Sky Break
- October 21, 2016
- Farsky Interactive
- 6h median play time
Sky Break will pale in comparison to any larger open world game, but for it's size, it packs a lot of power.
In "Sky Break" , humanity is at risk from a deadly virus and you are part of a team sent to Arcania to find a cure. The planet's drones have turned against humans, so you must hack mechas for allies and evolve their skills to survive. The storm and its elements are a constant threat, and you must also avoid or overcome them to complete your mission.
Reviews
- Great graphics and art style that create an immersive atmosphere.
- Fun concept of hacking mechas to create companions for combat.
- Engaging exploration with a unique sci-fi setting.
- Game feels unfinished with limited content and repetitive gameplay.
- Combat mechanics are clunky and AI pathfinding is poor.
- Short playtime with little replayability and lack of depth in crafting and story.
- gameplay186 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the unique mechanics and companion robots, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. Many appreciate the smooth controls and visual aesthetics, but criticize the limited content and simplistic mechanics that lead to a sense of tedium. Overall, while the game offers fun elements and a solid foundation, it struggles with repetitiveness and a lack of engaging content.
“I liked the companion robots mechanic; lots of different ones to get, and they do help a lot in combat.”
“The gameplay is fun; the ability to hack and 'tame' wild mechas makes things even more enjoyable, and while the crafting and equipment were simple, for a game of this length, everything was just about perfect.”
“It's solid, plays well, has some nice maps, graphics are solid, and gameplay is pretty simple yet straightforward and surprisingly well executed.”
“While I love the idea behind the game, the gameplay itself is rather repetitive and stale.”
“Unfortunately, the gameplay is lacking since there isn't any reason to explore the open world map because there is no content other than common enemies, chests that contain only ammo and plants to loot.”
“There was something fundamentally lacking in the gameplay; story and overall aesthetic.”
- story170 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as shallow and linear, with many players noting a lack of depth and engagement in the narrative. While some appreciate the backstory revealed through logbooks and find the premise intriguing, others criticize the simplistic quests and underwhelming plot development, leading to a feeling of emptiness in the gameplay experience. Overall, the story is seen as a missed opportunity, with calls for more substantial content and character development in potential future updates.
“The story is interesting, the gameplay is fun, the design and colors are charming.”
“I loved the fact that you are 'stranded' on a planet, alone with some nasty mechas there all want to beat you, in your mission to find a cure and leave that planet by repairing a shipwreck.”
“The attempt at a story is something we don't see too often from survival games; it's well presented in the cutscenes and intriguing in the gameplay.”
“The story is basic.”
“The entire arc of story missions only lasts about 6-8 hours, and the last 4 of that, there are no stronger enemies, meaning you are wandering through an empty, boring world from waypoint to waypoint with nothing to do.”
“The story feels tacked on as an afterthought.”
- graphics132 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style, environmental design, and overall visual appeal, particularly for an indie title. While some players note that the graphics can be simpler compared to contemporary standards, they often highlight the game's unique aesthetic and immersive atmosphere. However, there are also criticisms regarding performance issues at higher settings and a lack of variety in graphical content.
“The stunning visuals, that have a distinctive 'extra-terrestrial' look, the weather, the sounds that perfectly blend in make me dive into this game and get lost for a while.”
“The graphics are beautiful... the weather system is amazing... the enemy AI gets a little better on the later islands... this game could have been one of the best indie games of 2015.”
“It's also worth noting that for an indie title, the environment and weather graphics are very well done and visually pleasing.”
“Graphics are mediocre, but require better hardware than admits in the store info and indeed it's excessive for the things that it shows; otherwise, it crashes quite often even when choosing medium quality.”
“Graphics are like wow, maybe worse... I didn't pay attention when I clicked buy this and I thought it was EA like early alpha testing. I went back to the store and I was shocked this is a final release.”
“There is no customization (graphics quality, mouse sensitivity, etc.), the controls stay frozen too long after being attacked -- bad if you get ganged up on, and playing with a controller was a very bad experience.”
- music38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting its orchestral quality that complements the game's themes of exploration and survival. While the soundtrack is described as beautiful and fitting for the game's environment, some users express frustration over the lack of an option to purchase it. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience.
“I think they really nailed that 'alone in the wild' feeling in the music, world design, and general atmosphere.”
“Also, it has a lovely soundtrack that goes well with the stormy, lonely landscape.”
“The best part of this game is simply exploring a beautiful landscape, you're just running along with your robot cat buddy, maybe harvesting a few plants on your way, zapping a few hostile mechas with your laser gun, enjoying the beautiful string orchestral music, and then in the very next second, your map is blurred into pixels and now you and your cat are outrunning a tornado - now accompanied with some tense, but still beautiful, orchestral music.”
“If you want to give your hands something to do while listening to music or a podcast and buy it at a 75% discount, it's okay, I guess.”
