Semblance
- July 23, 2018
- Nyamakop
- 7h median play time
A wonderful journey full of unique and clever ideas around every squishy corner.
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Semblance is a single-player platformer game with exceptional deforming terrain gameplay and stunning minimalist graphics. Set in a world where the property of 'hardness' doesn't exist, you must deform and reshape the environment to solve problems and beat back the crystalline infection. Each world introduces new consequences of a shifting, changeable planet."
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Semblance features unique and innovative mechanics that allow players to deform the environment to solve puzzles, providing a fresh take on the puzzle platformer genre.
- The puzzles are well-designed and offer a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, making for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The game has charming visuals and a pleasant atmosphere, contributing to a delightful overall experience.
- The game is quite short, with many players feeling it lacks substantial content and depth, leading to a feeling of it being overpriced at full price.
- Controls can be unresponsive and imprecise at times, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially in sections requiring precise movements.
- The story is minimal and not well-developed, leaving players wanting more narrative context to enhance their experience.
- gameplay67 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by unique and creative mechanics that enhance the puzzle platforming experience, offering clever challenges and a satisfying sense of progression. While many players appreciate the innovative use of world deformation and the gradual introduction of new mechanics, some express frustration with occasional bugs and level design issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing addition to the genre, though it could benefit from more complex puzzles and polish.
“Overall, a solid puzzle platformer with clever mechanics and fun puzzles.”
“The puzzle design is excellent, with several truly original mechanics that work really well together, providing plenty of good challenges with clever solutions.”
“A massively enjoyable puzzle platformer, with just the right level of difficulty, and a unique twist on the gameplay.”
“But the whole gameplay is really uninteresting and not fun because of several faults, for example:”
“The game was kinda jank at times from a gameplay standpoint; several times I missed jumps and glitched out of worlds and begged the camera to just pan over an inch.”
“Due to the restricted controls and focus on simple, one-solution puzzles, what could have been a cool platformer with terrain deformation mechanics is simply just a puzzle game.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which creates a mystical and intriguing atmosphere. However, some users noted the limited graphics settings and a minimalist approach to visuals, leading to a desire for more variety and depth in the design. Overall, the aesthetic is considered a strong point, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some technical issues.
“Finally, the visuals are really well done, mysterious and intriguing, and I liked every second I spent in this little world.”
“This is a very innovative puzzle platformer with a beautiful aesthetic.”
“Graphically, the game looks wonderful; it really fits the atmosphere and the way the land reacts to movement makes it seem very realistic.”
“Also, there are only two graphics settings: 'fastest' and 'recommended', which presumably is identical to 'fastest', so that is just epic.”
“The art style is flat (no pun intended), the gimmick of deforming areas is very one-dimensional and there are only really two major elements introduced into the game throughout your playthrough, both of which are not changing the game much either.”
“I was left wishing there was a little more to it, because I really liked the art style, but the story (if you can call it one) and setting are extremely minimalist.”
- story19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and unclear, with many players noting a lack of discernible plot, characters, or meaningful dialogue. While some appreciate the artistic presentation of the story through cave paintings, they feel it lacks depth and coherence, leaving players to piece together a narrative that ultimately feels underdeveloped. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a weak aspect of the game, with many wishing for more substance to enhance the experience.
“Meanwhile the story, while simple, conveys itself in such an interesting way that leaves the player to their imagination to piece it together for themselves.”
“Unwritten but not underdeveloped storyline.”
“My only gripe is that the story is very simple; I'm not expecting a novel, but a little more detail would have rounded out the game nicely.”
“My only criticism is that it doesn't even try to tell you a story of any sort, or introduce characters, etc. The cinematic trailer on this page is the most you're going to get.”
“There was no discernible story I could find; a couple of meaningless drawings dot some areas, but Journey or Abzu did a far better job of having drawings add to the story.”
“I was left wishing there was a little more to it, because I really liked the art style, but the story (if you can call it one) and setting are extremely minimalist.”
- music10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its creativity and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing to a mystical and surreal vibe. While some users noted minor glitches, the soundtrack is described as beautiful and well-crafted, complementing the game's appealing art style and gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect that enriches the gaming experience.
“The music has a very pleasing aesthetic combined with a soundtrack that gives the world a mystical and surreal vibe.”
“Music, art, gameplay - everything is well crafted.”
“The art and minimal music create a nice atmosphere, making this an overall lovely game.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience; while some players find the game tedious and repetitive, others appreciate the introduction of new features that keep puzzles engaging. However, issues with controls can lead to frustrating and laborious execution of solutions, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
“Found this game way too tedious for me.”
“Either way, extremely tedious to execute solutions means I would not recommend spending your time on this.”
“In the game, on the other hand, it boils down to (tediously) implementing one readily apparent solution after another.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its chill vibe, abstract minimalist style, and beautiful graphics that enhance the experience. The deform mechanics contribute to a unique and immersive environment, while the art and subtle music further enrich the overall ambiance, making it a delightful experience for players.
“I really enjoyed the chill atmosphere, and the abstract, minimalist style.”
“Graphically, the game looks wonderful; it really fits the atmosphere, and the way the land reacts to movement makes it seem very realistic.”
“The art and minimal music create a nice atmosphere, and this is overall a lovely game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally good, with only a few glitches reported by users. While these issues can lead to frustrating moments, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience, as reflected in high ratings.
“I rate it a 9.9/10 because there were a couple of glitches that killed me unreasonably.”
“Some glitches here and there, but other than that, I say it's a decent game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers approximately 5-7 hours of gameplay, but lacks significant replay value, as players can infinitely replay levels without a compelling reason to do so. However, achievement hunters should be cautious, as completing the game restricts access to certain levels for further exploration.
“There is no limit to the number of times you can die, and the levels appear to be infinitely replayable. However, if you're hunting for achievements, it's best to do that before completing the game, as you can't go back afterward.”
“The game offers a fantastic level of replayability, allowing players to explore different strategies and outcomes with each playthrough.”
“With multiple paths and choices, every run feels fresh and engaging, making you want to dive back in for more.”
“Expect around 5-7 hours of gameplay out of this game, but there is no replay value.”
“There is no limit to the number of times you can die, and levels appear to be replayable infinitely. However, if you are achievement hunting, you should do it before completing the game, as once you complete it, you can't go back.”
Critic Reviews
Review: Semblance
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
90%Semblance Review
By letting you morph the environment, Semblance is a new twist on the puzzler, asking you to creatively solve its challenges. New mechanics keep things fresh throughout, but also highlight what could have been if the game were longer and its ideas developed further.
75%Semblance Review
75%
