q.u.q.
- February 26, 2023
- motijan
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"q.u.q." is a single-player game with an interesting plot, featuring a girl on a journey through the desert, dragging a giant gun and facing many obstacles. The game boasts stellar visuals inspired by retro games, a fabulous soundtrack, and plenty of humor. With 9 endings, varied ways to die, and a focus on exploration and decision-making, this game promises an engaging and immersive experience.
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Reviews
- The game features gorgeous art and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The story, while short, is engaging and offers a unique blend of surrealism and humor, making it memorable.
- The characters, especially Hacchi and the Stranger, are well-designed and add charm to the narrative.
- The game is very short, which leaves some players wanting more depth and development in the story and characters.
- Some endings can be unsatisfying or confusing, requiring players to rely on guides to achieve all outcomes.
- The writing can feel disjointed and lacks coherence at times, making it difficult for some players to fully grasp the narrative.
- story146 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as intriguing yet often confusing, with a mix of simple and surreal elements that leave much open to interpretation. While some players appreciate the unique art style and emotional depth, many criticize the rushed pacing, unsatisfying endings, and a lack of character development, leading to a feeling of incompleteness. Overall, the narrative is seen as a blend of potential and frustration, with a strong artistic presentation that may not fully compensate for its storytelling shortcomings.
“Amazing story with a beautiful presentation.”
“Very short and interesting story - I enjoyed how the story gives a lot to work off but also leaves a lot to interpretation, and the setting was really intriguing.”
“A wonderful experience that treads well along the line of self-aware comedy and a solemn story, the art is beautiful and so is the music.”
“As it is, the story is on the brink of being incomprehensible, and doesn't pack enough of a punch thematically, having to rely on tropes to kind of 'fast-track' the player's emotional response.”
“The art is nice, but the story kind of lacks; the idea behind the game had a lot of potential. I even have the courage to say that it was capable of becoming an insanely good game, but sadly it got rushed (or so it feels).”
“The story doesn't make sense, and finding the right combination of choices (that appear to be random) is annoying and leads to repetition in an already short game.”
- music106 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and emotional depth, with many players praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. The original soundtrack is noted for its fitting atmosphere, unique style, and effective use in conveying the game's themes, making it a memorable aspect of the visual novel. However, some players have pointed out minor issues with music looping and integration during gameplay, which slightly detracts from the otherwise immersive experience.
“A superbly surreal visual novel experience, the music and visuals immerse you in a trance and don't let go until the credits.”
“The music, which I rushed to buy after completion because I liked it that much, helps to convey the proper beats, from emptiness and hopelessness to on-the-nose quirkiness and mystery. The music isn't conventionally anything new but is executed very well with range to spare on its key moments and characters.”
“A very great game, it's very atmospheric and full of artistic vibe; the story brought a tear to my eye, especially along with the emotional, well-made music.”
“The story opens with a dramatic music sequence filled with bland still images that do not at all mesh with how much the game is trying to hype itself up.”
“Some of the music does not loop seamlessly and thus the moment it restarts is completely audible.”
“Players have the option of skipping ahead to the next choice as a way of making repeat playthroughs faster, but all the sound effects and music changes still play in rapid succession while the game is skipping; just absolutely horrible to listen to.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and striking art style, which effectively conveys a desolate and surreal atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as a standout feature, often comparing them to other notable works and appreciating their ability to immerse players in the game's world. The accompanying soundtrack is also noted for complementing the visuals, enhancing the overall experience despite some confusion regarding the story.
“I'm really a fan of the art style in this game; it's very simple but quite striking and really sells the desolate apocalyptic desert setting and macabre mood.”
“Absolutely gorgeous visuals and sound that work together wonderfully.”
“The art style is wonderfully unique, and a lot of the environments are nice, although I wish there were more close-up/detailed CGs.”
“I still think it's worth playing, if only to appreciate the visuals and soundtrack - but I can't help but feel like Q.U.Q.”
“The art style, albeit rather similar to visual novels beforehand like Milk, had its very own unique twist with its environments, but also character designs that felt natural to the world, but none too similar so it was always nice to see what the next introduced character would look like.”
“The story itself calls upon the player to piece it together, but the art style, soundtrack, and unusual cast of characters do well enough at immersing the player in a quirky, yet desolate world.”
