TAURONOS
- April 3, 2017
- cavaliero
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"TAURONOS is a single-player Horror Arcade game where you, trapped in an ancient labyrinth, must evade the invincible Minotaur and discover tools and rewards to defeat it. With 6 chapters, 42 stages, and multiple upgrades, the game draws inspiration from Greek mythology, creating a dark atmosphere through retro pixel art, voice acting, and metaphorical storytelling. The game takes about 2 hours to complete."
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features engaging gameplay with well-designed levels that keep players on their toes, balancing exploration and survival elements effectively.
- Atmospheric audio and voice acting enhance the experience, adding depth to the narrative and gameplay.
- The game offers a variety of upgrades and secrets, encouraging replayability and exploration, while the challenge level is well-tuned for players on easy difficulty.
- The lives system can be frustrating, as running out of lives forces players to restart the entire game, which can feel unfair given the trial-and-error nature of the gameplay.
- Some levels lack variety in design and can feel repetitive, with similar graphical assets and color palettes that detract from the overall experience.
- Bugs and occasional clunky controls can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments, especially in higher difficulty settings.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by slow-paced dungeon crawling from a top-down perspective, which some players find tedious due to repetitive stages and lengthy sections that require replaying. While the controls are simple and the pixel art enhances the experience, the overall engagement is mixed, with some players enjoying the tension and challenge of avoiding traps, while others criticize the gameplay as hard and boring.
“The most important aspect the game got right is the gameplay.”
“The gameplay, pixel art, and the sound effects coalesce into a wonderful and tense experience.”
“The stages look a bit similar even though they’re different in terms of gameplay design.”
“The gameplay is generally slow-paced dungeon crawling from a top-down perspective.”
“Furthermore, given the slow-paced gameplay, having to replay lengthy sections is not necessarily a very enjoyable prospect.”
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as captivating and intriguing, featuring a deep plot with unexpected twists, despite its seemingly simple premise of navigating a labyrinth. Players appreciate the engaging narrative, complemented by excellent voice acting and visuals, though some feel it could benefit from further depth. Overall, it offers a satisfying blend of adventure and mystery, appealing to those who enjoy uncovering secrets and achievements.
“It's got puzzles that aren't too complex, a captivating storyline, and some amazing art and voiceovers.”
“The voice acting really fits the character, the graphics are crisp and complement the gameplay, there are hidden secrets to explore, monsters to avoid, and what appears to be a very deep plot despite the simple appearance.”
“Awesome pixel art, rich atmosphere, and quite an interesting story!”
“Story: you're in a labyrinth for some reason.”
“Edit: so this was the first game I played on my mission to play brand new indie games and review them, and it appears I've severely overestimated the average indie game's quality.”
“Having a story at all gives it a couple points alone.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its rich and immersive qualities, enhanced by superb artwork, atmospheric music, and effective use of lighting and sound. While some players find certain elements frustrating, the overall tension and intriguing premise contribute to a captivating experience. Many reviewers suggest that a silent protagonist could further strengthen the atmosphere.
“The artwork and atmosphere are superb.”
“It's rich in atmosphere and suspense.”
“The lighting and sounds are very atmospheric and there are complete voice overs throughout the game.”
“The atmosphere would have been a thousand times stronger with a silent protagonist.”
“The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real sense of tension or engagement.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising the crispness and atmospheric artwork, while others criticize the lack of variety and an unappealing color palette. The art style, described as "pseudo-pixel art," is noted for its simplicity, but some players feel it lacks the detail and effort expected in sprite design. Overall, the visuals seem to complement the gameplay, despite the criticisms.
“The voice acting really fit the character, the graphics were crisp and complemented the gameplay, there are hidden secrets to explore, monsters to avoid, and what appears to be a very deep plot despite the simple appearance.”
“The artwork and atmosphere are superb.”
“The art style in this game is very interesting.”
“And lastly, the game lacks variety in terms of graphical assets and color palette.”
“All I can say is the graphic design is ugly; the sepia tone is bland!”
“Graphics: that sort of 'pseudo-pixel art' where your character and the environment are 69-bit sprites or what have you, but they didn't feel like putting in the effort to have multiple sprites so that they wouldn't be turning and making their pixels diagonal.”
- music3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is minimal but effectively atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience without overwhelming the player. Most of the soundscape is focused on environmental audio, with music primarily featuring during upgrade moments. This design choice allows players to remain attuned to their surroundings.
“There isn't a lot of music, but all of it is quite atmospheric.”
“There’s almost no song playing (except when you find upgrades), so you can keep your ears open to listen to everything that’s happening around you.”
“The art and music are really atmospheric.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the emotional impact of the game is undermined by its mediocre design and frustrating mechanics, which detract from the intended metaphorical journey. Players feel that the gameplay issues overshadow any potential emotional resonance.
