Sensorium
- August 28, 2020
- tcordle
Get on Steam"Sensorium is a single-player, open world game that immerses players in a mysterious, abandoned world. The game stays true to the Myst-vania genre, with no direct explanations given and a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and discovery. Players must use their senses to uncover clues and figure out how to return home."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Sensorium offers a unique and engaging puzzle experience centered around the five senses, with clever mechanics that keep players interested.
- The game features a variety of puzzles that gradually increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge without becoming overly frustrating.
- The minimalist art style and calming soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.
- Some puzzles, particularly those related to sound and smell, can be overly challenging or frustrating, especially for players with hearing impairments.
- The game can feel short, with some players wishing for more content or additional puzzles to explore after completing the main game.
- Certain puzzles may require extensive note-taking or memorization, which can detract from the enjoyment for some players.
- gameplay30 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Sensorium is characterized by its innovative use of multi-sensory mechanics, offering a delightful puzzle experience that gradually increases in difficulty. While some mechanics, particularly those related to taste and smell, are less engaging, the overall design encourages exploration and clever interactions between puzzles. Players appreciate the non-linear structure and the game's ability to maintain interest through varied mechanics, making it a fun choice for puzzle enthusiasts.
“A fun puzzle game that explores its mechanics to the fullest.”
“The sensory theme was well done; I especially liked how 'taste' was implemented as a puzzle mechanic.”
“Overall, a very enjoyable exploration puzzle game with a nice variety of mechanics.”
“As for the actual puzzles that did have consistent, reoccurring mechanics, very few of them were worthwhile.”
“Normally this would mean you'd just dislike 20-40% of the game but then they mix it up so those bad mechanics appear in the other style of puzzles as well, ruining the rest of the game at one point so more than half the game is ruined with them.”
“They are not trivial, but there aren't many that feel like deep, clever investigations of the puzzle mechanics, and the mechanics themselves are not too novel.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a simple and minimalist art style that enhances puzzle visibility and understanding, allowing players to focus on gameplay rather than aesthetics. While some reviewers noted the visuals as cheap or amateurish, others appreciated the clean design and calming ambiance, suggesting that the graphics effectively serve the game's purpose despite lacking polish. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their clarity and functionality, though opinions vary on their appeal and execution.
“The art style, in its simplicity and smoothness, makes one focus more on the puzzle rather than the world surrounding them.”
“A fantastic mixture of puzzles, secrets, logic gates, clean simple art style, calming music, and a lot of colorful buttons to press.”
“The graphics here are pretty good, especially for a team this size.”
“The ambiance is chill, but the somewhat grating graphical style and clunky player movement don't do the game any favors.”
“Ehhh it's basically The Witness, but the puzzles aren't as interesting and the visuals/world are light years behind.”
“The graphics are basically 'programmer art', but still an enjoyable game.”
- music23 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere, while others criticize it for being too sharp and lacking subtlety. Accessibility options, such as a tone-deaf mode, are appreciated, especially for those struggling with sound-based puzzles. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-suited to the game, some players noted issues with short music loops and its impact on puzzle-solving experiences.
“The environments and soundtrack are extremely pleasant and relaxing.”
“A fantastic mixture of puzzles, secrets, logic gates, clean simple art style, calming music and a lot of colorful buttons to press.”
“The soundtrack is excellent and has interesting variations depending on your location.”
“Speaking of the music, I think the game's music is, unfortunately, its weakest point -- it's too sharp and not subtle enough, and somewhat ruins the atmosphere of the game, especially in the touch area.”
“Most puzzles are well designed, but I did encounter a few flawed ones, most of them being related to hearing puzzles that can be tedious for someone who doesn't have an ear for musical tones.”
“The music loops were a little short in some areas, which is unfortunate because the music was actually quite well suited to the atmosphere of the game.”
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story in the game is minimal and primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling, with players discovering hints and secrets as they progress. While some players appreciate the intriguing elements and atmosphere, others feel that the lack of a cohesive narrative detracts from the experience. Overall, the game is recommended for puzzle enthusiasts who enjoy exploration and subtle storytelling rather than a traditional plot.
“Good story that you discover as you play.”
“Sensorium is a satisfying gameplay experience with enough story to be intrigued by, solid content to have hours of fun with, and a ton of extra secrets to find afterwards.”
“I remember seeing this game on Reddit and thinking something like 'huh, maybe it's worth a shot' and boy it was, the game is incredible so far, really clever and well-thought-out puzzles, also there seems to be some kind of story going on within the game and some secret areas of which I still have to uncover, which I think is a major plus point.”
“There is no actual story in itself, but lots of objects here and there about the puzzle areas' development.”
“Admittedly, there doesn't seem to be much story to put together - you solve all the puzzle buildings, complete the endgame, and then you win unceremoniously. The puzzles and the general atmosphere (and the soundtrack, which is surprisingly good) are all very enjoyable, and I did get a lot out of this, though I'm not sure exactly how much it'll stick in the memory either.”
“All in all, I highly recommend this game to puzzle lovers who enjoy the unfolding of an experience, without dialogue or characters, and with mere suggestions of a backstory.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its mysterious and inviting qualities, enhancing the overall experience despite some criticisms of the music, which some find too sharp and not subtle enough. While the puzzles are considered above average, the immersive environment and well-suited soundtrack contribute significantly to the game's appeal, encouraging exploration and engagement. However, the lack of a compelling story may leave some players feeling that the atmosphere, while enjoyable, may not have lasting impact.
“The puzzles I consider above average, although not great, but the world and environment have great atmosphere and are fun and quick to move around.”
“Not quite as ambitious in scope as those, but tightly designed intelligent puzzles and an atmosphere of mystery to encourage deeper exploration and understanding successfully give this game the same feeling.”
“Speaking of the music, I think the game's music is, unfortunately, its weakest point -- it's too sharp and not subtle enough, and somewhat ruins the atmosphere of the game, especially in the touch area.”
“It's hard to capture the mysterious but inviting atmosphere that this game has, which elevates it beyond its puzzles.”
“Admittedly, there doesn't seem to be much story to put together - you solve all the puzzle buildings, complete the endgame, and then you win unceremoniously - the puzzles and the general atmosphere (and the soundtrack, which is surprisingly good) are all very enjoyable and I did get a lot out of this, though I'm not sure exactly how much it'll stick in the memory either.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of well-designed puzzles and some tedious elements, particularly those requiring musical skills or heavy memorization. While puzzle enthusiasts may find enjoyment in the game, many players feel that the reliance on tedious mechanics detracts from the overall experience.
“Good puzzle game with some obscure secrets, but also some obnoxiously tedious bits.”
“I would say this was a fun time for a puzzle-lover looking for something like The Witness (though this is quite a lot easier), with its weakest element being its over-use of memorization as a puzzle mechanic, which is more tedious than challenging.”
“It is long and tedious.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with players reporting solid performance at high settings, including 4K resolution. While some users noted minor dips in performance related to VRAM usage, there were no significant bugs or issues encountered during gameplay. However, some players expressed a desire for improved shadow quality despite the game's relatively small file size.
“I didn't encounter any issues with performance or bugs in my playthrough.”
“Given the game takes up a whopping 1.29 GB, I would happily 'pay' the performance cost for some higher quality shadow maps.”
“Performance was solid throughout playing at 4K max settings, with only minor dips due to VRAM usage (I think).”
