretically a world built around pulsations of movement could be interesting, it just looks like LSD vomited the 70s all over the screen.”
    • “I joked with a friend about getting the 'full experience' because I was guiding myself by the sound effects instead of the visuals.”
    • “Just make sure that your graphics card will handle the game.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its lovely and atmospheric quality, with many users highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Descriptions include terms like "great," "nice," and "chill," indicating that it is both enjoyable and memorable, with some players even opting to download it.

    • “This game gets a gold star, great soundtrack, too!”
    • “The soundtrack was great to listen to.”
    • “I have downloaded the soundtrack and like it, it's very chill.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique thematic levels that blend mechanical and visual elements, creating an immersive experience where players often feel disoriented yet engaged. The combination of a funky visual style and a stellar atmospheric soundtrack further enhances the overall beauty and depth of the game's environment.

    • “Each level has a unique theme, both mechanically and visually, and they really nail the atmosphere of never fully knowing your surroundings, in a good way.”
    • “This game is beautiful and very atmospheric.”
    • “Super innovative concept, funky visual style, and a stellar atmospheric soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
    • “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the game fails to create a compelling atmosphere that draws you in.”
    • “The world feels lifeless and disconnected, making it hard to engage with the game's setting.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspects of the game, particularly the achievements involving drowning and throwing mokos, to be tedious and time-consuming, often taking longer than completing the main game itself. This has led to frustration among users who are eager to achieve 100% completion.

    • “There are two grindy achievements: 'Drown 50 Mokos' (the hamsters) and 'Throw 1000 Mokos'... this is going to take some time. It's just sad to think it will take you more time to finish this than to finish the game.”
    • “Which is very tedious, and if anyone knows how many exactly are in each level, hit me up because I'd love to 100% this gem.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users express frustration with the emotional impact of feeling trapped and disoriented in the game due to bugs, which detracts from their overall experience and can lead to feelings of sickness and annoyance. This sense of being stuck not only disrupts immersion but also heightens negative emotions associated with gameplay.

  • stability1 mentions

    Players have reported significant stability issues, particularly when exploring off the main paths, leading to bugs that can cause disorientation and frustration. This often results in getting stuck or having to navigate blindly, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “What annoyed me the most was that it seemed like you could go somewhere (like a huge forest on the side of the road), but if you tried, it would get all buggy, which made me feel even more sick. I would get stuck and had to jump and run blindly until I either found my way back to the working map or was killed by the game for going too far off course.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience. I lost progress multiple times due to these stability issues.”
    • “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted gameplay, such as characters getting stuck in the environment or textures not loading properly, which really detracted from the overall immersion.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    While the game is visually impressive and well-crafted, many users feel that it lacks sufficient replay value and content to justify its price.

    • “The game is very well made and absolutely stunning to look at, but there just isn't enough replay value or content for me to see that price being justifiable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

47% average critic score

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