The Maker's Eden
- July 30, 2014
- Screwy Lightbulb
Get on Steam"The Maker's Eden" is a first-person hypertext adventure game presented in a motion comic style, set in a science fiction/noir world. As a character seeking to discover your predefined purpose, you'll explore a world filled with androids, flying cars, and a vintage 20th-century atmosphere. This episodic game includes 3 acts, with acts 1 and 2 currently available and act 3 in development. The game also features trading cards.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features stylish artwork and a captivating sci-fi noir atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- The story, dialogue, and pacing are well-crafted, making it one of the better visual novels available.
- Despite being unfinished, the game has intriguing characters and a compelling narrative that keeps players engaged.
- The game is still incomplete after nearly eight years, with only two hours of content and a significant cliffhanger.
- Numerous bugs and glitches hinder gameplay, making it frustrating and at times unplayable.
- The lack of updates and communication from the developer raises concerns about the future of the game and its completion.
- story36 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its strong world-building, engaging dialogue, and intriguing sci-fi/cyberpunk elements, though it is noted to be short and somewhat unresolved, particularly with a significant cliffhanger at the end of the second episode. While the storytelling style is likened to motion comics and is appreciated for its atmosphere and art, some players find the plot and character interactions to be simplistic or unpolished. Overall, the narrative successfully captivates players, leaving them eager for future installments despite its brevity and occasional lack of depth.
“Quite a lot of effort was put into world building, and the story, dialogue, and pacing are all very good.”
“I love the comic-like storytelling and it's a wonderfully crafted world that has been created.”
“A game with beautiful art and music, a surprisingly interesting story with some pretty good and funny dialogue, well-written characters and interesting ideas.”
“There are only two hours worth of content, and the second episode ends on a huge cliffhanger that leaves the entire story feeling very much unresolved.”
“Both episodes are too short (ep1 puzzles/story/ok ep2 30min of reading, 0 puzzles).”
“But considering how unpolished the plot and dialogues in this game are, I doubt act 2 is getting any better.”
- music15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric qualities, blending ambient, electro, and jazzy elements that enhance the overall experience and immersion in the storyline. While some players find the soundtrack beautiful and engaging, others note issues with repetitiveness and technical glitches that can interrupt playback. Overall, the combination of music and art contributes significantly to the game's appeal, particularly for fans of sci-fi and cyberpunk themes.
“I really enjoy the storyline, art, and music.”
“A game with beautiful art and music, a surprisingly interesting story with some pretty good and funny dialogue, well-written characters, and interesting ideas.”
“The music enhanced the atmosphere, making me feel like I was a character in Blade Runner.”
“There are a few minor technical issues: if you exit to Windows for whatever reason, the music may stop playing and it won't restart until you restart the game.”
“There's no voice acting or material sounds either, and the music gets repetitive after half an hour.”
“The soundtrack sounds quite decent to me, but no accents at all.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stylish, comic-inspired art style that effectively creates a sci-fi noir atmosphere. While many players appreciate the unique visuals and well-executed scenery, there are mixed feelings about the overall quality, with some expressing a desire for refinement and improvement in future updates. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's identity, but there is room for enhancement to elevate the experience further.
“The artwork is stylish, and the game does manage to create a cool sci-fi noir atmosphere.”
“Well-made with beautiful comic-style visuals.”
“The artwork is well done, especially the scenery/locations.”
“It shies away from really reaching that graphic feel that it needs.”
“It seems that the art style is unresolved and needs refinement for the next two chapters.”
“Graphics wouldn't make this type of game more fun, but an upgrade would really help to make this game stand on its own even more.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game successfully creates a stylish sci-fi noir atmosphere, enhanced by beautiful artwork and atmospheric music that immerses players in a cyberpunk world reminiscent of Blade Runner. While some reviewers appreciate the depth and detail of the environment, others feel that the overall atmosphere could be improved. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“The artwork is stylish, and the game does manage to create a cool sci-fi noir atmosphere.”
“You will take longer if you stop to admire the art in more detail, soak in the atmosphere and listen to the music.”
“So far, that's a big minus for atmosphere.”
“The music enhanced the atmosphere, making me feel like I was a character in Blade Runner.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered engaging and catchy, driven by interesting storylines; however, some users criticize it for lacking fluency and depth, noting that Act 1 is particularly short and the mechanics are overly simplistic.
“Overall, the gameplay is super catchy.”
“Good games work because of interesting storylines and gameplay.”
“The gameplay isn't fluent.”
“Act 1 is ridiculously short, and the gameplay mechanics are ridiculously simple.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as a cash grab, suggesting that players feel the game prioritizes profit over player experience.
“If this is your convoluted way to say 'cash grab', I have some shocking news for you.”
“The monetization system feels exploitative and prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra money.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features well-written characters and a surprisingly engaging story, complemented by good humor and funny dialogue that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of beautiful art and music with the comedic elements, making for an enjoyable narrative.
“A game with beautiful art and music, a surprisingly interesting story with some pretty good and funny dialogue, well-written characters, and interesting ideas.”
