The Elision Effect
- May 31, 2024
- teamakes.games
Get on Steam"The Elision Effect" is a surreal puzzle game set in an empty, liminal office space. Players must search for an exit while navigating different mechanics in each room. The game features a low-resolution, low-poly graphical style and aims to create an eerie atmosphere, although it contains no traditional horror elements. Please note a photosensitivity warning for a small percentage of players.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique aesthetic and atmosphere, reminiscent of titles like The Stanley Parable and Superliminal, creating a surreal and engaging experience.
- Puzzles are enjoyable and often clever, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly complex, which encourages replay for achievements.
- Despite its short length, the game is well-crafted with smooth gameplay and a charming vibe, making it a delightful experience overall.
- The game is very short, with many players completing it in under an hour, leading to feelings that it serves more as a tech demo than a full game.
- There is a lack of narrative or deeper engagement, with some puzzles being overly simplistic and not providing a sense of accomplishment.
- Visual effects can be overwhelming at times, and the game may not appeal to those looking for a more substantial or story-driven experience.
- graphics16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique blend of pixelation and modern lighting techniques, creating a distinct aesthetic that combines retro PSX elements with a glitchcore/webcore vibe. Players appreciate the attention to detail and immersive visuals, which enhance the overall atmosphere of the short puzzle experience. The art style is frequently described as charming and engaging, contributing to the game's appeal despite its brevity.
“Short, interesting puzzle game with a really unique aesthetic and lots of attention to detail.”
“The visuals are an interesting combo of extreme pixelation and global illumination, and there's some really interesting wireframe graphics at the end that are pretty novel.”
“Really charming, short and sweet exploration game with top-tier aesthetics and vibes, an admirable sense of overall restraint, a few fair puzzles and a couple of cool unexpected elements.”
“In the end, it’s kind of just a generic liminal space type game with a PSX aesthetic.”
“It's not a bad game, it worked fine, graphics were kinda cool, premise seemed interesting, I should have loved it.”
“- the glitchcore/webcore aesthetic”
- music9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its atmospheric quality and nostalgic 90's vibe, while others found it forgettable. Overall, it is described as beautiful and calming, enhancing the game's visual design and contributing to a unique, immersive experience.
“Lovely little escape/puzzle game with beautiful music and a handful of charming ideas.”
“A short atmospheric puzzle game with great graphics and music.”
“I really don't recall if there was any music.”
“Wanted to crawl through the wall to find the source of the music in the first few rooms, but that's okay.”
“The overall visual design and music create a uniquely calm atmosphere while also making it feel like something's out to get you.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to evoke a sense of uncanny calmness, effectively utilizing liminal space concepts and thoughtful level design to tell a story. While some players found the atmosphere engaging and well-crafted, others felt it could benefit from more depth and creepiness. Overall, the combination of great graphics, music, and attention to detail contributes to a uniquely immersive experience.
“It's a short little game with simple puzzles and a very charming, uncanny, and yet calming atmosphere.”
“I cannot recommend it enough, it has a really well done atmosphere, pulls off the concept of a liminal space really well, manages to tell a story purely through environment and level design, and makes you think outside of the box, in a way that is rarely executed so well and cleanly.”
“The overall visual design and music create a uniquely calm atmosphere while also making it feel like something's out to get you.”
“The atmosphere feels empty and lifeless, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere is bland and uninspired, lacking any real sense of place.”
“The game tries to create a spooky atmosphere, but it falls flat and ends up feeling more awkward than eerie.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by inventive mechanics reminiscent of Superliminal, offering a fun and engaging experience, though some players feel let down by the simplicity of the puzzles and the game's short length. Overall, it combines clever interactions with a surreal atmosphere, making for an enjoyable, albeit brief, gaming experience.
“It has similar vibes to Superliminal but with entirely different mechanics.”
“This was a fun little game with some clever mechanics.”
“It's a bit like a mild fever dream, full of inventiveness and fun gameplay mechanics despite its shortness.”
“My issues are the length and the gameplay.”
“And gameplay-wise, I just felt let down by the 'puzzles'.”
“Gameplay is simply clicking on objects to open, turn off, or otherwise interact with them.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its lack of a traditional narrative, with no clear story or character motivation, leading to an underwhelming conclusion. However, some players appreciate the atmospheric design and the way the environment itself conveys a sense of story, effectively creating a compelling experience through its liminal space concept.
“I cannot recommend it enough, it has a really well done atmosphere, pulls off the concept of a liminal space really well, manages to tell a story purely through environment and level design, and makes you think outside of the box, in a way that is rarely executed so well and cleanly.”
“Unfortunately, the game lacks any kind of story or narrator to help motivate play and distract from the lack of novelty, and the ending, while reasonable, is mostly 'ok you won' and underwhelming.”
“There is no story about who you are or what you should be doing.”
“There is no plot or mystery.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a distinct office employee humor, characterized by relatable "watercooler" jokes and scenarios that resonate with the everyday experiences of office life.
“The game features a very real office employee type of humor throughout.”
“It's filled with watercooler humor, if you will.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its short length, but players find some value in replaying it to unlock all achievements.
“Overall, it was a bit short, but going through it again to unlock all of the achievements added significant replay value.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that encourage you to play through it again, making each run feel fresh and exciting.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, the replayability factor is high, keeping me engaged long after my first playthrough.”
“Overall, it was a bit short, though going through it again to get all of the achievements did add some replay value.”
“The game lacks significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive.”
“Once you complete the main story, there isn't much incentive to replay the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game evokes strong emotional responses, particularly around themes of identity and inclusivity, as evidenced by players feeling a personal connection to the representation of trans experiences, such as the thoughtful inclusion of a trans pride sticker in a bathroom stall. This detail resonates with players, suggesting intentional artistic choices that enhance relatability and emotional depth.
“I had a personal takeaway regarding being trans in relation to bathroom usage. I'm not sure if that was intended, but it felt relatable. Seeing the little trans pride sticker in one of the bathroom stalls made me feel as though the transition from the male to female room was an intentional artistic decision.”
