Stephen's Sausage Roll
- April 17, 2016
- increpare
- 28h median play time
On its website, developer Stephen Lavelle calls Stephen’s Sausage Roll “a simple 3D puzzle game for Windows, Mac, and Linux”.
Get on Steam"Stephen's Sausage Roll" is a puzzle game where players control a chef named Stephen, who cooks sausages on a grill. Players must navigate complex levels and adjust the heat of the grill to cook sausages to perfection, while also avoiding burning them. The game features a unique physics-based mechanic and gradually increasing difficulty, providing a challenging and engaging experience for puzzle fans.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Incredibly well-designed puzzles that challenge players to think creatively and outside the box.
- The game introduces new mechanics gradually, allowing players to discover and master them organically.
- Satisfying 'aha' moments when solving puzzles, providing a strong sense of accomplishment.
- The game has a steep difficulty curve right from the start, which may frustrate casual players.
- Lack of tutorials or guidance can leave players feeling lost and overwhelmed.
- The graphics and presentation are minimalistic and may not appeal to everyone.
- gameplay420 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Stephen's Sausage Roll" is characterized by its deceptively simple mechanics that evolve into complex and challenging puzzles, requiring players to discover and master various interactions through experimentation. While the game lacks explicit tutorials, it effectively introduces new mechanics organically, often leading to satisfying "aha!" moments as players navigate increasingly intricate challenges. Despite its initial difficulty and minimalistic design, the game is praised for its clever level design and the depth it extracts from a limited set of mechanics, making it a rewarding experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
“The game does a great job overall of introducing you to mechanics through experimentation and discovery, and stays fresh by surprising you with new mechanics or by incorporating several existing mechanics in new ways.”
“The way this game builds upon its seemingly simple mechanics to build ever more complex puzzles using the same set of tools as before is astounding, and I was never bored despite the almost minimalistic set of tools at your disposal.”
“Every new mechanic discovered evolves naturally from the core gameplay concept, and none of the solutions are obvious.”
“For instance, there is literally 0 guiding you in the early section of the game to get used to the mechanics.”
“The very first level is a decent challenge before you even have a chance to get a grip on the basic mechanics of the game.”
“I think that there were seriously around 3 brand new mechanics introduced in that level all at the same time, which is absolute BS if you can't skip it and come back later.”
- graphics106 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are largely described as minimalistic, blocky, and sometimes unappealing, with many reviewers noting a "PS1 aesthetic" that may initially deter players. However, as players engage with the game, they often come to appreciate its unique charm and the way the simple visuals complement the intricate puzzle design. Overall, while the graphics may not be visually stunning, they serve the gameplay effectively and contribute to a distinctive atmosphere that resonates with a specific audience.
“Don't let the minimalistic graphics fool you; this is a masterpiece.”
“The aesthetic is bizarre and beautiful, and I just think it's a game that speaks for itself like no other in the puzzle genre.”
“The graphics are simple and stylish but very deliberate and practical, like everything else about this game.”
“The visuals are...not as elegant as the level design, to put it mildly.”
“Graphics are unacceptable even if it is just a puzzle game; there is no need for it to look this bad.”
“The graphics are ps1 hideous (although not entirely without their simple charm) and there's not much story to speak of, but these are minor quibbles.”
- story64 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as minimal and sparse, with many players noting that it is not the primary focus, overshadowed by the puzzle gameplay. However, some reviewers found the story surprisingly deep and thought-provoking, revealing itself gradually, particularly in the later stages of the game. While opinions vary, the narrative is generally seen as an interesting addition that enhances the experience, despite its initial obscurity and lack of traditional storytelling elements.
“It, in fact, has a wonderful, thought-provoking story with some deeply philosophical and dark themes that contrast wonderfully with the game's silly premise.”
“The story revealing itself slowly in the background was super interesting and it's a game I'll remember for sure.”
“The game was already excellent without a story, but discovering there was one after all was a lovely surprise.”
“Also, there is little to no story present.”
“The plot is actually minimal and incidental to the progress, being presented through few cryptic messages in the world hub.”
“The story is slim, and there’s no rich world to explore.”
