Stellar Mess: The Princess Conundrum
- February 26, 2023
- Tibba Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreStellar Mess is a 2D point&click adventure game, set somewhere in Argentinean Patagonia. The game is inspired by early classic EGA games of the genre.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Stellar Mess: The Princess Conundrum is a charming homage to 90's graphic adventure games, featuring engaging humor, clever puzzles, and nostalgic pixel art.
- The game offers a satisfying experience for adventure game fans, with logical puzzles and a sense of progression that keeps players engaged.
- Players appreciate the authentic feel of the game, which avoids excessive pop culture references and instead focuses on a cozy and enjoyable narrative.
- The game is relatively short, taking only 2-4 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- There are some minor issues with the English version, including grammar errors and inconsistent item descriptions, which can detract from the experience.
- Some puzzles can be challenging due to items being hard to detect or requiring players to revisit areas, leading to potential frustration.
- humor7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for being enjoyable and light-hearted, avoiding the forced pop culture references that can detract from the experience in similar titles. Reviewers appreciate the clever writing and funny lines, which complement the engaging puzzles and nostalgic pixel art, creating a fun atmosphere reminiscent of classic 90s adventure games. Overall, the humor is described as silly and fun, contributing positively to the gameplay without being snarky or mean-spirited.
“It has great humor, good puzzles, and pixel-art reminiscent of a great era of adventure games.”
“There were some funny lines too, and the puzzles were just right.”
“It's not a super-long game, but it's fun enough, with silly and fun humor that isn't snarky or mean.”
“This game tries so hard to be funny, but the jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
“The humor feels outdated and lacks the cleverness that makes a game truly enjoyable.”
“It seems like the developers were aiming for humor, but the execution is so poor that it becomes cringeworthy.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and well-structured, particularly for fans of adventure gaming, with logical puzzle sequences that enhance progression. However, some players find it incomplete, leaving them eager for a sequel. Overall, the plot and characters are well-received, making it an entertaining experience.
“I loved the plot and characters.”
“If you come from outside the adventure gaming world, the puzzle sequences are probably going to seem a little ridiculous, but if you are a point-and-click aficionado, you will appreciate the lack of red herrings, the logical usages of different objects together, and the sense you are constantly progressing through the story without getting hopelessly stuck.”
“Sadly, the story is incomplete, but this was entertaining enough that I will keep an eye out for chapter two.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are a nostalgic homage to 90's graphic adventures, featuring crunchy pixel art and a vibrant color palette that evokes the era's charm. The visuals are complemented by quirky dialogues and numerous pop culture references, enhancing the overall experience while maintaining a challenging gameplay reminiscent of classic titles like Maniac Mansion.
“A wonderful love letter to 90's graphic adventures, featuring humor, references, crunchy pixels, and that characteristic difficulty of these games that can be a headache at times.”
“A love letter to 90's graphic adventures, inspired by Maniac Mansion, with quirky dialogues and tons of 80's and 90's pop culture references.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations are stiff, making the game visually unappealing.”
“The environments are bland and lack detail, which detracts from the overall immersion.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious due to its old-school verb interface, which can complicate interactions. However, many agree that the overall experience is rewarding enough to justify the extra effort.
