The Artifact
- July 2, 2017
- Sean Scaplehorn
Get on Steam"The Artifact: Story of the Breaker" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game set in a mysterious ancient world. As the "Breaker," you must manipulate time and uncover the secrets of a long-lost civilization to save your own. With intricate puzzles, a rich atmosphere, and an engaging narrative, this game offers a unique and immersive experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features nice graphics and a pleasant atmosphere, making it visually appealing.
- Puzzles are simple and logical, providing a relaxing experience for casual players.
- It's a good option for achievement hunters, as all achievements are story-related and easily obtainable.
- The game is very short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which makes it feel more like a demo than a full game.
- Controls can be awkward and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- The asking price is considered too high for the amount of content provided, with many recommending waiting for significant discounts.
- story38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story in the game is largely criticized for being minimal and underdeveloped, with many reviewers noting that it lacks depth and coherence, often feeling like mere hints rather than a fully realized narrative. While some players found the simple storyline acceptable given the low price, others expressed disappointment, wishing for a more engaging and extended plot to complement the gameplay. Overall, the consensus is that the game has potential but falls short in delivering a compelling story.
“I think the concept in the story seems to be coherent.”
“It's definitely beautiful and has the potential of a really interesting story within it.”
“I wish the story was a bit longer but it's still interesting nonetheless.”
“The story was barely there.”
“There was no real backstory to what was going on other than a couple of log notes that didn't really explain anything.”
“The storyline isn't really there, it's more like hints on a possible story.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the appealing visuals and atmospheric lighting that enhance the sci-fi setting. However, some criticize the overall quality as mediocre, especially in menus and navigation, suggesting that while the artwork is decent, it could benefit from more attention to detail and functionality. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, but they are not without flaws, particularly in terms of simplicity and lack of depth.
“About an hour's worth of game, very simple puzzles but great visuals.”
“They have that 'adventure style' with beautifully crafted lighting that enhances the visuals.”
“The graphics are the only thing that is actually good here but in my opinion, if they used some of the time spent on visuals to improve the controls and settings options, it would be a better game.”
“The game welcomes you with a blurry earth graphic and low budget VFX.”
“My mobile phone has better graphics and games.”
“The graphics from the menus are poor at best, clearly taken from some mobile port and the menu and navigation interface show too.”
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures like "Myst," featuring limited movement and a single inventory slot that naturally guides players through the experience. While the game offers around 45 minutes of content, actual gameplay time is closer to 20-30 minutes, with some players finding the mechanics vague and lacking a tutorial. Overall, the game is characterized by simple interactions and a short duration, but it does provide enjoyable graphics and a straightforward adventure format.
“Gameplay: the gameplay is that of a 'Myst'-like point-and-click adventure.”
“There is exactly one inventory slot that you use at any given time (except in chapter 3), as there is only one item necessary at any point - so this is not an artificial limitation, it is just natural during gameplay.”
“Its a very short game (~1h), however it has nice graphics and fun gameplay.”
“One thing that I have to criticize about the gameplay is that you must open the door at the beginning by sliding it.”
“Actual gameplay time is 20 to 30 minutes if you don't count the time spent sliding from point A to point B.”
“Drag and click story with toddler-level gameplay, mediocre graphics, and close to non-existent story.”
- music8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as adequate and atmospheric, complementing the experience without being intrusive. However, it tends to become repetitive and unmemorable, particularly during prolonged gameplay or when players are stuck on puzzles. Overall, while the sound design is well-crafted, it lacks the depth and engagement to elevate the game significantly.
“Good voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack.”
“The music and sound are nicely crafted; they never become annoying and never sound out of place.”
“Sound and music - 7”
“Add to this bland, repetitive ambient music, blocky shadows worthy of gaming circa 2007, absurdly simple puzzles and hardly any narrative elements laid over 4 very short chapters, and you've got very little room left to appreciate the adequate but generic sci-fi environments.”
“The music is not memorable, but also never puts itself in the foreground.”
“Three, everything about it, from graphics to music to puzzles is......okay.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring good voice acting and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the experience. Despite being developed by a small team, the lighting and graphics contribute to an immersive sci-fi environment, making the overall atmosphere a standout element of the game.
“Good voice acting and atmospheric soundtrack.”
“For a rather small development team, they have created a nicely done atmosphere that really holds up.”
“The ending (I try to avoid spoilers here) uses the lighting to create a very fitting atmosphere for what happens.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and not overly challenging, making it suitable for farming without feeling tedious.
“Not overly challenging, but at least not in any way grindy.”
“Recommended for game farming.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been criticized for being buggy and frustrating, with users reporting issues that hinder exploration and interaction. Many found the experience to be tedious, with random puzzles that felt tacked on, detracting from overall enjoyment.
“I wanted it to be good and intriguing and thought-provoking and fun exploration, but instead it was kind of boring, buggy, and frustrating (because I could only look at certain things but not others) and seemed to just have some random puzzles thrown in at the end to make it last longer.”
“Buggy and somewhat fiddly.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, as the solutions remain the same with each playthrough, making it a one-time experience. However, its low price point makes it a reasonable option for a single play.
“There is no replay value, as the solutions never change, but for under a buck, this one-and-done is a decent enough choice.”
