Qora
- October 2, 2014
- Holden Boyles
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Qora is a critically-acclaimed 2014 single-player Fantasy Musical game, known for its interesting plot, good mechanics, splendid graphics, and music. Explore mysterious landscapes and harness hidden powers in this story-driven, absorbing pixel-art adventure, which leaves a lasting impression with its intriguing world and profound themes."
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Beautiful pixel art and a relaxing soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere.
- The game offers a unique storytelling experience with quirky dialogue and intriguing characters.
- Qora provides a contemplative journey that can evoke a sense of wonder and appreciation for its visuals.
- The gameplay is extremely slow and lacks meaningful interaction, making it feel tedious.
- The ending is widely criticized for being unsatisfactory and undermining the narrative built throughout the game.
- The humor often feels out of place and detracts from the overall tone, leading to a disjointed experience.
- story82 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in the game is often described as intriguing and visually captivating, with a focus on atmosphere and character interactions rather than deep gameplay mechanics. While some players appreciate the narrative's potential and humor, others criticize the writing quality and pacing, feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen more as an interactive storytelling experience than a traditional game, appealing to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay.
“The world of Qora is full of intrigue and mystery, and the story is an absorbing, story-driven experience that will leave a lasting impression.”
“The gameplay consists of walking, talking to other characters, experiencing both an intriguing story and a beautiful world.”
“Incredible visuals with a captivating storyline!”
“The story of an ancient queen who burned through her followers to reach the source of an ultimate power could have been compelling if not for every cutscene with speech, as the dialogue made the queen and company sound like a third-rate Disney villain with the requisite whiny henchmen.”
“There are no puzzles, no story to speak of, and whilst the art is nice, there are basically four zones, each filled with the same uninteresting repeated assets.”
“What really kills the game for me, though, is the nigh-schizophrenic weirdness of the story elements.”
- music57 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, complementing the beautiful pixel art and enhancing the overall experience. While many players appreciate the serene and charming soundtrack, some note its repetitiveness and simplicity, which can lead to irritation over time. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's mood and immersion, despite some criticisms regarding its memorability and variation.
“The game features gorgeous pixel-art graphics and a wonderful low-fi soundtrack that perfectly punctuates the setting.”
“The music is simply breathtaking, the environments are varied and beautiful, and the entire journey just felt so rewarding.”
“Gorgeous pixel graphics and beautifully composed music combine to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.”
“Better dialogue with actual effect on the text and color, music that doesn't always work around two chords.”
“Also, while I do find many songs on the soundtrack to be charming, the MP3s are very short.”
“Same with the music, there were some pretty themes, but the repetition quickly irritated me.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in this game is largely criticized for being minimal and tedious, with many reviewers noting that it consists mainly of walking, simple interactions, and linear progression rather than engaging mechanics or challenges. While the visuals and storytelling are praised, the lack of meaningful gameplay elements leads to a repetitive and passive experience that may not satisfy players seeking more interactive gameplay. Overall, it is recommended primarily for those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences rather than traditional gameplay.
“The gameplay consists of walking, talking to other characters, experiencing both an intriguing story and a beautiful world.”
“There is something that works really well in Qora: despite the extremely mundane gameplay, the game strongly feels like a journey.”
“While the artwork is stunning, the narrative and gameplay is awful.”
“Beautiful art and music, but absolutely no gameplay whatsoever.”
“There isn't much in terms of 'gameplay' - mostly walking around with occasional dialogue and simple environmental interactions.”
“The gameplay is practically nonexistent, with the pace of the game being so slow that to cross a single screen can literally drain you of the will to live.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous pixel-art style and vibrant colors, creating an immersive and atmospheric experience that enhances the storytelling. While many players appreciate the beautiful visuals and low-fi soundtrack, some criticize the lack of gameplay interaction and find the art style monotonous at times. Overall, the aesthetic is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite mixed feelings about other aspects.
