Sweven
- April 22, 2017
- CG-Interactive
Get on SteamSweven is a 2D platformer with an emotional story and beautiful graphics.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful black and white graphics that create an immersive atmosphere.
- The calming soundtrack enhances the overall experience, providing a relaxing backdrop to the gameplay.
- Sweven offers a short but enjoyable adventure, making it suitable for a quick gaming session with the potential for 100% achievements.
- The controls can be clunky and frustrating, leading to difficulties in gameplay, particularly with jumping mechanics.
- The game is very short, with most players completing it in around 30-40 minutes, leaving some feeling unsatisfied.
- There are several glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience, impacting gameplay and immersion.
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's music is characterized by calming background tracks that enhance the dark environment, creating a sense of peace and happiness for players, especially when experienced with a headset. However, some users noted that the ambient sound effects were minimal, leading to a lack of memorable musical moments. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its simplicity, the ambient audio could be improved.
“The game puts a lot of emphasis on its music, which should be listened to by wearing a headset.”
“Sweven delivers peace and happiness to your world, and the music just intensifies that feeling.”
“Also, the game puts a lot of emphasis on its music, which should be listened to by wearing a headset.”
“Additionally, the ambience wasn't that great, because you have a few sound effects here and there, but that's all as far as I remember; I don't even remember the game having any music.”
“The game has a dark environment with calming background music.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as immersive and beautiful, particularly in its artistic design, though some players find it challenging to appreciate due to gameplay mechanics. While it draws comparisons to other titles like Limbo, it is noted for its unique charm, making it a memorable experience despite its short length. Overall, the game's black and white graphics contribute significantly to its atmospheric quality.
“Even if it's just a flash game, the black and white graphics create a quite immersive atmosphere.”
“Sweven is a beautifully atmospheric platformer.”
“It is one of the most beautiful and atmospheric games I have ever played.”
“Can't enjoy the atmosphere when you're too focused on trying to wrap your head around basic movement.”
“While the game's black and white themed design is similar to that of Limbo, it does not have the same atmosphere.”
“Game is a bit too short, but the art and atmosphere quality makes it unforgettable.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily consisting of background phrases that provide context rather than a cohesive narrative. Players begin in a cage and ultimately return to their parents, but the journey is not supported by a substantial storyline, leaving much to be desired in terms of narrative engagement.
“Just enjoy the scenes and the small story.”
“Instead of a full story, you get background phrases telling you about the game environment.”
“The story... well, it wasn't really there; you start in a cage and end up back at your parents at the end of the game, but besides a few sentences here and there, the game has no real story, just the goal of getting back to your parents.”
“The story... well, it wasn't really there; you start in a cage and end up back at your parents at the end of the game, but besides a few sentences here and there, the game has no real story, just the goal of getting back to your parents.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their immersive black and white art style, creating a minimalistic yet captivating atmosphere. Reviewers appreciate the quality and distinctiveness of each location, highlighting the overall aesthetic as a strong point of the game.
“Even if it's just a flash game, the black and white graphics create a quite immersive atmosphere.”
“Minimalistic, but with awesome black and white graphics and a dreamy tale.”
“The graphics quality is nice, and all locations feel different.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marred by numerous glitches and bugs, particularly affecting jump mechanics and animations, which can lead to awkward movement on uneven terrain. While players can complete the game in under half an hour, the overall experience is hindered by these technical issues.
“Some jump mechanics are quite buggy (especially when the eagle comes), but altogether you can pass through this adventure in less than half an hour.”
“Sweven is what happens when your animations are poor, your assets are buggy, and you don't even have enough budget to add color to your game.”
“I found some glitches, and sometimes jumping or walking on tilted ground is really weird.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Gameplay is marked by some frustrating mechanics, particularly buggy jump sequences, especially during encounters with the eagle. However, players can complete the adventure in under half an hour, suggesting a relatively short and manageable experience.
“Some of the game mechanics can be frustrating.”
“Some jump mechanics are quite buggy (especially when the eagle comes), but altogether you can pass through this adventure in less than half an hour.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, as its relatable themes and thought-provoking moments enhance the overall enjoyment and depth of the experience.
“The phrases in this game resonate deeply with our world, making it both emotional and thought-provoking. Those moments truly enhanced my enjoyment of the game.”
“The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
“I was genuinely moved by the characters' journeys; their struggles and triumphs felt real and relatable.”
