Residue: Final Cut

About

Residue: Final Cut is a single player action game. It was developed by The Working Parts and was released on August 1, 2014. It received neutral reviews from players.

Up-tempo adventuring and family drama ensue when the survivors of a disastrous charity project return to the dead ships in the former Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. Residue tells a personal story by letting you explore a larger-than-life, ridiculously detailed rendition of one of our world's most fascinating (and horrifying) locations.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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50%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story28 positive mentions

gameplay7 negative mentions

Residue: Final Cut features a unique and compelling narrative that explores themes of environmental ruin and human ambition through the interconnected stories of three distinct characters.
The game's atmospheric art direction and evocative soundtrack enhance the immersive experience, drawing players into the haunting setting of the Aral Sea.
The gameplay encourages exploration and reflection, with each character's unique abilities adding variety to the platforming mechanics and allowing for creative interactions with the environment.

Controls can feel clunky and imprecise, particularly during platforming sections, which may lead to frustration for players seeking a smoother experience.
The pacing is slow, and some players may find the lack of clear direction or guidance confusing, leading to moments of aimless wandering.
Voice acting and character dialogue have been criticized for being poorly executed, detracting from the overall immersion and emotional impact of the story.

story
73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The game's story is set against the backdrop of the desolate Aral Sea, weaving a narrative that explores themes of environmental collapse and human resilience through the eyes of a young boy named Emilio. Players engage with the story through environmental storytelling and collectibles, uncovering the past of a failed restoration effort while navigating a unique, atmospheric world. While many find the narrative compelling and immersive, some criticize its complexity and execution, noting issues with translation and gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
- “Set in the desolate remains of the Aral Sea—once a vast inland ocean and now reduced to a barren wasteland—the game blends platforming and storytelling to craft an experience that is more meditative than mechanical.”
- “Very compelling and original story, with an interesting way of telling it, through playing three different characters that explore the bottom of a dried-up ocean, each one with their own gameplay style.”
- “The incredible power of Residue is reached not with a single standout element, but with a harmony of dense atmosphere, thoughtful attention to details, unforgettable music, vivid characters, and of course its interactive story, that shows what it really takes to be a human being.”
- “The story is confusing at times but everything comes together beautifully at the end.”
- “What I mean is you join the game and the story is already 99.99% over with, then you do a little bit of back and forth on the same map which really explains very little, then the story ends where you basically began.”
- “The entire game story and events could have been a few short sentences of visual novel dialog; the actual gameplay was just unamusing filler.”
gameplay
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
61%
21%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of platforming and storytelling, set in a visually striking but mechanically flawed environment. While the narrative and atmosphere are compelling, many players find the controls clunky and the platforming mechanics lackluster, leading to a frustrating experience overall. Despite some unique elements, such as character-specific abilities and underwater sequences, the gameplay often feels slow and unrefined, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Set in the desolate remains of the Aral Sea—once a vast inland ocean and now reduced to a barren wasteland—the game blends platforming and storytelling to craft an experience that is more meditative than mechanical.”
- “Very compelling and original story, with an interesting way of telling it, through playing three different characters that explore the bottom of a dried-up ocean, each one with their own gameplay style.”
- “The core gameplay mechanics like swimming, climbing, and grappling can be frustrating at times, but progression is still pretty smooth and you can finish the game within 2 hours.”
- “The gameplay is horrendous.”
- “In terms of gameplay, the game is a big failure, being clunky, fixed controls; only 2D retro platforming/adventure games like this died out in the 1990s.”
- “You might like the art style, but the simple fact is that the gameplay is slow, annoying, and its painful limitations will kill any amount of immersion you might hope to get from this.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique art style and atmospheric visuals, while others criticize the technical execution, including low-quality assets and poor animation. Many players appreciate the hand-drawn artwork and immersive ambiance, but note issues like blending interactive elements into the background, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, while the visuals have their charm, they often fall short of modern gaming standards.
- “The graphics are beautiful, pulling you into this strange ambience.”
- “Residue offers a truly exotic experience through unique, beautifully drawn graphics, excellent audio composition of the ambiance sounds and music, and, last but not least, a story that makes you ponder upon fundamental aspects of life (though without giving you a headache over it).”
