Sephonie

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 173 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Sephonie Game Cover
Sephonie is an outstanding 3D platformer that's weakened some by overly verbose, and often heavy-handed story-telling.
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"Sephonie" is a 3D adventure game where you parkour through an uninhabited island's cave network as three biologists. Use acrobatic moves, grapple with creatures, and solve puzzles via the "Puzzle Grid" system to research unknown creatures. Experience a unique spiritual landscape with lush caverns, subterranean oceans, and surreal cityscapes.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 173 reviews
story40 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • Sephonie features a beautifully crafted world with unique environments and a captivating narrative that explores deep themes of connection and identity.
  • The platforming mechanics are innovative and rewarding, encouraging exploration and creativity in movement, while the puzzle elements provide a nice change of pace.
  • The music and art style are exceptional, creating a nostalgic yet fresh atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The platforming controls can feel clunky and imprecise at times, leading to frustration during more challenging sections.
  • Some players may find the dialogue-heavy storytelling to be overwhelming or tedious, especially with lengthy monologues that can disrupt pacing.
  • The puzzles, while enjoyable, may be too easy for some, lacking the challenge that could make them more engaging.
  • story106 mentions

    The story in "Sephonie" is described as a deeply introspective and emotional journey, exploring themes of alienation, identity, and connection, often through abstract and poetic storytelling. While some players found it less cohesive compared to previous titles from Analgesic Productions, many appreciated its unique narrative style and the way it intertwines with the gameplay, creating an immersive experience. Overall, the game is praised for its heartfelt plot and character development, despite some critiques regarding its clarity and pacing.

    • “The aesthetics, gameplay, story, I can't think of a single part of this game I have any kind of problem with.”
    • “The story is very effective and bittersweet, exactly the same sort of contemplative and moving writing that led me to love Anodyne 2 so much.”
    • “The plot/story is dense and emotional, with extensive dialogue to teach you about the mysteries of Sephonie Island, your characters, and their memories.”
    • “The story feels a bit haphazard (seeing as it was directly inspired by their experiences with the COVID pandemic) and I didn't connect with it as much as their other games.”
    • “Personally, while all of their games suck me in, I have thought that Analgesic has struggled to find balance in their stories with both conveying their desired message and telling a coherent story.”
    • “The game barely scrapes the iceberg on the concept and throws it aside for an ending where the data is just a plot device to resolve a story that could have ended 15 minutes prior with no effective difference.”
  • gameplay80 mentions

    The gameplay in "Sephonie" is characterized by its unique and creative 3D platforming mechanics, which may initially feel awkward but become enjoyable as players master them. The game combines platforming with puzzle elements, offering a variety of challenges that gradually increase in complexity, while its retro-inspired aesthetics and exploration encourage a sense of discovery. Although some players may find the controls finicky and the puzzles occasionally too easy, the overall experience is engaging and rewarding, appealing to both casual gamers and completionists alike.

    • “Great atmosphere and the gameplay gets really creative.”
    • “The platforming mechanics are unique and fun to learn.”
    • “The gameplay is interesting enough, but your enjoyment of Sephonie is going to be largely dependent on how much you connect to its characters' stories.”
    • “Though it tries not to, Sephonie will undoubtedly alienate casual players with its low-resolution assets, strange parkour mechanics, bizarre block puzzle minigame, obtuse level design, and general sentimental quirkiness.”
    • “This is a baffling combination of awkward woolly platforming that will frustrate you over and over as you miss getting up and onto a platform by mere pixels again and again, a frankly seemingly unfinished puzzle game mechanic which I found essentially impossible to lose and just a load of seemingly random stuff for the story and an insane 'oh no we lost, oh hang on we randomly won' ending.”
    • “Primarily a 3D platformer inspired by the PSX/PS2 era, Sephonie deliberately includes a bit of those generations' clunky controls that imparts a weightiness and cautiousness that are a far cry from today's refined mechanics, which may be off-putting to the impatient.”
  • music75 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its dreamy, atmospheric quality that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as both relaxing and emotionally resonant, with many noting its ability to evoke strong feelings and complement the game's visuals and narrative. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with some calling it the best soundtrack of 2022 and a significant reason to engage with the game.

