Taora : Beginning
- December 8, 2023
- Tulpar Games
- 4h median play time
Taora is an island that is infested with zombies and hold many places to explore and loot. You can build your base, craft and upgrade your gear, explore many unique places, loot materials or gears. You can upgrade your vehicle to suit your needs. Upgrade you characters` skills to fit different conditions like hacking electronics, reapiring broken things, healing the wounded or fig…
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.
- Some players might find the minimalist approach too sparse.
- gameplay49 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % 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 concepts. While some players appreciate its innovative approach, others find it too abstract or lacking in traditional narrative elements. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy thoughtful gameplay over action, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its unconventional mechanics and potential communication gaps.
“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.”
“This game combines a ton of great mechanics with a fun graphical art style and enjoyable gameplay!”
“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.”
- story33 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 82 % 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. Reviews highlight the absence of engaging quests and a coherent storyline, with some players expressing a desire for more lore and structured missions. Overall, while the game shows potential, it currently feels underdeveloped in terms of story content.
“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 storyline with quests.”
“This cannot be priced higher than free to play when released. It has potential but not yet very boring, key binds don't work, no story or quests other than basic tutorial, very barren landscape.”
“By the way, completing missions until the end of the storyline that was provided in the demo will last for an hour maximum.”
“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.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising its minimalist aesthetic and quirky art style, while others criticize it for appearing generic and lacking detail. Many users note issues with performance and animation quality, describing the visuals as reminiscent of asset packs or low-budget designs. Overall, while the graphics may appeal to those seeking a casual experience, they fall short for players looking for depth and polish.
“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's minimalist graphics are complemented by an equally understated audio landscape.”
“This game combines a ton of great mechanics with a fun graphical art style and enjoyable gameplay!”
“The 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.”
- music17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as chill and atmospheric, enhancing the tranquil experience of exploration and base-building. However, many players feel that the relaxing soundtrack clashes with the game's apocalyptic setting, suggesting a need for a more fitting musical tone. While some praise the quality of the music, others believe it could be more aligned with the game's themes to create a cohesive atmosphere.
“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 soundtrack had no right to go that hard.”
“Generic graphics and background music... looks almost like an asset pack you can download for free.”
“The music in the environment feels out of place though; it sounds cheery for some reason.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it enjoyable and rewarding, particularly in resource gathering and crafting, others feel it can become tedious and overly time-consuming. The looting system is seen as easy to exploit for quick gains, but the necessity of grinding for materials and upgrades can lead to frustration, especially with issues like hitbox mismatches. Overall, the game offers a balance of grind that appeals to casual players, though some may find it requires a significant time investment.
“I think Taora is suited 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 camera angle being off.”
“It gets a little grindy and annoying at times, so a very no for now.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by calming ambient sounds and a subtle soundtrack that enhance its tranquil visual style, making it ideal for players who appreciate contemplative experiences. Reviewers highlight the immersive and intelligent design, emphasizing that the atmosphere is a key strength of the game, complementing its engaging gameplay and mechanics.
“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”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users highlighting poor performance and the need for better optimization, particularly in multiplayer mode. However, others note that gameplay runs smoothly overall, suggesting that while there are optimization issues, the core mechanics and performance are generally acceptable. The game is still in early access, indicating that further improvements may be forthcoming.
“Good performance, low grind, great base management idea, diversity of enemies (zombies, bandits...), etc.”
“Everything runs smoothly.”
“Horrendous optimization.”
“The game is funny, has good mechanics and objectives, but I consider that the multiplayer is necessary and needs better optimization.”
“It is still an early access demo of a full release game and needs a bit more optimization.”
- stability7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, stability in the game is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs or lag, others encounter various glitches and issues, particularly with AI and gameplay mechanics. Many users acknowledge the presence of bugs but express hope for future fixes, suggesting that the game is still in need of refinement.
“The AI didn't seem to work and got buggy while switching between players, which also caused me to drop all my stuff.”
“There are a few glitches and bugs here and there, which the developer should fix, but overall a recommendation for others to try out.”
“The game is buggy and needs sorting still; overall, the game is okay, but it will be better when more content is added as it's still bare-bones.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as enjoyable, with some players appreciating its comedic elements alongside solid mechanics and objectives. However, there are criticisms regarding the game's design, suggesting that its flaws may lead to unintentional humor in the form of funny videos.
“The game is funny, with good mechanics and objectives.”
“This game is so poorly designed that I'm pretty sure there might be funny videos eventually for it.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % 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.”
“The game lacks variety, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted as a key feature, allowing players to enhance their skills and abilities through various activities such as crafting and exploration, which contribute to a more immersive survival experience.
“The character development system is incredibly deep, allowing players to shape their characters in unique ways that reflect their playstyle.”
“I love how the choices I make during the game impact my character's growth and abilities, making each playthrough feel fresh and personal.”
“The progression system is rewarding, with each level-up providing meaningful enhancements that truly change how I approach challenges.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I was disappointed by the limited choices in character development; it feels like my decisions don't really matter.”
“The lack of depth in character arcs makes it difficult to stay invested in the story or the characters themselves.”