“It's obviously still budding; some of the animation is a little clunky and clipping. The music sometimes has an awkward pause before looping again.”
“Majorly because of the music (which there is still no option to buy the soundtrack!), but the gameplay is fun too.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its immersive and varied atmosphere, effectively capturing feelings of isolation and tension through its music, world design, and stunning visuals. While many players appreciate the beautiful art and the unique atmospheres of different areas, some feel that certain elements, like mechas, detract from the overall experience. Despite its shorter playtime, the atmospheric depth and replay value are highlighted as significant strengths.
“Overall, it is a beautiful game with gorgeous art and atmosphere, wonderful music, and a nice little crafting/survival mechanic.”
“Amazing graphics, beautiful atmosphere and a nice, almost self-telling story!”
“Third: mechas ruin all atmosphere.”
“I think they really nailed that 'alone in the wild' feeling in the music, world design, and general atmosphere.”
“There are many different areas to explore - each with its own atmosphere.”
- stability21 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with players reporting frequent bugs, particularly with AI pathfinding and mecha behavior, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some glitches are minor and do not completely ruin the experience, many users feel the game is still in an early access state and should not have been released in its current condition. Overall, the stability concerns detract from the enjoyment and potential of the game.
“Unfortunately, this game, while beautiful, is extremely buggy and should never have been released from early access in this state.”
“I hate this. I wasted $10 on a piece of software that doesn't even work. The main menu does, but when I click to start a new game, it freezes and doesn't load. I've been robbed for a piece of junk. I don't recommend it and I will certainly not tell anyone about this game.”
“At the moment, this game is very buggy and hard to play.”
- replayability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting the absence of side quests and minimal incentives to revisit the content after the initial playthrough. While some players found a slight degree of replay value due to its atmospheric experience, the consensus is that the short story and simplistic mechanics limit the reasons to replay. Many suggest purchasing the game on sale due to its brief gameplay duration and lack of engaging replay elements.
“As with all games that give this much of an atmospheric experience, it is shorter than you'd like, but the replay value is there.”
“Some replayability too.”
“The main problem comes from the lack not of contents but rather, the lack of 'reason' to keep exploring the islands, collect resources, or currently replay value.”
“There are no side quests, and the replay value is very low.”
“I enjoyed this game, but I suggest it only be purchased while on sale (due to the short story and limited replay value).”
“The game currently has little replayable value since the content upgrades are on a zero to max scale, meaning you can get everything on the first try.”
- grinding18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; some players find it not overly grindy and even suggest it could benefit from more resource collection to enhance the survival experience, while others describe the process as tedious and repetitive, particularly when it comes to upgrades and crafting. The game is seen as entertaining without being excessively burdensome, but the constant need for resource gathering can become monotonous, especially in challenging conditions like storms. Overall, the grinding is viewed as a necessary part of the survival genre, though opinions vary on its execution and enjoyment.
“The game could be completed very fast, but upgrades and unlocks make it impossible and require a lot of grinding.”
“It is a tedious grind of collecting things and pushing a button.”
“It's gorgeous, it's thoughtful, but it is also tedious.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise the graphics and overall performance, others report significant issues, particularly with particle effects and multiple entities causing frame drops. Despite these concerns, many find the game enjoyable and note that it runs relatively well, maintaining around 40fps with occasional lags.
“The graphics and performance are fantastic.”
“Bad optimization, even more so with particles and many entities together.”
“Definitely fun and can't wait to play more of it :) very optimized (some frame lags here or there yet always in the 40fps) very fun game.”
“And triple the PC performance optimization.”
- character development6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the character design is visually appealing and reminiscent of titles like Destiny and Horizon: Zero Dawn, the game lacks depth in character development. Players find the game too short and easy, with minimal engagement in evolving characters or utilizing pets, leading to a desire for more substantial content in this area.
“The character design brings back ideas of destiny, and the robot fauna reminds me of Horizon: Zero Dawn.”
“Very short game that is easy to complete without using any of the character developments, i.e., evolving and pets.”
“It really should have more content with meaningful character development, even at the low price tag.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected funny moments and quirky design choices, such as robotic animals resembling deer and ostriches. However, some players note that the presence of bugs and clipping issues contributes to a sense of the game still being in early access, adding to the overall comedic experience.
“That said, it still feels early access, with some clipping here and there, some odd bugs, and funny moments that you wouldn't expect in a finished game.”
“Crazy robots resemble animals, which looks quite funny to me, especially the deer and ostrich mecha.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling that their investment does not provide adequate value or enjoyment compared to other activities.
“This game is a cash grab, nothing more. I could have had a better time at the mall for $15, and I hate the mall.”
“This game is a cash grab, nothing more. I could have had a better time at the mall for $15, and I hate the mall.”