    • “Lovely dreamy music to carry you away.”
    • “The music is phenomenal; it is a vibe.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, with a balance of haunting ambience and engaging, moving melodies.”
    • “I hate being so negative, but another thing I found disappointing was the OST wasn't really as impressive as in previous games.”
    • “Like the graphics, the music feels extremely fitting for something you would find in a PS1 game; it feels nostalgic even though this game just came out, and I think that's really impressive!”
    • “It was a soundtrack I had to go back and realize which songs were best, but with this one, every track is well planned and fits the atmosphere of each level perfectly.”
  • graphics37 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique retro aesthetic, reminiscent of early 3D gaming eras like the PS1 and Nintendo 64, featuring low-poly models and a soft color palette that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and engaging visuals that complement the gameplay and story, creating a dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere that captivates players. The combination of stunning visuals and fitting music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The art style is gorgeous, the color palette and textures are very soft and really complement the low-poly 3D models that make up the environment very well.”
    • “The graphics are as stunningly retro as Analgesic Production's last game, Anodyne 2, with the lovingly rendered PSX style of the graphics and the hauntingly nostalgic sounds.”
    • “I love how the graphics are surreal and futuristic; it makes the game feel so dreamy!”
    • “The visuals are primitive, but they capture the inviting visual simplicity and clarity of the 5th and 6th generation, before post-processing and overblown lighting made modern games require effort to simply look at them.”
    • “The 3D graphics are simple and old-school, but beautiful at the same time. I often found myself stopping in the middle of puzzles just to take in the scenery around me and enjoy the soundtrack.”
    • “Their visual art styles point back to older game systems like Nintendo 64, PlayStation, Dreamcast, etc., while the gameplay itself is refreshingly modern.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its beautiful environments, heartfelt storytelling, and captivating music, which together create a deeply resonant experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful exploration of themes like adaptation, identity, and emotional connection, though some feel less connected to characters compared to previous titles. Overall, the game is praised for its unique emotional depth and the ability to evoke strong feelings through its narrative and gameplay.

    • “The environments are wonderful and really sell the setting (along with the music, which is fantastic), and the plot is heartfelt, thoughtful, and has some cool ideas.”
    • “Side characters in Anodyne 2 had mental hang-ups, skeletons in their closet, coping habits, emotional scars, hopes and dreams.”
    • “It's a clear passion project that is extremely emotionally candid and has some wonderfully unique, ambitious gameplay.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creativity, relaxation, and immersive world-building, complemented by a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the experience. Reviewers highlight the unique and bizarre characters, as well as the haunting yet enjoyable environments that invite exploration. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as ethereal and comforting, making it a standout feature that resonates with players.

    • “The music, atmosphere, and story are what I really came for, and Analgesic Productions continues to deliver.”
    • “It's gameplay wasn't next level or anything, but it set itself apart with its atmosphere, world-building, and very believable and bizarre characters, alongside its awesome music.”
    • “Analgesic always do killer jobs when it comes to creating atmospheres that feel strange, wonderful, and just plain fun to explore.”
    • “It possesses environments with a haunting atmosphere, like if the first Jak & Daxter game grew up by 20 years, attained a respectable career as a biologist, and took MDMA.”
    • “This is the kind of game that makes me feel sleepy, not because it's boring, but because its vibe and atmosphere is so...comfortable.”
    • “While the atmosphere is generally relaxing, the platforming can become quite challenging.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in Sephonie is described as a blend of thoughtful and character-driven dialogue, reminiscent of the developer's previous work, Anodyne 2. While some reviews note a more serious tone overall, the game still features moments of humor that are both funny and thought-provoking, contributing to its unique narrative style.

    • “Sephonie carries much of the same style and humor as Analgesic's previous work, Anodyne 2: Return to Dust, but mechanically and story-wise is its own deeply unique and ambitious game.”
    • “The funny part is that this review was never part of my plan, but I just couldn't help myself.”
    • “Funny, thoughtful, carefully and delicately played out.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a significant strength, with reviewers noting its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in comparison to classic platformers. The integration of a touching story and global themes enhances the characters' journeys, making the experience memorable and impactful. Overall, the character design and development contribute to a unique and unforgettable adventure.

    • “From the art direction, to the character development, and even the gameplay, it's an incredibly special, unforgettable adventure.”
    • “Fun platforming with an interesting moveset, great visuals, environments and character designs, gorgeous music, a touching and timely story, and a fun puzzle system.”
    • “Character design has also taken a step back.”
    • “Cinematic platformers like Another World and Flashback finally make their 2D to 3D jump in spectacular form with Sephonie, which dares to imagine if your favorite cult-classic PS2 platformer had actual pathos, global concerns, and character development.”
    • “From the art direction to the character development, and even the gameplay, it's an incredibly special, unforgettable adventure.”
  • stability2 mentions

    While "Sephonie" exhibits occasional bugs, players generally find that these issues are manageable and often attribute difficulties to their own skills. However, some secrets and rewards require exploiting glitches, indicating a mixed experience with stability.

    • “Though in Sephonie it sometimes feels a bit buggy, most of the time I can blame myself and jump right back into practicing the tricky maneuvers they're trying to get me to do.”
    • “Secrets and rewards are hidden in areas where you have to exploit glitches in order to get to.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find that while the postgame grinding in this title is not as detrimental to enjoyment as in other games, it still leads to feelings of frustration and tedium.

    • “The postgame doesn't nuke the enjoyment of the main game quite as hard as Anodyne's did for me, but at the very least it did make everything post-credits feel frustrating or tedious.”
    • “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay invested in the story or characters.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, citing numerous easter eggs that enhance the experience and provide additional challenges for those who return to play.

    • “There are lots of easter eggs, which add to the replay value and provide an extra challenge.”
    • “The game offers multiple endings, encouraging players to replay and explore different choices.”
    • “Each playthrough feels unique due to the random events and character interactions.”
    • “The game has lots of easter eggs, which add some replay value and extra challenge.”
    • “Once you complete the main story, there isn't much incentive to play again.”
    • “The lack of varied endings makes replaying feel pointless.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

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