Storm Boy
- November 20, 2018
- Blowfish Studios
Storm Boy: The Game attempts to adapt a book into a format where it doesn't really work. The story and visuals are nice enough, but it's told poorly and not much fun to play.
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Get on Apple Store"Storm Boy" is an emotional adventure game based on the classic Australian novella. You play as a young boy who rescues and forms a bond with a pelican, exploring beautiful hand-painted landscapes and completing mini-games. Through your journey, you'll learn valuable life lessons about friendship, love, and loss.
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Reviews
- Beautiful visuals and a soothing soundtrack create a relaxing experience.
- The game tells a heartwarming and emotional story that resonates with players.
- Short but impactful gameplay with simple mini-games that can be replayed.
- The game is very short, taking only 30 to 60 minutes to complete, which may not justify the price.
- Basic and clunky mini-games detract from the overall experience and can feel frustrating.
- The narrative may not translate well from the original book, leaving some players feeling disconnected.
- story100 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Storm Boy," based on a classic Australian children's novel, is described as a heartwarming yet brief tale about a boy and his pelican friend, conveyed through text and simple gameplay. While some players appreciate its emotional depth and beautiful presentation, others find it lacking in engagement and depth, feeling more like a quick overview than a fully realized narrative. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy touching stories, though it may not resonate as strongly with those unfamiliar with the source material.
“The story is told nicely and has an emotional conclusion.”
“While there is far more to this beautiful story than the game covers, it does well in 30 minutes to share the heartwarming tale of a young boy and his best friend.”
“'Storm Boy' is a beautiful game that tells a heartwarming story of Storm Boy's childhood by the sea.”
“The game lacks the emotional investment it clearly wanted, and the story fails as a result.”
“It's a bit dull, really, and the plot moves too fast to be anything more than a slideshow.”
“The story itself is completely nonsensical and cannot even be used for a 'children's book' type of experience.”
- emotional34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and touching narrative, which resonates with many players, often leading to tears and a sense of nostalgia. However, some reviewers feel that the short duration and rushed storytelling hinder the development of a deeper emotional connection to the characters. Overall, while the game successfully conveys a beautiful message, its brevity may limit its emotional impact for some players.
“A beautiful re-telling of the book and films with a heartwarming ending.”
“The story is told nicely and has an emotional conclusion.”
“I can't recommend this game enough; it's short, heartfelt, and even choked me up at the end.”
- gameplay21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by basic and often clunky mini-games that lack challenge, making it feel simplistic and limited, with a total playtime of only 30-60 minutes. While there are some good ideas, they are overshadowed by mechanical inaccuracies, though the game succeeds in delivering a touching narrative experience, primarily aimed at children. Overall, the gameplay is easy and relaxed, but may not justify its price for some players.
“But gameplay is so fun and it's a very touching story.”
“Cute little game, primarily for children (just like the book it's based on) with easy, relaxed gameplay.”
“The majority of the gameplay is adorable little mini-games.”
“The mini-games are quite basic, and some of them have clunky gameplay.”
“While there isn't particularly a lot to do for the gamer, and what gameplay there is is very simple, consisting mostly of challenge-free mini-games centered in and around the surf, this is a narrative experience first and foremost, and for the most part, the game succeeds at getting this across.”
“There are some good ideas, although few and far between, but even they are drowned in the inaccuracy of the mechanics.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are generally praised for their beauty and art style, contributing to a relaxing atmosphere and effectively conveying the story. However, some reviewers feel that the visuals are used to compensate for a lackluster gameplay experience and a poorly executed narrative, with some even likening the game to a "tech demo" with mediocre graphics. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they are not enough to elevate the game's overall quality.
“It's quite a short and relaxing game with nice visuals and pleasant soundtracks.”
“Presentation wise, the game has nice graphics that do a nice job of telling the story, which is what this game is really about.”
“I find this game to be nice and chill; the graphics are really good and I just love the art style.”
“It offers only the bare minimum and uses its art style and graphics to sell itself.”
“This game is more like a 'tech demo' (that has mediocre graphics) with some really bad story tacked on top.”
“The story and visuals are nice enough, but it's told poorly and not much fun to play.”
- music15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its soothing and pleasant qualities, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere created by the visuals. Reviewers highlight the delightful soundtracks and sound effects, which contribute to an immersive experience, making it an ideal escape from the busy world. Overall, the combination of beautiful art design and calming music is a standout feature of the game.
“The music and sound effects are delightful, and if you want a moment to get away from a busy world, the sound of the gently crashing waves will be a joy.”
“Very beautiful art style, soothing soundtrack, and a nice little story.”
“Relaxing music and fun mini games.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a smooth experience with no bugs or performance-related issues during their playthroughs, indicating strong optimization.
“No bugs or performance-related incidents occurred during the short playthrough.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as charming and engaging, making it suitable for a brief play session. However, many reviewers feel that the experience is too short and rushed, preventing any significant emotional connection to the characters, and they suggest it is only worth purchasing at a discounted price.
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for lacking replayability, with multiple users noting that there is minimal incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
“Not really any replay value.”
“Not really any replay value.”
