Renoir
- November 16, 2016
- Black Wing Foundation
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Renoir" is a single-player mystery platformer game that offers around 7 hours of playtime. As ex-police officer James Renoir, promoted to detective, you must solve your own murder case after being shot and turned into a ghost. Explore a corrupted city, uncover secrets, and seek justice in this compelling narrative.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique noir aesthetic with great art direction and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
- The puzzle mechanics, which involve recording and controlling multiple ghosts, provide an interesting and creative gameplay experience.
- The story, while not deeply engaging, offers a compelling premise that appeals to fans of the noir genre.
- Controls are unresponsive and clunky, making gameplay frustrating and tedious, especially in a platforming context.
- Puzzles tend to be repetitive and lack variety, often relying on trial-and-error rather than genuine problem-solving.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including limited resolution options and a lack of polish in user interface elements.
- story24 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its noir themes and captivating visuals, while others find it lacking depth and coherence. Although the narrative shows promise and is enhanced by strong voice acting and cutscenes, many reviews suggest that it ultimately falls short, overshadowed by mediocre puzzles and a lack of engaging plot development. Overall, while the aesthetic and atmosphere are praised, the story itself is seen as either a highlight or a disappointment, depending on the player's perspective.
“Together with a very cool looking art style, a grim voice-over and soundtrack, and a more than decent mystery story, this all makes for a winning combination.”
“Renoir has a really strong storyline and I am sure you will enjoy the cut-scenes as much as I did!”
“You will keep going though since the story, original or not, still manages to captivate through the intricately detailed buildings and outdoor scenery.”
“The puzzles are kind of contrived and lame, and the story isn't very good either, which is the only thing that might save this.”
“Sadly, the story is not hooked.”
“The story seems promising at the beginning, but I rage-quitted about at the 5th scene where you have to be really quick to slide down the ladder.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the unique "recording and playing back" mechanic for controlling ghosts and solving puzzles, while others criticize it for being stiff, repetitive, and too easy. Many find the controls clunky and the overall experience tedious, detracting from the otherwise interesting concept and aesthetics. Overall, the gameplay seems to appeal to those who appreciate creative mechanics, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more engaging and dynamic experience.
“The mechanic of moving the ghosts is kind of hard to get used to, but once you get it, you find that the actual puzzles are fun to get through.”
“The puzzle mechanic relies on recording actions for a level-specific set of ghosts, which in turn have to help navigate the protagonist through deadly sources of light and around obstacles.”
“Good art direction, remarkable noir implementation, interesting gameplay mechanics and characters together make an excellent atmosphere of a noir thriller.”
“The gameplay is really stiff and boring.”
“Bad controls and repetitive, boring gameplay.”
“Interesting concept but the gameplay is atrocious and repetitive.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their noir aesthetics and splendid artwork, effectively capturing the essence of 1940s black and white films. However, some users noted inconsistencies, particularly with the player character's design and certain indoor areas, which detracted from the overall visual experience. Despite these flaws, the unique art style and sound design contribute positively to the game's atmosphere and appeal.
“Together with a very cool looking art style, a grim voice-over and soundtrack, and a more than decent mystery story, this all makes for a winning combination.”
“This game is inspired by the black and white 1940s noir movies and the artwork is absolutely splendid!”
“My love of film noir wins out, and at $9.99 the game is definitely worth playing to appreciate its visuals and story.”
“I feel like these graphics could've been used to better effect for a point-and-click adventure, but still, not a bad little game.”
“Even with those graphical mishaps which may be a nuisance for you as well or not, I am going to judge this game fairly and appreciate the unique outlook it provides for its puzzle platformer brethren.”
“It just feels like a collection of puzzles with a noir graphics style.”
- music12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its stellar soundtrack, which includes classy jazz songs that enhance the overall atmosphere and fit the game's theme perfectly. Reviewers noted that the combination of the soundtrack, voice acting, and art design creates an immersive experience, contributing significantly to the game's appeal. Overall, the music is described as both relaxing and engaging, complementing the gameplay effectively.
“Together with a very cool looking art style, a grim voice-over and soundtrack, and a more than decent mystery story, this all makes for a winning combination.”
“The art design and soundtrack are amazing; the puzzles themselves are both intuitive as well as creative.”
“The soundtrack contains some classy jazz songs which fit the game like a glove, so nothing to complain about that.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“Same goes for the music and voice acting.”
“This is topped by a solid soundtrack which really gets you in the mood of the era.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive noir 1950s aesthetic, enhanced by smooth jazz and detailed art deco elements. Reviewers highlight the captivating blend of art direction, intriguing gameplay mechanics, and a dark gothic presentation, all contributing to a compelling noir thriller experience.
“It started out real cool; I simply loved the whole noir 1950s atmosphere, the smooth jazz that played along the way.”
“You will keep going though since the story, original or not, still manages to captivate through the intricately detailed buildings (you can’t recreate a proper noir atmosphere without art deco) and outdoor scenery.”
“Good art direction, remarkable noir implementation, interesting gameplay mechanics and characters together make an excellent atmosphere of a noir thriller.”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich setting, the overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The game tries to create a tense atmosphere, but it often falls short, leaving players feeling disconnected from the experience.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, citing slow and clunky gameplay that detracts from enjoyment. The combination of challenging puzzles and clumsy controls leads to a repetitive experience, where minor mistakes result in starting over, further amplifying the sense of monotony.
“Gameplay is too slow and clunky for this to be enjoyable. If it were at least fixed, then it would seem like a worthwhile title to enjoy, but now jumping over gaps and trying to get your character to run through time puzzles while handling ghosts at the same time tends to get really tedious.”
“It took me just a few levels to figure out how absolutely tedious and boring the gameplay was, not to mention the clumsy controls.”
“It's not that it's hard, more so tedious, and if you make a small mistake, you start over.”
