The Paracelsian Project
- September 28, 2023
- Sixkilla Gaming
Get on SteamIn an unfamiliar location with unfamiliar people. You are Elina and you're... That's a good question, who are you? Were you drugged? It's up to you to figure out how you got here and why, and the massive implications for the future... and the past. How you treat your fellow captives will affect your ending. Will you trust them... or will you throw them to the wolves? You will be subject to a v…
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Reviews
- The music is incredible, providing a spacey and claustrophobic atmosphere that enhances the experience.
- The art is solid, with some nice backgrounds that contribute to the overall visual appeal.
- There are some interesting ideas and foreshadowing in the plot that could be developed further.
- The game is plagued by numerous typos, stilted dialogue, and a lack of character motivation, making it feel unfinished.
- The story is predictable and lacks depth, with a mediocre execution of common themes in the genre.
- Puzzles are overly simplistic and not memorable, failing to provide any real challenge or engagement.
- story26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its engaging branching routes and effective foreshadowing, while others criticize it for being predictable, lacking depth, and featuring forgetful characters in critical situations. Many reviewers found the overall narrative to be mediocre, with familiar themes and a lack of compelling character development. Overall, the execution of the plot left some players feeling unimpressed and hoping for improvements in future titles.
“You don't even technically need puzzles; you can just have plenty of branching routes based on meaningful choices that send the story in very different directions.”
“There is some neat stuff here, like the neat foreshadowing between the routes and the plot not bogging you down with re-explanations of information like a lot of visual novels.”
“The story is great.”
“In fact, the characters keep admitting they've forgotten plot details, despite being in a life-or-death situation!”
“A typical ontological mystery 'you wake up in a room' story with a weight reduction kit applied - all semblance of plotting, character development, or narrative depth is tossed out to make for the breakneck speed it is going.”
“The plot is quite predictable, and a bit nonsensical at times (the main villain is ... something). I honestly can't say I enjoyed it at all.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, described as incredible and fitting, with each track creating a spacey and claustrophobic atmosphere. Reviewers express disappointment that the soundtrack isn't available for purchase or online listening, but they still recommend the game for its impressive audio alongside solid visuals and gameplay.
“The music is definitely the best part of this game, it's really incredible, each track has a lot of vibes, it's very space-y, and it gives a huge claustrophobic feel to the game... too bad we either can't buy it or listen to it anywhere online.”
“I will recommend it if you just want a quick visual novel that's visually quite pleasing, has some crazy good music, some cool UI, and some decent puzzles.”
“The music also fits and is also quite solid.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is straightforward and lacks complex puzzles or choice-driven elements, making it more accessible but potentially less engaging for players seeking depth.
“Don't go in expecting complex puzzles or choice-driven gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth.”
“The controls are clunky and make the experience frustrating.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in this game is largely absent, as the focus on fast-paced gameplay sacrifices narrative depth and meaningful character arcs. The story follows a familiar "you wake up in a room" trope but fails to provide any substantial character growth or plotting.
“A typical ontological mystery 'you wake up in a room' story with a weight reduction kit applied - all semblance of plotting, character development, or narrative depth is tossed out to make for the breakneck speed it is going.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in Paracelsian Project are described as simple yet appealing, with some nice backgrounds, though overall they are considered barebones and not sufficient for the game's price and length.
“The visuals are simple but nice, though very barebones. I did like some of the backgrounds!”
