SolarGun
- July 28, 2017
- Mechanical Boss
- 1h median play time
Get on SteamSolarGun is a puzzle-based survival game where players must navigate through a dangerous factory by managing light orbs and avoiding deadly floor tiles. With over 16 levels of increasing difficulty, players must also deal with the effects of death and find hidden minigames along the way. Additionally, a speedrun mode is available for those seeking an extra challenge.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers solid puzzle mechanics that are engaging and enjoyable, reminiscent of classic titles like Portal.
- It's an incredible value for the price, providing a fun experience for around an hour of gameplay.
- The minimalist aesthetic and ambient music create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the puzzle-solving experience.
- The game lacks a compelling story or character development, leaving players without context for the puzzles.
- Controls can feel imprecise, particularly during platforming sections, leading to frustrating moments.
- Some puzzles may be too simplistic for experienced players, making the overall challenge feel lacking.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its clever mechanics and enjoyable puzzle design, drawing comparisons to popular titles like Portal. Players appreciate the intuitive and minimalist approach, with a solid progression in difficulty that keeps the experience engaging, despite some puzzles lacking clear explanations. Overall, the game offers a fun and visually appealing experience, though it is noted to be relatively short in length.
“The main gameplay is unusual and really clever.”
“The gameplay is quite fun with the environments neatly done with a very appealing look.”
“I enjoy the puzzles a lot, with the mechanics being interesting and intuitive.”
“I'm surprised that 'oh, but it's fifty cents!' is reason enough for some people to overlook tons of glaring gameplay and design flaws.”
“Some of the puzzles have mechanics that are unexplained and the player doesn't even know about.”
“First puzzles are a piece of cake for anyone who has played a similar game before but let you get familiar with the game mechanics, while the last ones might require you to think or try-and-error a little without being really hard.”
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely underdeveloped, with minimal narrative elements and environmental storytelling, leaving players to piece together a backstory on their own. While there are hints of a deeper narrative, they are sparse and not effectively integrated into the gameplay, resulting in a focus on puzzles over a compelling storyline. Overall, players seeking a rich narrative experience may find the story lacking and unsatisfying.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“The little hints of your playable character's backstory were superbly spread out and hidden.”
“Not much story so far to get me interested.”
“No environmental storytelling, nothing to pick up or collect to give you insight into what happened...this is basically just a glorified tech demo, and the tech isn't up to snuff for the AAA competition (or even indie efforts like Antichamber, which feels good to play).”
“It's obvious that there's some sort of backstory here, but they don't really put any effort into telling you what it might be.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the gorgeous aesthetic and clean visuals, particularly the futuristic theme and ambient effects. However, some players note a discrepancy between in-game graphics and promotional screenshots, citing a lack of detail and a somewhat fuzzy art style. Overall, while the graphics are considered decent and contribute positively to the experience, they are not seen as groundbreaking or original.
“The main aesthetic is gorgeous - a great unlit material with an ambient occlusion effect.”
“The game has very decent graphics; the visual aspect is really good, showcasing a futuristic look.”
“Overall, it's a pretty clean aesthetic.”
“Nice little game, it took me 60 minutes to complete and honestly the graphics are nowhere near the crisp detail shown in the screenshots; and I was running the game on ultra with no issues whatsoever.”
“The graphics are the only bad thing about it.”
“There are also some other small complaints, such as lack of options in the settings, (sensitivity, keybindings, resolutions) and the art style making stuff look fuzzy.”
- music9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as atmospheric and minimalist, enhancing the overall experience with a calming effect, particularly noted in its ambient tracks that change during gameplay. However, opinions are mixed, with some users finding the music lacking or even absent, while others appreciate its subtlety and integration with the game's mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not stand out as exceptional.
“Video clips and atmospheric music create a feeling of enigma, as if there must be something (or someone) else here.”
“Like a puzzle game, and like those titles, it has solid mechanics, runs fantastic, looks good, and has a nice soundtrack.”
“Nice match of minimalist scenario and ambient music (this one also changes when you begin a puzzle).”
“5) The music is awful.”
“There is no music.”
“No, the graphics and soundtrack are nothing fancy.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by an enigmatic quality, enhanced by video clips and atmospheric music that suggest the presence of something or someone elusive. Overall, players appreciate the immersive and intriguing ambiance.
“Video clips and atmospheric music create a feeling of enigma, as if there must be something (or someone) else here.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its cleverness, particularly with jokes like the "save the equipment, not the person" death marker, which adds a comedic twist despite occasionally hindering gameplay. Overall, players find the game to be short yet consistently funny.
“The game is funny, short, but funny.”
“Another part that can be annoying is the death marker, which, while funny because of the whole 'save the equipment, not the person' joke, can easily get in the way of platforming because they are physical objects.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting a smooth gameplay experience free from glitches or bugs.
“Good gameplay overall with no glitches or bugs.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.”
“I appreciate the consistent performance; it never lags or freezes.”
