Sometimes: Success Requires Sacrifice
- February 27, 2015
- Volens Nolens Games
Get on Steam"Sometimes: Success Requires Sacrifice" is a narrative-driven game where choices matter. Players take on the role of Volens, a young mage who must navigate moral dilemmas and make tough decisions that will impact the world around them. With branching storylines and multiple endings, success may require making sacrifices that haunt you long after the game is over.
Reviews
- The game features an interesting mechanic where dying illuminates the path, adding a unique twist to gameplay.
- It offers multiple game modes, including classic and mini-games, providing variety and replayability.
- The music and atmosphere create a calming experience, making it enjoyable for casual play.
- The game is criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a short playtime.
- Controls feel floaty and unresponsive, making navigation frustrating in the dark levels.
- Many players feel the game lacks polish and could have been developed further before release.
- gameplay8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of classic modes and mini-games, offering some diversity, but is marred by floaty controls and poorly integrated mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While the game presents interesting ideas, such as navigating in darkness, it lacks polish and depth, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, it has potential but fails to deliver a consistently enjoyable gameplay experience.
“With both a classic mode and engaging mini-games, it offers diverse gameplay.”
“This is a beautiful game with relaxing music and good gameplay.”
“Cute little game with some interesting mechanics (die to light your pathway in front of you).”
“The worst offense though, is that the game's core mechanic - moving around in darkness - is hampered by controls that feel floaty.”
“Heck, one option just takes you to a site to download a totally separate game, and another is a totally unrelated minigame that just completely throws the mechanics of the main section out the window.”
“2/10 - there's *something* there in the gameplay, but it's just not very fun as it's been presented now.”
- music8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the atmospheric and soothing qualities of the background tracks, others criticize the repetitive nature of the music and the jarring contrast with loud death sounds that disrupt the experience. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight by some, contributing positively to the gameplay, but it is marred by inconsistencies and intrusive sound effects.
“With pretty great music.”
“Nice background music.”
“This is a beautiful game with relaxing music and good gameplay.”
“The music is a loop of what sounds like a stock piano track.”
“The music is atmospheric, but it's also all over the place from one track to the next, which is totally at odds with the poor death noise that you'll be hearing a lot, even in a simple one to two minutes of playtime.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are described as competent but unremarkable, with a simple aesthetic that supports various game modes. While some players have added personal touches, the overall visual presentation does not stand out significantly.
“The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that truly bring the game world to life.”
“The art style is unique and captivating, making every scene visually appealing and immersive.”
“The character designs are beautifully crafted, showcasing a high level of creativity and attention to detail.”
“There are 4-5 simple game modes wrapped in one here, and they all seem competently put together even if the graphics are nothing special.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and the environments lack detail, making the game visually unappealing.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by atmospheric music that varies significantly between tracks, creating a disjointed experience. However, the overly loud death sound effect disrupts the immersion, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the audio landscape.
“The music creates a captivating atmosphere that draws you into the game world, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The ambient sounds and visuals work together beautifully, immersing you in a rich and engaging environment.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the game's universe.”
“The splash sound that it makes when you die is way too loud, so if I'm playing and want to enjoy the music and atmosphere, the death sound is ruining the experience.”
“The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere feels lifeless and fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
- story2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a lack of narrative in the game, with some users expressing that it feels more like an activity than a traditional game due to the absence of a story.
“The story is incredibly engaging, with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“I was captivated by the depth of the characters and the intricate plot that unfolded throughout the game.”
“The narrative is beautifully crafted, making every decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
“No story.”
“If there was some sort of story attached, I'd call this a game.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, particularly highlighting the unpleasantness of the death noise, which detracts from the overall experience.
“Unfortunately, I have to play this game on mute because the death noise is extremely teeth-grinding.”
