Resonance
- July 25, 2012
- XII Games
"Resonance" is a single-player mystery arcade game featuring an intriguing story, excellent gameplay, visuals, and soundtrack. Players race against time to secure a dead scientist's technology, controlling four characters with entangled lives and hidden secrets. With over ten hours of gameplay, the experience is enhanced by a memory system and voiced by Logan Cunningham , offering a rich, decision-based narrative.
Reviews
- Engaging story with interesting plot twists and well-developed characters.
- Innovative gameplay mechanics, including short-term and long-term memory systems that enhance puzzle-solving.
- Challenging yet logical puzzles that provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment.
- Clunky interface and inventory management can lead to frustration during gameplay.
- Some puzzles may feel overly complicated or obscure, requiring frequent use of walkthroughs.
- The game can feel slow-paced at times, particularly with character movement and dialogue.
- story254 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its compelling narrative, intriguing characters, and unexpected plot twists, making it a standout feature among players. While some reviews note pacing issues and the presence of unnecessary puzzles that detract from the storytelling experience, the overall consensus is that the narrative is engaging and well-crafted, often leaving a lasting impression. Despite some criticisms regarding character depth and certain cliched elements, the story remains a significant draw for fans of the genre.
“The story is fantastic, the characters are believable and well-written, the music and artwork is wonderful, and there are some tough choices and genuinely shocking twists.”
“Resonance is a solid retro-style adventure game and a great story to experience.”
“The story was compelling all the way through and the art style really captured the mood.”
“A pretty mediocre point & click game with a generic story, flat characters, and mediocre puzzles.”
“This game has too large a focus on arbitrary puzzle solving instead of letting the puzzles work for and be a part of the story.”
“For some reason, the story just died out on me, maybe because of the tedious puzzles; they began to wear on my experience and made the whole thing annoying and immersion-breaking.”
- gameplay90 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features innovative mechanics such as short-term and long-term memory systems, allowing players to engage with puzzles and dialogue in unique ways. However, the implementation of these mechanics, along with the management of multiple characters, can lead to frustration and complexity that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some players appreciate the cerebral challenges and originality, others find the gameplay clunky and inconsistent, making it a mixed experience overall.
“The gameplay revolves around some fairly cerebral puzzles, many of which require you to make use of multiple members of your four-person party.”
“The game has some original gameplay mechanics (long & short term memory) for puzzle solving.”
“The ability to control four different characters, sometimes completely independently, sometimes working together, makes the gameplay interesting and adds depth to the events as you witness everything from different viewpoints.”
“It doesn't hold up to the other Wadjet Eye games in terms of how naturally the story unfolds or how the puzzles/gameplay feel.”
“While it has a lot going for it -- the graphics, the plot, the voice acting -- it needlessly complicates the gameplay with multiple characters available all at once and a contrived short-term/long-term mechanic that often sucks the joy out of the puzzle-solving.”
“The mechanics didn't work at all for me (the short term memory stuff); it was so confusing at times and made me very frustrated, and oh my god, the blueprint puzzle... at the end of that, I was ripping the hair off my head!”
- graphics56 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, pixel-art style that evokes nostalgia for classic adventure games, with a resolution reminiscent of the 90s. While some players appreciate the charm and atmosphere created by the old-school visuals, others find them uninspiring or low-resolution, which can complicate gameplay. Overall, the graphics are generally well-received for their effectiveness in complementing the engaging story and clever puzzles, despite some criticisms regarding their dated appearance.
“The graphics and animation were top-notch for this type of game and it was interesting to control four different characters.”
“One of the best games I have ever played, with a very unique mechanic that really makes it stand out, a compelling story and a great art style.”
“Graphics are spot on retro '90s.”
“Warning: the graphics are rather uninspiring.”
“The biggest negative to this game is the graphics resolution, about the same as an old-fashioned Sierra title from the early 90s.”
“The graphics are so low-res that I had trouble finding the key because it looked like a mustard stain on top of the microwave.”
- music19 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the overall experience, with some tracks being described as catchy and immersive, contributing to the emotional depth of the story. However, there are mixed opinions regarding its repetitiveness, with some players finding it annoying over time. Overall, while the music may not be universally memorable, it effectively complements the game's strong narrative and character development.
“Music enhances the action, even when - especially when - it intentionally doesn't match the mood of the scene.”
