Riverhill Trials
- February 10, 2018
- AlexRT
"Riverhill Trials" is a first-person 3D platformer adventure game where players must navigate through a dynamic environment filled with moving platforms, falling walls, and moving rocks. The goal is to collect all the collectibles, avoid pits, and find a way out of the living planet of Riverhill. With over 15 different areas to explore, players will enjoy a fun story and stunning environment, similar to games like Firewatch and The Witness.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and complements the game's atmosphere well.
- The developers are actively engaged with the community and have made improvements based on player feedback.
- The platforming mechanics are clunky and often frustrating, with issues like input lag and poor collision detection.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including problems with jumping and movement.
- The game lacks a comprehensive options menu, limiting customization for audio and controls.
- music26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many describing it as soothing and well-integrated with the visuals. However, some users noted a desire for better volume control options between music, sound effects, and voiceovers. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“Very beautiful visuals and awesome music.”
“Amazing soundtrack.”
“The music is extremely soothing and further helps you to get into that feel of immersion.”
“Or if there are any, they are completely drowned out by the music.”
“The music sounded like a weekend project without a proper goal.”
“One of my friends who I got to buy it wished there was an option to turn off the voice or individual sliders for music and voice.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and artistic style, creating a visually stunning and immersive atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the vibrant colors and charming design, although some note that the graphics may overshadow gameplay, making it feel more like a visual showcase than a fully developed game. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength, enhancing the overall experience despite some technical issues.
“Very beautiful visuals and awesome music.”
“Overall though, I'd say the game has more ups than downs, and is worth playing for the music and visuals alone.”
“The graphics are beautiful and the music is easy listening.”
“Pretty colors, but not pretty graphics.”
“Graphics are reasonably charming, but minimal.”
“That being said, the game feels like more of a showcase for the graphics than an actual game.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 47 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Riverhill Trials has been widely criticized for its lack of variety and polish, with many reviewers describing it as a frustrating mix of mediocre platforming and an unfinished walking simulator. While the game's beautiful environments are praised, the platforming mechanics are seen as poorly implemented, often leading to a tedious experience marred by bugs and design flaws. Some players found the challenging platforming rewarding, but overall, the gameplay is viewed as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's potential.
“Platforming gameplay is very challenging from the start and it gets even harder as you progress, but it makes you feel good every time you surpass an area.”
“I've often said that first-person games aren't always an ideal medium for platforming mechanics, and many parts of this game prove that.”
“Gameplay is a bit stale and could use more variety.”
“Feels like an unfinished walking simulator with bad platforming mechanics stapled on.”
“The gameplay seems more like something the developer thought of later on rather than planned to make all along.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some users praise its good visual quality and overall optimization, others criticize it for clunky performance and slow responsiveness. Additionally, the narrator's performance has been noted as a minor detractor to the experience.
“The game looks very good, is optimized pretty well, and feels like it should be great.”
“Very good optimizations.”
“Really good optimization.”
“It's clunky, it has bad performance, and it's super slow.”
“The only thing that breaks said immersion is the poor performance of the narrator; though, luckily, he doesn't talk a lot.”
“Narrator's poor performance.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the funny voiceovers and find them enjoyable, others feel that the humor can come off as forced and not particularly effective. Overall, the comedic elements provide some motivation and connection to the narrative, but there is a desire for more depth and consistency in the humor.
“The voiceover and subtitles are pretty funny; they could've had more.”
“I enjoyed the music and the voiceovers; it is funny and to the point.”
“Funny voiceovers.”
“It feels like forced comedy, which makes it not funny at all.”
“The jokes fall flat and often feel out of place.”
“I found the humor to be cringeworthy and lacking in originality.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by several small glitches and technical issues, but players generally find it playable and enjoyable. While there have been improvements following patches, the lack of recent developer engagement raises concerns about future bug fixes.
“The platforming, quality control, and the general technical side of this game are the weaker points. The developer hasn't shown up for some months now, so it's not clear if any of the bugs and glitches are going to be fixed.”
“There's still glitches here and there, which I relay to the devs as I find them, but it's very much playable and enjoyable.”
“Still a lot of small glitches, though I haven't found anything game-breaking since the lightning-fast patch after my last review.”
- story3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and not a central focus, with many players feeling that the lack of a substantial narrative enhances the experience, creating a dreamlike atmosphere rather than a traditional storyline.
“I loved the scenery and setting; while there wasn't much story, I think it really did not need it. It felt more like a nice, shortly-lived dream.”
“Story is, er...well, not really what this game's about.”
“-no story”
“I loved the scenery and setting, and while there wasn't much story, I think that it really did not need it; it felt more like a nice, shortly-lived dream.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally described as relaxing and visually appealing, with some users appreciating the background music that complements the experience. However, there are criticisms regarding the overall engagement and precision of movement, leading to a sense of boredom for some players.
“The background beats blended seamlessly into the atmosphere, enhancing the experience throughout the hour.”
“The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
“The haunting visuals and sound design create a captivating atmosphere that lingers long after playing.”
“I really tried to enjoy it, but it's just boring, and the movement is not precise. The visuals are quite pretty though, and the atmosphere is relaxing.”
“The few background beats blended well into the atmosphere for the hour or so.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the game showcases impressive visual finesse and effort, it may not resonate emotionally with all players, particularly those who struggle with its platforming mechanics. However, for dedicated platformer fans who enjoy collecting elements within the game, it offers a rewarding experience at an affordable price.