“The game features gorgeous pixel-art graphics and a wonderful low-fi soundtrack that perfectly punctuates the setting.”
“Gorgeous pixel graphics and beautifully composed music combine to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.”
“What made this game appeal so much to me was the imaginative setting, great visuals, and atmosphere.”
“The problem here is that because the visuals are so tiny, the camera is fully zoomed-out.”
“I don’t know, the advertised screenshots were pretty, but I quickly found the visuals monotonous.”
“First on the visual elements—I found the art style underwhelming.”
- humor20 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "qora" is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the quirky and weird dialogue while others find it forced and cringeworthy. Many reviews highlight that the attempts at humor often detract from the game's overall aesthetic and contemplative nature, with some jokes feeling out of place or overly edgy. Overall, while there are moments of charm and wit, the humor tends to polarize players, with a significant number feeling it undermines the game's deeper themes.
“The characters you interact with in the town are just so funny and interesting.”
“I love the graphics, the music, the atmosphere, and of course the weird humor.”
“It does a good job of balancing the humor, weirdness, and the ghostly references of past adventurers' deeds.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautiful world, enhanced by stunning visuals and a fitting soundtrack that evokes a range of emotions from relaxation to curiosity. While some players appreciate the imaginative setting and atmospheric storytelling, others feel that the inclusion of humor detracts from the overall experience. Despite minor bugs, the game's attention to detail and serene ambiance make it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric adventure and exploration games.
“Overall, I highly recommend Qora to fans of adventure and exploration games, as well as anyone who loves beautiful, atmospheric game worlds.”
“What made this game appeal so much to me was the imaginative setting, great visuals, and atmosphere.”
“Gorgeous pixel graphics and beautifully composed music combine to create a magical, otherworldly atmosphere.”
“However, silly 'random' humor and recycled jokes kill the atmosphere at every turn.”
“Also, this is just me, but the game would have been a lot more interesting if it had been thought-provoking in some way (I thought it was going to be given the atmosphere of the game).”
“The atmosphere, the general tone, and emotions I got while playing was a mix of relaxation and serenity, curiosity, and amusement.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with slow movement mechanics detracting from the overall experience. While the visuals and soundtrack are praised, the repetitive and sluggish gameplay makes it difficult for many to recommend the game, especially for those seeking a more dynamic experience.
“+ No tedious backtracking!”
“It makes the game's main purpose, contemplation, tedious.”
“It's charming and visually beautiful, but the gameplay gets very tedious very quickly.”
“Don't buy it if you're looking for something exciting and speedy - this game will just seem tedious.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Qora features multiple endings that encourage players to explore the game again, enhancing its replayability. However, some users feel that the game lacks significant replay value due to its short length, suggesting it may only be worth revisiting for those interested in unlocking special features.
“With multiple endings, Qora offers replayability and a reason to explore the game all over again.”
“The game has great replay value due to its diverse choices and outcomes.”
“Each playthrough reveals new secrets and experiences, making you want to dive back in.”
“The game is for sale for €10, and has little to no replay value.”
“If you want it, wait for a sale because it's not very long and the replay value is almost nonexistent unless you feel like unlocking the special features.”
“Does it hold replay value?”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally resonant, highlighting its beautiful visuals and touching narrative that fosters a sense of connection with the developers. Engaging with the game evokes strong feelings, enhancing the overall experience.
“My favorite thing about the game is that simply engaging with it made me feel like I was getting to know the developers.”
“Beautiful game and very touching story.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's monetization strategy has drawn criticism for being overly intrusive, with players noting that it detracts from the overall experience, culminating in a blatant advertisement in one of the endings.
“The game feels more like a cash grab than a genuine experience, with constant prompts to spend money on in-game purchases.”
“It's frustrating how much the game pushes microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy without feeling pressured to pay.”
“The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, often interrupting gameplay with ads and offers that detract from the overall experience.”