“Resonance is a seriously tremendous game, it nails everything right: good puzzles, amazing relatable characters with good character progression, music, sound effects, voice acting and atmosphere, good art style topped off with a good story.”
“The story is fantastic, the characters are believable and well-written, the music and artwork is wonderful, and there are some tough choices and genuinely shocking twists.”
“Music is repetitive midi-ness, but kinda catchy.”
“Atypically for a Wadjet Eye Games product, even voice acting and music are stale.”
“The music loops too much and becomes annoying to hear at length.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of insightful developer commentaries, witty dialogues, and clever situations that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the mix of gritty storytelling with lighthearted moments, subtle humor, and nostalgic nods to classic adventure games, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, appealing to fans of the genre.
“Oh, and there are insightful and funny developer commentaries - consider listening to them on your second playthrough.”
“The four: a doctor, a mathematician, a detective, and a reporter (who is frequently and humorously reminded that he's just a blogger).”
“There was some good humor mixed in, which I always appreciate in my point-and-clicks, and the art was lovely throughout.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious puzzles and a cumbersome inventory system, which detracts from the overall experience. While some puzzles are engaging, many become frustrating due to a lack of clear direction and overly complex logic, leading to a decline in immersion and enjoyment. Overall, the balance between challenging and tedious gameplay is a significant concern for players.
“It starts out well enough, but quickly gets tedious.”
“For some reason the story just died out on me, maybe because of the tedious puzzles; they began to wear on my experience and made the whole thing annoying and immersion-breaking.”
“The rules it plays by (i.e. the gimmicks it uses) make solving puzzles tedious beyond belief, and the frustration is compounded by a lack of good direction (i.e. what the objective puzzle even is) and the clues necessary to solve the puzzles that you know exist.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tense, noir detective vibe, effectively enhancing the intriguing story and character progression. Players appreciate the combination of good puzzles, relatable characters, and immersive sound design, which together create a captivating experience reminiscent of classic '80s and '90s adventure games. The slightly outdated graphics contribute to its charm, making the overall atmosphere both nostalgic and engaging.
“Awesome adventure game, interesting story, and a very tense thriller atmosphere!”
“Loved the game; it's filled with a solid noir detective atmosphere.”
“I found the story intriguing and the atmosphere was great, particularly at certain points (one chase scene had me jumping and panicking more than most of the horror games I've played).”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, "Resonance" offers a decent level of replayability for an adventure game, featuring multiple endings and various achievements to pursue. While some players note that it may lack extensive replay value typical of the genre, the presence of small details and the game's solid design contribute to its appeal for multiple playthroughs.
“For an adventure game, resonance has huge replay value.”
“The game has at least two endings, plus there are many achievements that I did not get the first time around, so there is some replayability here.”
“There are many small details that make the game replayable.”
“Its one con is like most in this genre--it lacks a lot of replayability fun.”
“Even if there is not much replayability to be expected, resonance is a solid adventure that is on par with old classics like Beneath a Steel Sky.”
“The game can be short, but it has elements of replayability.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience, immersing players in a heartbreaking narrative where characters face inevitable failure despite their ingenuity. With strong storytelling, well-developed characters, and engaging voice acting, players become deeply invested in the emotional journeys of the characters, making it a must-play for fans of emotionally charged, science-themed narratives.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the characters’ (and yours) ingenuity and flashes of inspiration knowing they will necessarily have to fail to stop the impending doom, whatever combination of puzzle solutions and conversation options you will choose.”
“Great story, great characters, great graphics, great music, great voice acting, great emotional rollercoaster.”
“Whether you love them or hate them, the fact that you control them through most of the game makes you emotionally invested in the characters, even if any one of them turns out to be not quite who you thought they were.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in Wadjet Eye games is highly praised, with reviewers noting that it is one of the strongest aspects of their storytelling, free from convoluted logic.
“No moon logic, but I must say that the plot and character development have been one of the strongest attributes of Wadjet Eye.”
“The character arcs are incredibly well-crafted, making each journey feel personal and impactful.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their choices and experiences shaping who they become.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including minor bugs such as dialogue glitches and character movement problems; however, these issues are not considered game-breaking.
“The game was a little buggy; I encountered a dialogue glitch where everything sped up and dialogue was skipped several times. Characters also got stuck a few times, but nothing game-breaking.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that disrupted my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
“There were numerous instances of frame drops and stuttering, which really affected the overall immersion of the game.”