Snowflake Tattoo
- March 27, 2015
- Rail Slave Games
- 27h median play time
Get on Steam"Snowflake Tattoo" is a grim, neo-noir game with flashing images that may trigger seizures. Players assume the roles of a sentient plasma sniper and a human-bike hybrid, traversing a frozen storage ship to find an illicit reward. The narrative revolves around the sniper's past, the mystery of the hybrid, and the decision to sell or save sleeping human trafficking victims.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game's music is well-produced and captures the intended atmosphere effectively.
- It offers a unique and trippy experience that some players may find intriguing.
- The game allows for player choice in how to interact with the story, providing a sense of agency.
- The gameplay is confusing and lacks clear instructions, leaving players unsure of their objectives.
- The graphics and user interface are poorly designed, making it visually overwhelming and difficult to navigate.
- Many players report experiencing headaches or discomfort due to the flashing visuals and cluttered screen.
- story22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing yet frustratingly fragmented, requiring players to piece together narrative elements from scattered dialogues and environmental storytelling. While it offers a twisted cyberpunk plot that explores moral boundaries, many players find the delivery tedious and the backstory difficult to engage with, often leading to a lack of investment in the narrative. Overall, the story is a significant aspect of the game, but its presentation may leave players feeling disconnected and overwhelmed.
“The story really can only be found in the many thoughts and ramblings of your protagonist that appear on the bottom part of the screen.”
“If you like spending a bit of time uncovering the secrets and story of a strange game, then dig in.”
“This story, addressed briefly in the intro and then in snatches of rainbow text during gameplay, intrigued me to the point of distraction when I began; it actually took me nearly half an hour to stop dreaming and start playing this weird, well-designed game in earnest.”
“I'm not even sure how to progress the story.”
“There's a story, but you will barely read or remember it because they split it so much that you will more likely ignore it as you progress.”
“It explains practically nothing, except to collect red dolls or something, and the text there is hard to read and gives you all this story that you frankly have no reason to care about in one long paragraph.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of //snowflake tattoo// is widely criticized for being confusing, simplistic, and lacking clear objectives, leading to unsatisfying experiences. Many players found the mechanics poorly explained, resulting in frustration and a sense of pointlessness. While some appreciated certain elements, overall, the gameplay is described as underwhelming and difficult to engage with.
“The gameplay is fun enough, with a need to keep moving while finding the dollsteak that appears throughout the map while avoiding or fighting your enemies, which also appear throughout the map.”
“This story, addressed briefly in the intro and then in snatches of rainbow text during gameplay, intrigued me to the point of distraction when I began; it actually took me nearly half an hour to stop dreaming and start playing this weird, well-designed game in earnest.”
“Railslave games returns to a gameplay akin to NPPD but with a few changes.”
“The gameplay itself is rather confusing.”
“This also carries over to the gameplay as goals are unclear and quickly lead to unsatisfying losses.”
“Gameplay simply is not satisfying whatsoever.”
- music19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and production value, noting that it enhances the overall experience. While some find it to be the game's strongest aspect, others describe it as repetitive or underwhelming, suggesting that the soundtrack is the only redeeming feature in an otherwise lackluster game. Overall, the music is seen as fitting and enjoyable by many, but opinions vary on its impact on the game's overall quality.
“The music captures the atmosphere the game wanted well, and the production quality of the music is good.”
“Get lost in this hard to master and very addictive trip while listening to its tech-noir atmospheric soundtrack.”
“The music is good, fitting the game well, and many other people enjoy it a lot, so nothing to complain about there.”
“The music is really the only thing that saves this game in any aspect, but it does not change much.”
“Terrible music, underwhelming gameplay, and unbelievably pretentious tripe of a 'story'.”
“The only thing that's redeemable about this game is a barely okay soundtrack, and that's really stretching it.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users criticizing the poor quality of the retro pixel art and its potential seizure risks due to flickering elements. While some appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and unique artistic choices, others find the visuals cluttered and confusing, detracting from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, lacking detail and coherence.
“But it has this minimalist white on black aesthetic with small accents of oscillating colors, giving it a sense of beauty and wonder.”
“The graphics are trippy, the stories are strange and confusing, and that's not for everyone, which is okay, but you need to know that beforehand, or else you're in for a bad time.”
“Like Rail Slave's other games, Snowflake Tattoo is short -- but it makes up for that brevity with a high level of retro challenge, uncompromising glitch punk aesthetics and a shotgun blast of gonzo creativity straight to the face.”
“Terrible 'retro' pixel art style maze game, very boring and doesn't even feel good to play.”
“The flickering/flashing art is probably a seizure risk and the game should come with a warning for this. The graphics are of very poor quality, even for a retro pixel game.”
“It's a pixellated ghetto game, not very graphically detailed; you'll need to use your imagination to get fully immersed in its twisted cyberpunk plot that pushes the boundaries of morality.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere effectively captures its intended vibe, though some players find it visually unappealing. The tech-noir soundtrack and sound design enhance the immersive experience, contributing to a captivating and addictive gameplay environment. Overall, the atmosphere is a blend of retro and cyberpunk elements that resonates well with fans.
“It captures the atmosphere the game wanted well, and the production quality of the music is good.”
“Get lost in this hard-to-master and very addictive trip while listening to its tech-noir atmospheric soundtrack.”
“I'm basically always on board for this team between the C64 atmosphere, the excellent sound design, and weird cyberpunk optimisery.”
“I understand that there is a specific atmosphere that was being strived for, and I think it was achieved, but it isn’t very nice to look at.”
“It captures the atmosphere the game wanted well, but the overall experience feels lacking.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that it is extremely short and offers little incentive to play again. Overall, it is described as odd and lacking in fun, further diminishing its replay value.
“It is extremely short with no replayability.”
“No replayability.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, as it often involves searching for specific items and resources that appear randomly rather than being earned through effort. This randomness can be seen as a significant drawback, depending on the player's expectations and goals within the game.
“It can definitely be tedious because it's a quest to get certain items and resources at each level, but they randomly appear instead of you having to work for them, which can be a minor to major downfall depending on what you can get out of the game.”
“The grinding feels excessive and often leads to burnout, as the rewards don't seem to justify the time spent.”
“I find the grinding to be frustratingly repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is heightened by the intense stakes involved, as players face a chilling atmosphere and the looming threat of permanent failure, which creates a sense of urgency and dread. The introduction of a surreal realm filled with inhuman beings adds to the unsettling emotional experience, emphasizing the game's darker themes.
“The emotional weight of the story hits you hard, making you reflect on your choices long after you've finished playing.”
“Every character's journey is filled with heart-wrenching moments that resonate deeply, leaving a lasting impact.”
“The game masterfully intertwines its narrative with emotional stakes, drawing players into a world where every decision feels significant.”
