Return Null: Episode 1
- April 2, 2015
- Michael Lückgen
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Return Null: Episode 1" is a point-and-click adventure game set in a dystopian society. As Jack Drebin, a Local Security Force member, players will uncover a conspiracy during a routine mission, leading to action-packed shootouts. With 10 unique characters and hand-drawn graphics, players can expect dynamic conversations, environmental puzzles, and tense shooting sequences in this indie European comic art-styled game. Please note that this is the first episode in a 3-part series.
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Reviews
- The story is engaging and intriguing, set in a dystopian future with a compelling premise.
- The comic book art style is visually appealing, creating a unique atmosphere that fans of the genre may appreciate.
- The gameplay, while simplistic, allows for a leisurely reading experience where players can immerse themselves in the narrative.
- The game is very short, with episodes lasting only 30-60 minutes, leaving players wanting more and feeling unsatisfied.
- The lack of voice acting and minimal audio design detracts from the overall experience, making it feel incomplete.
- The game has been abandoned, with the story left on a cliffhanger and no resolution in sight, which is frustrating for players invested in the narrative.
- story82 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Return Null" is set in a dystopian future and features an engaging premise, but it suffers from unfinished narratives and inconsistent writing. While the artwork is praised for its comic book style and atmospheric feel, many players express disappointment over the lack of depth and resolution, with the game ending on a cliffhanger and the developers seemingly abandoning further development. Overall, the story is intriguing but ultimately leaves players wanting more, making it hard to recommend without reservations.
“The story is interesting and well thought-out.”
“The writers have created a dystopian future world that is, initially at least, interesting and a main character with some depth and a back story that makes you want to know more.”
“First impression: great atmosphere and a story that I definitely want to see more from!”
“Return Null is a game where the story carries everything, and even that was left unfinished.”
“The story ends on a massive cliffhanger, and the developers abandoned it.”
“Due to the unfinished state of the story, I really can't recommend.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a vibrant comic book art style that some players find beautiful and fitting for its dystopian theme, reminiscent of Blade Runner. However, many reviews note that the visuals feel low-budget and rough around the edges, with a lack of detail in the world design, leading to mixed opinions on the overall quality. Despite the criticisms, the colorful artwork and engaging style have garnered appreciation from those who enjoy the aesthetic.
“I really like the dystopian look and the comic book art style.”
“The graphics are nice and colorful, and I found the music appealing and fitting.”
“Very nice graphics, with a sweet comic book style (frames appear on the screen to show action sequences).”
“The overall art style is decent, although very rough around the edges as the world feels like it's unfinished and there's not much to the world apart from neon lights.”
“The graphics are very low budget.”
“I think comments about the low budget sound and visuals are a little unfair given the cost of the game, but if the developers want us to believe that this is a story worth hearing, they should have given us a bit more detail.”
- music26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it appealing and fitting, while others criticize it as repetitive and stock-like. Many note that the soundtrack consists of only a few short loops, leading to a lack of variety, and some players even found it annoying enough to mute. Overall, while there are moments of decent music, the audio design is generally considered lacking.
“The music on the other hand is quite good.”
“The graphics are nice and colorful, and I found the music appealing and fitting.”
“Music great”
“There is music and that's about all the sound you get while playing, which isn't particularly good either.”
“I'm pretty certain all the music is stock, and while they definitely could have picked much worse music to go along with the game, what's here isn't that great either.”
“The music just loops over and over again with like 3 or 4 different 20-30 second loops.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "return null" is described as basic and unremarkable, primarily involving clicking on items in a room to progress the story. While the mechanics function adequately, they are criticized for being clunky and overly simplistic, with a very short playtime that leaves much to be desired in terms of depth and engagement. Overall, the game lacks a compelling plot and innovative gameplay, making it hard to recommend despite its potential.
“Gameplay itself is solid enough for what it is, but click to shoot is clunky.”
“The cartoon comic strip type gameplay, clicking on it to forward the story I like. If the story was better fleshed out and written, more to do and a lot longer, I would recommend it.”
“The gameplay consists of clicking on 3-5 items in each room, which are drawn as part of the background, and choosing whether to look at them (which gives a one-line description of the object), pick them up (or move to another room), or use an item.”
“There's really nothing special about Return Null; it's a really basic and by-the-numbers adventure game, and the gameplay is definitely not the saving grace.”
“Gameplay itself is solid enough for what it is, but the click-to-shoot mechanic is clunky.”
“The 'gameplay' consists of clicking on 3-5 items in each room, which are drawn as part of the background, and choosing whether to look at them (which gives a one-line description of the object), pick them up (or move to another room), or use an item.”
