SEMU

About

SEMU is a single player action game. It was developed by InkForge Studios and was released on September 23, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

SEMU is a space-exploration game where survival is key, featuring advanced space suit technology that maintains water, oxygen, position, temperature, and humidity. The suit offers easy mobility with lightspeed* movement, grapplehook for swift travel, and a jetpack for extra maneuverability, transforming barren planets into skateparks.

Genres & Tags

Indie

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

music4 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

SEMU delivers a powerful and engaging narrative with minimal dialogue, effectively utilizing gameplay to enhance the story.
The game features a unique and unsettling atmosphere, successfully blending familiar gameplay mechanics with existential themes.
Players appreciate the short but impactful experience, with a solid ending and a soundtrack that, while not essential, is enjoyable.

The music during certain sequences, particularly the eyeball sequence, is reported to be excessively loud.
Some players feel that the game, despite its strengths, may leave them with a sense of despair due to its themes of inevitable loss.
A few reviews include humorous criticisms that may detract from the overall perception of the game.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of despair, effectively conveyed through a minimalist, show-don't-tell approach that resonates deeply with players. Adapted from the webcomic 'the suit,' it captivates within a brief runtime, demonstrating that impactful storytelling can surpass traditional cinematic experiences. Reviewers express excitement for the developer's future projects that may further innovate in narrative design.
- “The bold execution of these ideas is exciting to see, and I look forward to seeing Inkforge's larger-scale future work that can further explore different types of storytelling in games.”
- “Even within its short runtime of a few minutes, it managed to engage me more in its story than countless games decorated with awards for their 'cinematic experience.'”
- “The story this game tells is one of utter despair, only fully realized by trying again and again, realizing there is nothing you can do to change the outcome.”
- “Even within its short runtime of a few minutes, it managed to engage me more in its story than countless games decorated with awards for their 'cinematic experience'.”
- “Semu is a concise and highly effective adaptation of Bad Space's 'The Suit' webcomic, telling a powerful story with minimal prompting and a show-don't-tell narrative philosophy.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay of semu is characterized by its engaging mechanics, such as a jetpack and grapple hook, which enhance the arcade-style experience while fostering a unique and unsettling atmosphere. The game effectively maintains player immersion by integrating its narrative into the gameplay without relying on excessive dialogue or cut scenes, creating a compelling and cohesive experience. Overall, semu successfully combines simple mechanics with a thought-provoking narrative, resulting in a memorable gameplay experience.
- “A looming sense of dread is an impressive thing to instill within a player, especially within the arcade-style scope of semu's gameplay and visual design.”
- “Very few games manage to have a narrative without leaning heavily on dialogue and cut scenes that take control away from the player and break up the flow of gameplay.”
- “A looming sense of dread is an impressive thing to instil within a player, especially within the arcade-style scope of semu's gameplay and visual design.”
- “The simple and fun additions of a jetpack and grapple hook to a 16-bit astronaut put the player in a familiar gameplay setting, but by toying with the format of the game itself, semu succeeds in building an increasingly unsettling atmosphere.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The music in the game is generally praised for being enjoyable and well-composed, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some players noted that the volume during specific sequences, like the eyeball scene, was excessively loud, detracting from the enjoyment. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, though its non-essential nature was a disappointment for some.
- “Soundtrack was a banger, so super bummed it wasn't essential.”
- “A short but sweet experience with lovely music, interesting premise and narrative with a solid ending to boot.”
- “The music during the eyeball sequence was very loud.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game effectively combines familiar gameplay elements, such as a jetpack and grapple hook, with innovative design choices that create a progressively unsettling atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The simple and fun additions of a jetpack and grapple hook to a 16-bit astronaut put the player in a familiar gameplay setting, but by toying with the format of the game itself, Semu succeeds in building an increasingly unsettling atmosphere.”