Storm, for all intents and purposes, isn't a particularly bad game. There are some interesting ideas at play here that, unfortunately, are hampered by poor level design and frustrating gameplay mechanics. While the graphics and sound in Storm are its strong suit, it's gameplay is obviously flawed. Storm uses the mother nature setting to the best of its capabilities but sadly, will only serve to frustrate its players rather than provide them with a relaxing experience.
Get on Steam"Storm" is a serene puzzle game that takes you through the seasons, using natural phenomena to guide a seed to fertile ground. Interact with 49 lush levels, solve puzzles, and create natural paths in three modes. The game features a calming soundtrack by indie developer and musician Terence Lee, enhancing the immersive experience.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 3
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Storm offers a beautiful and peaceful experience with calming music and stunning visuals, making it a great game to unwind after a long day.
- The game features clever and satisfying puzzles that encourage players to think creatively and use natural elements to guide the seed.
- Many players appreciate the unique concept and the relaxing atmosphere, finding enjoyment in the slower-paced gameplay.
- The controls are often frustrating and unresponsive, leading to a lack of precision in gameplay and making puzzles feel arbitrary and difficult.
- The game suffers from limited settings and technical issues, such as a lack of mouse sensitivity options and no cloud saving, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Despite its beautiful presentation, many players find the gameplay to be tedious and frustrating, with some levels feeling overly difficult due to poor design choices.
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its calm and beautiful soundtrack, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the nature sounds. While some players find it soothing and a key part of the enjoyment, others express frustration with sound volume issues. Overall, the music contributes positively to the atmosphere, making the gameplay more immersive.
“Instead, try listening to the calm music and noticing nature's sounds, particularly the wind blowing and the rain.”
“Admittedly, I could have finished it sooner if I wasn't appreciating the scenario and the soundtrack.”
“A calm and peaceful game with a nice soundtrack.”
“While I appreciate the music and art style, I have come to be highly irritated by these problems in the game, and I can't but strongly recommend against it.”
“Admittedly, I could have finished it sooner if I wasn’t appreciating the scenario and the soundtrack.”
“Graphics are just okay, music is solid but the real joy comes from solving the puzzles.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players praising its clever and satisfying puzzle mechanics that evolve with each season, while others criticize the confusing and unresponsive mechanics, unclear objectives, and inconsistent performance. Overall, it offers familiar challenges without being repetitive, but may frustrate those seeking a more serene experience.
“This is a surprisingly clever and satisfying puzzle game with simple mechanics.”
“I'm up to autumn now, and I'm really enjoying the twist on mechanics each season brings.”
“The challenges each stage are familiar (good conveyance of mechanics), without being repetitive.”
“I could forgive it if the game had decent puzzle mechanics, but it doesn't.”
“In terms of actual gameplay, it is anything but serene, and far beyond what any but the most obsessive-compulsive and patient kids will tolerate.”
“The puzzle mechanics are confusing and unresponsive, the abilities work 40% of the time, the objectives are unclear, and the game never looks as good as the trailers imply it does.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the charming, hand-crafted visuals and find them appealing, others criticize the quality in fullscreen, describing it as bland and muddy. Overall, the art style is praised, but it seems to lack depth and detail when viewed at higher resolutions.
“And, as hinted above, the hand-crafted visuals are a definite hit.”
“Graphics are great, music is calm and controls are good enough to end the puzzles easily when you have the right solution.”
“Sometimes the puzzles are difficult to complete but your mind will be much clearer after seeing these great graphics and music.”
“While I appreciate the music and art style, I have come to be highly irritated by these problems in the game, and I can't help but strongly recommend against it.”
“I love the charming graphics, but beyond that, there isn't much in this game for me.”
“And I have to say it is a shame because, again, I love the concept and the visuals.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users find the replay value to be good, but some express frustration with mechanics that require repetitive actions, such as waiting for cooldown timers, which detracts from the overall replayability experience.
“The replay value is excellent, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“The game encourages multiple runs with its diverse choices and outcomes, making every session feel fresh.”
“Each playthrough reveals different story elements and character interactions, enhancing the overall replayability.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story of the game revolves around a seed's journey from a tree to a prime plot for growth, utilizing environmental elements like rain, wind, and lightning to solve puzzles. While the gameplay is slow-paced and can be challenging, it offers an enjoyable experience for players looking to pass the time.
“The story unfolds beautifully as you navigate through the challenges, making each puzzle feel meaningful and connected to the overall narrative.”
“I was captivated by the way the game intertwines its puzzles with the storyline, creating a rich and immersive experience.”
“The narrative depth adds layers to the gameplay, making every successful seed transfer feel like a significant achievement in the larger story.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Character development is minimal, leaving the players with little emotional investment in the plot.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises, making the overall experience feel stale.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is visually stunning and tranquil, but it can be undermined by frustrating level design and clumsy controls, which detract from the overall experience.
“Despite all its visual beauty and tranquil atmosphere, the game often becomes irritating due to (probably) unintended pitfalls in the level design or the clumsy implementation of its controls.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs reported that can render it unplayable, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
“But it has more bugs than a picnic on a hot August night after a dune buggy drive through the national exterminator's convention, rendering the game unplayable.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustratingly tedious, particularly when it comes to tasks like maneuvering items, which can lead to a loss of patience and enjoyment.
“Trying to get the stupid seed to move where you want it is hair-tearingly tedious, and I am simply not patient enough to continue trying.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the grind to be a frustrating chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
