The Endless Empty
- August 20, 2018
- Erik
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Endless Empty" is a first-person exploration game set in a desolate, surreal world. Play as an unnamed protagonist searching for answers and uncovering the mysteries of a long-abandoned civilization. Featuring atmospheric visuals, minimalist narrative, and a haunting soundtrack, unravel a thought-provoking and enigmatic journey.
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story that explores deep themes of life, death, and mental health, resonating with players on a personal level.
- The unique art style and fantastic soundtrack create a surreal and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- Players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, with choices that impact the narrative and multiple endings to discover.
- The combat mechanics are often described as generic and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Many players noted the presence of numerous typos and grammatical errors, which can disrupt immersion and detract from the storytelling.
- Some found the pacing uneven, with a sudden and anticlimactic ending that left them wanting more resolution.
- story52 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a deeply engaging and abstract exploration of life, death, and the psyche, presented through a unique aesthetic and accompanied by evocative music. Players appreciate its surreal narrative and emotional depth, though some find the ending anticlimactic and the gameplay lacking. Overall, the storytelling is highlighted as the standout feature, making it a memorable experience for those open to its artistic approach.
“The story captures a unique aesthetic that leans into the uncanny and weird but manages to hold itself back and still tell a genuinely great story.”
“It tells a story with so much meaning and purpose, and the visuals and music are all so captivating.”
“The endless empty is such a solid indie game simply for the fact that it provides a game experience that has such a unique story alongside so much positive content.”
“The symbolic ending to the story was poignant, but I am unsatisfied by the lack of a conclusion for the character of death, which was built up as the primary antagonist of the entire game.”
“Okay, now I've beaten the whole game, and I still want to recommend it, but I gotta say there's a whole lot of typos in this game, which I feel like is a bit of a shame in a story-reliant game.”
“Its potential as a concept was unfortunately limited by its equally limited resources, and, as such, anyone seeking to explore a similar concept in the future will have any success with their interpretations cheapened with accusations of unoriginality, even though I think there are many different ways to tell this story.”
- music46 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers praising its fitting and innovative soundtrack that complements the surreal visuals and narrative. While some noted that certain tracks could become repetitive, the majority found the music to be captivating, emotionally resonant, and a standout feature that elevates the game beyond its basic gameplay mechanics. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a unique blend of styles that leaves a lasting impression, with many expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game.
“The soundtrack fits perfectly for each section, and it's just a damn good soundtrack!”
“The music fits the aesthetic perfectly; it matches the surreal nature well.”
“Fantastic game, deeply emotional story I really connected with and a lovely soundtrack.”
“Honestly, if the visuals and music are not doing it for you, you will be extremely disappointed.”
“Unlike other 'weird' RPG Maker games like Hylics, the endless empty never feels like it's trying to accommodate its player: the music is as loud as it is noisy (downright painful to listen to at times) and the graphics are inconsistent and nonsensical.”
“What will keep you awake, staring at the ceiling at 3am, is the febrile, noise-laden soundtrack, the disturbing artwork and the coffee-bitter writing.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Endless Empty" are characterized by a unique and surreal collage art style that captivates players, often described as outlandish and psychedelic. While the visuals and accompanying soundtrack are praised for their creativity and ability to enhance the game's narrative, some players note technical limitations and inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the aesthetic remains a standout feature, making it a memorable title in the RPG Maker genre.
“It captures a unique aesthetic that leans into the uncanny and weird but manages to hold itself back and still tell a genuinely great story, unlike other titles such as Hylics.”
“The endless empty is a game that can seem strange and opaque at first due to its dadaist collage visuals, but what lies beneath and between is one of the most original, creative, and utterly moving game narratives I have ever played through.”
“The graphics, art design, music, and atmosphere are all spot on.”
“The graphics are harsh and simple.”
“Unlike other 'weird' RPG Maker games like Hylics, The Endless Empty never feels like it's trying to accommodate its player: the music is as loud as it is noisy (downright painful to listen to at times) and the graphics are inconsistent and nonsensical.”
“Honestly, if the visuals and music are not doing it for you, you will be extremely disappointed.”
- gameplay29 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 24 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally viewed as the weakest aspect of the game, characterized by standard RPG mechanics and clunky controls typical of RPG Maker titles. While the combat and puzzles serve primarily to support the narrative and artistic elements, they often feel tedious and unengaging, with some players noting technical limitations and slow movement as significant drawbacks. Despite these issues, many reviewers agree that the captivating story and impressive visuals compensate for the lackluster gameplay experience.
“The game is a very unique blend of excellently produced music, art, and writing that far makes up for the barebones gameplay.”
“Music is pretty good, gameplay is somewhat easy, overall appearance is amazing, and so is the story. 10/10.”
“RPG mechanics work well, and the game is turn-based but designed in a unique way where it's a fresh take on turn-based combat.”
“The mechanics are sluggish and at times frustrating.”
“The gameplay is garbage (especially if for too long, someone doesn't realize there is a sprint button under shift), but there isn't much room to have fun with in the RPG Maker games.”
“The gameplay is easily the weakest aspect of the game.”
- grinding7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is described as manageable but not particularly enjoyable, with some players finding it tedious, especially in the later stages where battles become lengthy and repetitive. While grinding isn't deemed necessary, it detracts from the overall experience, making combat feel generic and less engaging.
“It wasn't awful, and it's not grindy or annoying, but it's definitely not the highlight.”
“The combat was never really fun at all, which was totally fine in the beginning parts because fights were short and easy, but towards the end they were very, very long and grindy. I'd just do the exact same moves over and over to win, and it would take several minutes to fight one enemy.”
“Other than the missed marks, the gameplay for most of the game was enjoyable, although the fights towards the end of the game became very long, boring, and tedious.”
“The combat is serviceable at best, a tedious distraction at worst.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deeply emotional storytelling and impactful soundtrack, effectively conveying themes of human strife and death. Players report experiencing intense feelings of shock and confusion, highlighting the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses. Overall, it is described as a heartfelt and challenging experience that resonates on a personal level.
“I don't think I've ever played a game that made me feel like I was experiencing the shock and confusion of death to this level.”
“This is a heartfelt, challenging game.”
“Fantastic game, deeply emotional story I really connected with and a lovely soundtrack.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its artistic design, effective use of music, and strong narrative elements, particularly in Chapter 1, which evokes feelings of anxiety. Reviewers highlight the impressive graphics and surrealistic art style, contributing to an immersive and engaging experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as solid and impactful, enhancing the overall storytelling.
“The graphics, art design, music, and atmosphere are all spot on.”
“Even though my computer cannot run it, I am still attracted by the artistic atmosphere conveyed in it.”
“Solid atmosphere, especially in Chapter 1, which is about anxiety.”
“It not only has an impressive amount of tracks for the amount of game, but is also used very effectively in its placement, reinforcing the atmosphere and narrative.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively balances heavy themes with clever wit and humor, ensuring respect for the subject matter while delivering a creative and surreal comedic experience. Players appreciate its unique approach to humor, highlighting its silliness and engaging storytelling.
“What this game does exceptionally well is tackling heavy themes with wit and humor, without disrespecting the subject matter or the audience.”
“Super creative game, with a great story and a sense of surreal humor.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that character design stands out as a strong aspect of the game's visual presentation, often overshadowing the level design, which is seen as less polished. This contrast may be intentional, reflecting the game's focus on character development within its world.
“Character design was my favorite part of the visual design.”
“The level design was fitting and varied, which was nice, but was not as polished as the character design, which may have been a purposeful choice based on the framing of the game world.”
