Taora : Beginning
- December 8, 2023
- Tulpar Games
- 4h median play time
![Taora : Beginning Game Cover](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/818/taora_beginning_tulpar_2023_26_xl.jpg)
"Taora: Beginning" is a zombie-infested open-world game set on a mysterious island. Build your base, craft and upgrade your gear, and explore unique locations to loot materials and upgrade your vehicle. Survive by fighting zombies, upgrading your character's skills, and building a well-defended base.
Reviews
- Unique and innovative puzzle mechanics that blend environmental interaction with meditative exploration.
- Beautifully minimalist visual design that creates a calming atmosphere.
- Clever level design that gradually increases complexity, preventing frustration while maintaining intellectual challenge.
- May be too abstract for players who prefer more direct gameplay.
- Limited replay value once puzzles are solved, as the game lacks a traditional narrative.
- Some players might find the minimalist approach too sparse, leading to a feeling of emptiness.
- gameplay98 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Taora: Beginning" is characterized by its unique puzzle mechanics and minimalist design, offering a contemplative experience that emphasizes environmental interaction and gradual mastery of new mechanics. While some players appreciate the innovative approach, others find it too abstract or lacking in traditional narrative elements, leading to mixed feelings about its accessibility and engagement. Additionally, feedback highlights the need for better optimization and clearer communication of gameplay mechanics, particularly in multiplayer and inventory management aspects.
“Taora: Beginning is an indie puzzle-platformer that offers a unique and contemplative gameplay experience.”
“Developed by a small team, the game stands out for its minimalist aesthetic and innovative puzzle mechanics that blend environmental interaction with meditative exploration.”
“The game does an excellent job of introducing new mechanics gradually, allowing players to understand and master each concept before introducing additional complexity.”
“May be too abstract for players who prefer more direct gameplay.”
“All the small problems kinda make it feel like there's no part of the gameplay that's working properly.”
“The game isn't bad, but it is an on-rails survival game with very basic mechanics and offers nothing that hasn't already been done much better by competitors.”
- story66 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 86 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of a traditional narrative, relying instead on environmental storytelling and gameplay mechanics, which many players find insufficient. Reviewers express a desire for a more developed storyline, additional quests, and lore to explain the game's setting and context. Overall, while some appreciate the gameplay elements, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the experience.
“While the game doesn't feature a traditional narrative, it tells its story through environmental design and gameplay mechanics.”
“In the end, our love story faced the ultimate test.”
“A main story line with quests.”
“This cannot be priced higher than free to play when released. It has potential but is not yet very engaging; key binds don't work, and there is no story or quests other than the basic tutorial, resulting in a very barren landscape.”
“By the way, completing missions until the end of the storyline that was provided in the demo will last for a maximum of one hour.”
“-A story should be added first and foremost; some lore is needed as to why the apocalypse started, who we are, and why the zombies are everywhere.”
- graphics60 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have received mixed reviews, with some praising its minimalist and quirky art style, while others criticize it for appearing generic and lacking detail, often likening it to asset packs. Many users noted performance issues, such as frame rate drops on higher settings, and inconsistencies in animation quality. Overall, while the graphics may appeal to those seeking a casual experience, they fall short for players looking for depth and polish.
“The game's minimalist graphics are complemented by an equally understated audio landscape.”
“Good graphic and visual style.”
“This game combines a ton of great mechanics with a fun graphical art style and enjoyable gameplay!”
“Graphics are rippled dirty dog water with laughable animations that don't actually interact with each other.”
“However in its current state, graphics seem more asset bought than actual art.”
“This game offers nothing new to the model and only downgrades to stuff that is already out there with chintzy, asset-flip Roblox graphics.”
- music34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as chill and relaxing, creating a tranquil atmosphere that complements the visuals. However, many players feel that the upbeat soundtrack is mismatched with the apocalyptic setting, suggesting it detracts from the overall vibe. While some praise the quality of the music, others recommend a shift to a more fitting tone for the game's themes.
“Ambient sounds and a subtle, atmospheric soundtrack create a sense of tranquility that perfectly matches the visual style.”
“Music is super chill and relaxing.”
“The music is really, really good - one of its strongest comparisons to 7d2d.”
“The music in the environment feels out of place though; it sounds cheery for some reason.”
“- Generic graphics and background music... looks almost like an asset pack you can download for free.”
“It's like Red Dead Redemption, but with zombies, and always playing comforting music even while fighting for your life.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback; while some players find it engaging and balanced, allowing for resource gathering and base development, others describe it as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort for minimal rewards. Many users noted the potential for abuse in the looting system, which can lead to quick power gains, but also highlighted frustrations with resource farming due to gameplay mechanics like hitbox issues. Overall, the game seems to cater to both casual players and those willing to invest significant time in grinding.
“I think Taora is suitable for casual players because the game is not too grindy; the zombies and bandits are not too hard to kill.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Farming resources is painful because of hitboxes mismatching and the camera angle being off.”
“It's fun to play but gets a little grindy and annoying at times, so a very no for now.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by calming ambient sounds and a subtle soundtrack that enhance its tranquil visual style, creating an immersive experience. It is particularly appealing to players who appreciate contemplative gameplay that emphasizes atmosphere and intelligent design over action. Overall, the atmosphere is consistently praised as deep and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's enjoyment.
“Ambient sounds and a subtle, atmospheric soundtrack create a sense of tranquility that perfectly matches the visual style.”
“Calming and immersive atmosphere.”
“It's particularly recommended for players who enjoy contemplative games that prioritize atmosphere and intelligent design over action-packed gameplay.”
“3-deep atmosphere”
“3-deep atmosphere”
- optimization16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many users highlighting significant issues, describing it as "horrendous" and in need of improvement. While some players report smooth performance and enjoyable gameplay mechanics, the consensus is that better optimization is necessary, especially for multiplayer experiences. Overall, the game is still considered an early access title that requires further refinement.
“Good performance, low grind, great base management idea, diversity of enemies (zombies, bandits...), etc.”
“Everything runs smoothly.”
“Horrendous optimization.”
“It is still an early access demo of a full release game and needs a bit more optimization.”
“Bad optimization.”
- stability14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting no bugs or lag, while others have encountered various glitches and AI issues, particularly when switching between characters. Although there are notable bugs that need addressing, many users remain optimistic that future updates will improve the overall experience. Overall, while the game is playable, it still requires significant stability improvements.
“The AI didn't seem to work and got buggy while switching between players (also dropped all my stuff).”
“Game is buggy and needs sorting still; overall the game is okay, better when more is added as it's still bare-bones content.”
“A little too buggy in the real world; certain zombies lag out the game.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, with players finding it funny and noting good mechanics and objectives. However, some reviews suggest that the game's poor design may lead to unintentional humor, potentially resulting in amusing content from players. Additionally, there is a consensus that multiplayer functionality could enhance the comedic experience.
“This game is so poorly designed that I'm pretty sure there might be funny videos eventually for it.”
“The game is funny, with good mechanics and objectives.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability, as players find that once the puzzles are solved, there is little incentive to revisit the experience.
“Limited replay value once puzzles are solved.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted as a key feature, allowing players to enhance their skills and abilities through various gameplay mechanics such as crafting and exploration. This aspect contributes to a deeper engagement with the game world, as players can tailor their characters to suit their playstyle.