- music55 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as ambient and minimalist, often serving as a non-intrusive backdrop that complements the gameplay rather than standing out. While some players appreciate the soothing and calming qualities of the soundtrack, others find it boring or forgettable, with only the main menu theme being memorable. Overall, the music enhances the game's atmosphere but lacks significant variety or catchiness, leading some players to prefer listening to their own music while playing.
“The soundtrack is pleasant and non-intrusive, but also non-memorable.”
“The music is subdued and soothing.”
“The little details like particle effects on flowers, the day-night cycle, the different sound effects for everything, and even the music all show the attention to detail that this game went through.”
“The game has mediocre graphics, nearly non-existent music, and gameplay looks dull at first glance.”
“There's not really any music, so you might want to put on something to listen to in the background, unless you really want to focus on the puzzles.”
“The graphics are extremely blocky and simplistic, the music is mostly procedurally generated and kept in the background, and there's initially very little in terms of story or any sort of context.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find that while the game starts off engaging with its puzzles, it tends to become tedious in the later levels, often feeling more like work than play. However, many reviewers appreciate that the puzzles are challenging without being overly long or frustrating, with most solutions being elegant despite the occasional tedious execution. The balance between difficulty and enjoyment varies, with some players feeling that the later stages detract from the overall experience.
“Starts to feel tedious and more like work than play in the later levels, but up until that point it was really fun and engaging!”
“I found it too tediously difficult to get any enjoyment out of.”
“It started feeling tedious after a while.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game elicits a profound emotional response, ranging from feelings of frustration and confusion to moments of joy and triumph, often leading players to experience a rollercoaster of self-perception as they navigate its puzzles. Many users report being moved to tears, both from the mechanics and the narrative, highlighting its ability to evoke deep emotional connections and a sense of achievement. Overall, it stands out as a unique blend of challenge and emotional engagement, making it a memorable experience.
“A supreme puzzle game that made me cry at the end.”
“This is the only game that has made me cry at mechanics alone.”
“About two hours in, I came across a level called 'the great tower', and it filled me with very real emotional dread.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and beautiful qualities, featuring lovely music, colorful low-fi visuals, and a tranquil day and night cycle. Players appreciate how the environment enhances their focus on puzzles, creating a serene space that encourages relaxation and contemplation. Overall, the combination of simple graphics and soothing soundscapes contributes to a uniquely engaging and immersive experience.
“The atmosphere, the evolving color of the objects, the almost complete lack of instructions: I love every aspect of this game.”
“Colorful low-fi visuals, soothing accompaniment, a day and night cycle, and an overall tranquil atmosphere.”
“They really succeeded in creating a calm and clean atmosphere that helped me think about nothing but the puzzle in front of me.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally seen as lacking compared to titles like Portal 2, with some players noting that while there are a few incidental laughs, the comedic elements are not the main draw. However, the game's clever design and engaging gameplay can elicit laughter, particularly upon solving challenging puzzles, despite its seemingly silly premise.
“So hard it made me laugh when I finally solved a puzzle 😂”
“There are a few incidental moments that have made me laugh.”
“Under all of SSR's funny packaging and simple art is an amazingly designed and fun game.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the game offers significant replayability due to its challenging puzzles, which can be satisfying to solve again, especially since many details may be forgotten over time. However, some users note that the difficulty might deter certain players from replaying.
“It might be too difficult for some, but it is satisfying and adds replay value.”
“I'm definitely going to get some replay value out of it; I've already forgotten how most of the puzzles work!”
“The game lacks significant replayability; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
“After finishing the game, I found that there were no new challenges or variations to explore on a second playthrough.”
“While the initial experience was enjoyable, the lack of different outcomes or choices makes replaying it feel redundant.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report a high level of stability, noting that they encountered no glitches or bugs during their experience.
“I haven't encountered any glitches or bugs.”
“The game runs smoothly without any issues.”
“I've experienced consistent performance throughout my playtime.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that the optimization of the game features a consistent audio cue at the beginning of each level and certain menu screens, which initially plays smoothly before transitioning into a more varied soundscape, though some experience stuttering during these transitions.
“The start of each level, as well as some menu screens, use a predefined seed to start with a familiar tune each time you enter them before stuttering off into something new.”