- “It's very atmospheric, having a nice soundtrack and a unique art style.”
- “Technically, the game is a big failure, with ugly retro pixel graphics, it's only 2D, fixed resolution, low quality assets, it falls far beneath minimum standards for PC gaming.”
- “While the game has a unique aesthetic, the animation is plain horrible.”
- “Main feature is the hand-drawn art style but that's not enough to keep me playing a very basic game.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and emotional qualities, enhancing the overall experience without overshadowing the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both beautiful and fitting, contributing to the game's immersive storytelling and unique ambiance. The combination of sparse music and ambient sounds creates a hauntingly memorable atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The soundtrack, sparse and atmospheric, heightens the melancholy tone without overwhelming it.”
- “The music is surprisingly good and fitting to the situations unfolding on screen.”
- “Visuals are stunning, music is mesmerizing.”
- “Music appears sparingly, letting ambient noises—creaking metal, wind, the distant hum of machinery—fill the silence.”
- “Would have been better to use Russian soundtracks and English subtitles.”
- “The incredible power of residue is reached not with a single standout element, but with a harmony of dense atmosphere, thoughtful attention to details, unforgettable music, vivid characters, and of course its interactive story, that shows what it really takes to be a human being.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The atmosphere of "Residue: Final Cut" is described as haunting and immersive, effectively conveying themes of environmental ruin and humanity's hubris through a combination of sparse yet impactful sound design, unique art style, and rich storytelling. While the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they complement the game's emotional depth and contribute to a cohesive and evocative experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a harmonious blend of detail, music, and narrative that enhances its emotional resonance.
- “Residue: Final Cut, developed and published by The Working Parts, is a hauntingly atmospheric narrative adventure that examines humanity’s hubris through the lens of environmental ruin.”
- “The soundtrack, sparse and atmospheric, heightens the melancholy tone without overwhelming it.”
- “The incredible power of Residue is reached not with a single standout element, but with a harmony of dense atmosphere, thoughtful attention to details, unforgettable music, vivid characters, and of course its interactive story, that shows what it really takes to be a human being.”
- “It’s less a polished platformer than a narrative experience framed by physical exploration, prioritizing atmosphere and emotion over mechanical smoothness.”
- “If the developers were going for a more realistic atmosphere, the characters should have spoken with Russian accents, save for the American character.”
- “Atmosphere, brevity, storytelling.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively explores emotional depth by presenting the story through the perspectives of three protagonists from different generations, allowing players to experience the narrative through varied emotional lenses. Key moments are underscored by impactful melodies that enhance the emotional resonance of revelations and introspective scenes.
- “The narrative unfolds through the alternating perspectives of three protagonists, each representing a different generation and emotional outlook.”
- “By shifting control between these characters, the game encourages players to view the same world through contrasting emotional lenses.”
- “When melodies do emerge, they carry emotional weight, marking key revelations or moments of introspection.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to clunky controls, slow pacing, and the challenge of locating interactive elements that blend into the background. While the graphics and story have their merits, the overall execution leads to a frustrating experience that detracts from enjoyment.
- “The graphics are pleasant and executed in a unique art style; however, the pick-ups and interactive areas do often blend into the background, resulting in some tedious pixel-hunting.”
- “Visually it's pretty good, the story is okay, but for the love of god, clunky controls, slow animations, and a slow pace ruin everything else. You can force yourself through it, but it would be more tedious than fun.”
- “Good idea but poor execution; the story is the strong point, but it's tedious to play.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game is mixed, with some users noting in-depth character design and unique motivations, while others criticize the dialogue and voice acting as unrealistic and poorly executed. Overall, the effectiveness of character development varies significantly among players.
- “Rather in-depth character design, as each of them works for their own unique purpose and reasons.”
- “Gorgeous backgrounds, okay character designs, a simple but effective story, and similarly simple gameplay that nevertheless engages.”
- “The art is okay, but the voice acting is terrible, and the character development and dialogue make no sense at all for how humans actually act.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The "final cut" edition enhances the original release by improving visual fidelity and performance, all while maintaining its contemplative tone.
- “The 'Final Cut' edition refines the original release, improving visual fidelity and performance while preserving its contemplative tone.”