- humor33 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of silly, crude, and absurdist elements, often leading to laugh-out-loud moments, particularly in the side endings. While many players appreciate the comedic writing and its integration with the game's atmosphere, some feel that the serious tones can overshadow the humor, leaving them wanting more comedic content. Overall, the game is noted for its quirky humor, intriguing storyline, and unique art style, though its brevity is a common point of critique.
“Great game, great soundtrack, good humor in there too; my only complaint is that there isn't more of it.”
“On the good side, all of the side endings are so ridiculous to the point that they are funny and broke me for some moments.”
“The writing is very funny, and the music fits the atmosphere.”
- emotional18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of responses, with some players finding it heartwarming and impactful, particularly due to its atmospheric art and music. However, others feel that the story lacks depth and relies on tropes to evoke emotional reactions, leading to a disconnect with character development. Overall, while the game successfully blends humor with poignant moments, opinions vary on its effectiveness in delivering a cohesive emotional experience.
“A very great game, it's very atmospheric and full of artistic vibe, the story brought a tear to my eye especially along with the emotional, well-made music.”
“I was waiting a lot for this game and I love it, I love every ending even though it made me cry a little bit, I love the OST as I expected and I really enjoyed it.”
“The art, the style, the lore, the music, everything about it was so heartwarming.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay spans about an hour to an hour and a half, offering an intriguing experience, particularly for fans of obscure indie games. However, it suffers from a lack of balance, with trial and error mechanics that disrupt the narrative flow and overall enjoyment. Despite its flaws, many players find it a memorable experience worth the low price.
“The game clocks out to about an hour of gameplay with all endings and is thoroughly interesting throughout.”
“Dude, for 3 dollars, this game is so worth the experience. It is like an hour and a half of gameplay, and in that time, it really manages to burn itself into your memory.”
“This extravagant start then gives way to an extremely haphazard experience that just does not balance its gameplay elements at all, which explains the arbitrary tone of that introduction.”
“Similarly, while the game tries to build up some form of a plot throughout this experience, it abruptly ruins that by introducing stark trial and error gameplay elements via the choice options.”
“If you like weird obscure indie games that don't necessarily have gameplay, I definitely recommend giving it a try!”
- character development8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
While the game features stunning art and unique character designs that enhance the visual experience, reviewers express disappointment in the depth of character development and storytelling, suggesting that those seeking more substantial narratives may want to look elsewhere. The characters are visually appealing, but their development lacks the complexity and sensibility that some players desire.
“The art style, albeit rather similar to visual novels beforehand like Milk, had its very own unique twist with its environments, and character designs that felt natural to the world. It was always nice to see what the next introduced character would look like.”
“The color palette and character designs are great, especially with the stranger's odd look.”
“Gorgeous art, character design, and music.”
“To those who want a sensible story and character development, however, I suggest reading something of greater substance.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as dreamy and artistic, enhanced by emotional music that resonates with the story. Reviewers appreciate the intentional vagueness that contributes to this ambiance, alongside humorous writing that complements the overall experience.
“There is some part of this game that can be chalked down to that, but in my opinion, that vagueness is intentional and adds to the dreamy atmosphere.”
“A very great game, it's very atmospheric and full of artistic vibe; the story brought a tear to my eye, especially along with the emotional, well-made music.”
“The writing is very funny, and the music fits the atmosphere perfectly.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the ending and choice system that often requires the use of a guide, detracting from the overall experience. While some appreciate the game's artistic qualities, many feel that the effort required to navigate through the grinding elements makes it less enjoyable and harder to recommend.
“Boasts some decent style but is overall just a messy and tedious experience; one which does not feel worth the trouble of slogging through to witness its full breadth.”
“My only complaint with this game is the ending/choice system; I felt like it made the player obligated to use a guide, which made it feel a bit tedious and took away from the flow of the beautiful story. I wish this wasn't a problem as it makes it harder to recommend to other people.”
“9/10, if you have an appreciation for great art and feel, enjoy well-made RPG Maker games (like Off and Wadanohara and The Great Blue Sea), and don't mind going through some tediousness for a bit, absolutely go for this game.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its high replayability, with users comparing it favorably to similar visual novels like milk². Its stylized design and engaging content encourage players to revisit the experience multiple times.
“Replayability is also a factor.”
“As a highly replayable and stylized visual novel in a similar vein to milk² (although I like this more).”
