Saviorless
- April 2, 2024
- Empty Head Games
- 4h median play time
Saviorless is a dark, frightening, often sorrowful tale that took me a little while to get into and then held on tight for the duration.
"Saviorless" is a single-player platformer game with stunning hand-drawn graphics and animations, set in a dark fantasy world. As Antar, a determined child striving to become a Savior, players will navigate through a treacherous path to the forbidden Smiling Islands, overcoming various obstacles along the way. The game features dynamic gameplay with three playable protagonists, each with unique abilities and challenges. The atmospheric soundtrack and enigmatic landscapes add to the immersive experience of this narrative-driven platformer.
Reviews
- The game features stunning hand-drawn graphics and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in its unique world.
- The gameplay includes clever puzzles and platforming mechanics that keep the experience engaging, with a good variety of challenges.
- The narrative, while cryptic, offers intriguing elements and multiple endings that encourage exploration and replayability.
- The story lacks cohesion and depth, often leaving players confused and unsatisfied with its resolution.
- Checkpoint placement can be frustrating, leading to excessive repetition of sections after dying, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Gameplay mechanics can feel simplistic and unchallenging at times, with some players finding the combat and platforming lacking in depth.
- story71 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and atmospheric, while others criticize it for being convoluted, vague, or lacking depth. Many appreciate the unique artistic presentation and the potential for environmental storytelling, but feel that the narrative fails to deliver a satisfying payoff or cohesive plot. Overall, while the visuals and gameplay are often praised, the story's execution leaves much to be desired, with some players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative.
“This is an excellent little story-driven platformer that's drenched in atmosphere.”
“The story, art style, and music all blend together to create a perfect atmosphere.”
“A masterpiece: beautiful visuals and music, excellent gameplay progression, and superb storytelling.”
“This kind of story could be called 'fake it until you make it', except it is only 'fake it'.”
“Somebody really tried to make believe they have a complex story with meta-narrative and twists, really really tried... but did not make a story in the end.”
“The biggest downside I have is that the story doesn't really deliver on its interesting premise, and both the endings are very anticlimactic and unsatisfying.”
- gameplay45 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, appealing to players who enjoy straightforward mechanics and beautiful visuals. While some find the gameplay enjoyable and engaging, others criticize it for being too simplistic or homogeneous, lacking depth in certain areas. Overall, the game features a mix of platforming, puzzles, and action elements that, despite some criticisms, provide a solid and entertaining experience.
“Another way the developers mix up the gameplay is by having players defeat one of the first bosses, a fuzzy blue rhinoceros-like creature, and then having them control it and use its ability to roll and crash through walls.”
“The gameplay, the art, the music, the unique... 'narrative', all fit together like a work of art.”
“Excelent game, with a dark story but satisfying gameplay, full of ambiental traps and puzzles that will make the experience challenging but at the same time will catch you and will not let you go until the fantastic end.”
“However, the actual gameplay mechanics of this game are not worth the hassle or price tag.”
“I could forgive that, but the actual mechanics were so simple.”
“Not that the combat is clunky or anything, but the mechanics are quite punishing due to imposed time limits and swarms of enemies.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the beautiful, hand-drawn art style and stunning visuals that create a captivating atmosphere. The animation is described as silky-smooth, enhancing the overall experience, while the unique artistic choices contribute significantly to the game's appeal. Despite some criticisms regarding the story, the graphics are consistently highlighted as a standout feature, making the game visually impressive and engaging.
“Gorgeous graphics and silky-smooth animation.”
“The hand-drawn graphics are one of the largest appeals to this game, and they help to enthrall the player in the world that it presents.”
“A masterpiece: beautiful visuals and music, excellent gameplay progression and superb storytelling.”
“And only five levels, sharing a lot of graphics, but colored differently.”
“Nonetheless, 'dark' does not describe the visuals.”
“I didn't really enjoy the story and I don't like that art style much, but the atmosphere was still enjoyable anyway.”
- music26 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. Descriptions of the soundtrack include terms like "magnificent," "fantastic," and "enchanting," indicating that it effectively complements the art and narrative. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive qualities.
“The soundtrack is just as amazing and I'd love to buy it if or when it becomes available.”
“The atmosphere is out of this world, thanks to the enchanting music and stunning design.”
“The story, art style, and music all blend together to create a perfect atmosphere.”
“Music adds to a gloomy atmosphere.”
“Most of the environmental art is too clean for my liking with its geometric design, but I found myself immersed despite that, thanks to the solid atmosphere created by dynamic music and animated elements in the background.”
“The music and overall atmosphere were also a highlight.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of striking visuals, enchanting music, and a captivating art style that evokes a range of emotions, from whimsical to grim. Many reviewers highlight the immersive quality of the environment, comparing it to the works of Guillermo del Toro, and note that the atmosphere significantly enhances the overall experience, even for those who may not enjoy other aspects of the game. Overall, the combination of art, music, and design creates a memorable and engaging atmosphere that stands out as a key feature of the game.
“The story, art style, and music all blend together to create a perfect atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is out of this world, thanks to the enchanting music and stunning design.”
“Certain frames looked as if they could be illustrations in a children’s book or a graphic novel, and the overall atmosphere reminded me of a Guillermo del Toro film featuring beautiful settings and grotesque creatures in equal measure.”
“I didn't really enjoy the story and I don't like that art style much, but the atmosphere was still enjoyable anyway.”
“Music adds to a gloomy atmosphere.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be largely unfulfilling, as repetitive sequences and fights offer little reward. However, while obtaining all achievements requires effort, it is generally considered manageable and not tedious.
“Getting all achievements requires some work, but it's not tedious at all.”
“The grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
“I love how the grind leads to meaningful progress and unlocks new content.”
“There is no sense in the nth repetition of boring sequences or grindy fights because there is nothing to gain after that.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making the game more of a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
“I find myself stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks that offer little to no reward, which really drains the fun out of the game.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character designs as superb, highlighting their inspiration drawn from grand landscapes and unique aesthetics. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of growth or narrative depth.
“The character designs are superb!”
“There's just something so inspiring about the grand landscapes and bizarre character designs.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its high replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs due to its engaging mechanics and varied experiences.
“This game is highly replayable, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh and exciting.”
“The variety of character builds and strategies makes it a highly replayable experience, encouraging players to try different approaches.”
“With its dynamic world and random events, every session feels unique, making it a game I can return to time and again.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, with only minor visual glitches that do not significantly impact gameplay.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.”
Critic Reviews
Saviorless (Nintendo Switch)
A weird, beautifully rendered combination of Limbo and Super Mario Brothers, Saviorless is an interesting take on an action-platformer.
70%Saviorless Review – Combatting The Narrative
Saviorless delivers a smooth, challenging, and fun gameplay experience, with fantastic visual design, and an innovative take on narrative design, making it a great 2D Platformer for the fans of the genre
80%Saviorless Review (PC)
Saviorless shines when players control Antar, evaluating a puzzle that might stretch across a few screens, then testing possibilities and contemplating how to reach a collectible. Combat isn’t as engaging as the platforming or the puzzle solving, and checkpoint placement is pretty bad. Thankfully, the world is intriguing enough to counter potential frustration. The impressive art style is another draw and it’s worth playing through the narrative, even without getting all the torn pages, simply to see how the developers bring this fantasy universe to life. Saviorless is a solid debut title from an indie developer and its mix of ideas is good enough that I look forward to seeing what Empty Head Games delivers next. Review key provided by the publisher.
85%