Residual
- September 9, 2021
- Orangepixel
Residual has a good main idea, but I found that there’s too little around it to make the experience compelling in the long run. I liked the world and the exploration, but I was less impressed with the crafting or the puzzle design. I wished for a stronger narrative hook to give me a clear reason to get somewhere or mine minerals or find more vines. Orange Pixel has been engaging with players in the Steam forums and patches quickly arrive to eliminate bugs and add functionality. A healthy community and more content are signs that the game is finding an audience that finds its mix of mechanics attractive. Residual is a great example of what a carefully crafted indie title can offer to fans. Review code provided by the publisher.
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Get on itch.io Store"Residual is a survival platformer set in a procedurally generated, alien world. Crash-landed and alone, you must harvest food, craft tools, and unearth alien technology to repair your ship. Brave hunger, cosmic storms, and hostile plant life with the help of your snarky assistant PDB, as you uncover the planet's mysterious past."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features cute pixel graphics and an engaging exploration and crafting experience.
- It's a relaxing game without combat, making it a nice change of pace for players who enjoy discovery.
- The developer is communicative with the community and the game has potential, with an intriguing story and mechanics.
- The game is plagued with bugs and crashes, leading to a frustrating user experience.
- The interface and controls are clunky and unintuitive, making navigation and gameplay cumbersome.
- Many aspects of the game feel unfinished or poorly designed, including unclear mechanics and repetitive dialogue from the companion.
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of frustration and appreciation; while the quick access inventory mechanic is praised for its relevance to nearby objects, overall controls feel unintuitive. Players are still exploring various mechanics and secrets, but technical issues, such as frequent crashes, detract from the experience.
“Your inventory has a quick access mechanic which is quite nice. When you are standing next to something, it will give you easy access to things that are relevant to that object - raw quartz for the quartz processor, sticks for lever slots, etc. Yet still, it somehow manages to feel unintuitive as a whole.”
“You can customize the controls to your liking, and the story is intriguing. I am still learning the different mechanics and secrets the game is throwing at me.”
“I do not know what moron would suggest this as a game mechanic, but they should be fired.”
“Ok, so I've played an additional 30 minutes and the game crashed 3 times due to something that should be considered regular gameplay.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features charming pixel graphics that appeal to fans of the genre, enhancing the crafting and exploration experience. While the aesthetic may not suit everyone's taste, it is well-executed and complemented by good controls.
“Explore, discover, and craft; get eaten by a plant... cute pixel graphics.”
“It's not for everyone, but if you like pixel graphics and crafting/exploration, this should scratch that itch.”
“Nice graphics and good controls.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The pixel art style is charming, but it often feels too simplistic and lacks detail.”
“While the game has a unique aesthetic, the graphics can be jarring and detract from the overall experience.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is considered intriguing, with players engaged in uncovering various mechanics and secrets. However, the overwhelming number of quest steps for resource acquisition can feel excessive and distracting, detracting from the overall narrative experience.
“You can customize the controls to your liking, and the story is intriguing. I am still learning the different mechanics and secrets the game is throwing at me.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, contributing positively to the overall experience alongside the pixel art and companion interactions, despite the presence of significant bugs.
“The music, along with the pixel art and the variety of creatures, creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
“The soundtrack is beautifully composed, adding depth and emotion to every moment of the game.”
“The small interactions with our companion, paired with the enchanting music, make for a truly immersive experience.”
“Apart from enormous bugs, the music, the pixel art, the companion, the small interactions with our companion, the variety in creatures so far, and the time decor are nice to have.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has received mixed feedback regarding stability, with users noting that while they enjoy the gameplay, it is plagued by numerous bugs that affect the overall experience.
“I really like the game, but it is super buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I've experienced numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay.”
Critic Reviews
Residual Review (PC)
Residual has a good main idea, but I found that there’s too little around it to make the experience compelling in the long run. I liked the world and the exploration, but I was less impressed with the crafting or the puzzle design. I wished for a stronger narrative hook to give me a clear reason to get somewhere or mine minerals or find more vines. Orange Pixel has been engaging with players in the Steam forums and patches quickly arrive to eliminate bugs and add functionality. A healthy community and more content are signs that the game is finding an audience that finds its mix of mechanics attractive. Residual is a great example of what a carefully crafted indie title can offer to fans. Review code provided by the publisher.
85%Residual Review
Residual is a comprehensive survival experience that fans of the genre will absolutely adore. Exploring the procedurally generated planets feels a bit daunting at first, but when the game opens up and starts dishing out essential resources, it becomes a lot more manageable. There are a few teething issues that we hope will be ironed out in time, like the confusing inventory UI, overly frequent need to eat/sleep, and the slightly dodgy navigation controls, but overall Residual is a fun, engaging 2D survival game that can sit proud alongside genre heavies like Minecraft and Don’t Starve.
80%Down the Hatch - KeenGamer
60%
