The Plague Doctor of Wippra
- October 5, 2022
- Electrocosmos
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamIn "The Plague Doctor of Wippra," players step into the role of a plague doctor in a small medieval town, solving puzzles and making choices to uncover the truth behind a mysterious illness. Interactions with townsfolk and the environment drive the narrative, with multiple endings based on the player's decisions. Atmospheric visuals and a haunting soundtrack enhance the game's immersive, historical horror experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in the medieval setting.
- The story is engaging and thought-provoking, addressing themes of morality and the challenges faced by a plague doctor.
- Puzzles are logical and provide a satisfying challenge, with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
- The game is very short, typically lasting only 1-2 hours, which many players feel does not justify the price.
- Some puzzles can be frustrating due to their specific requirements and linearity, leading to moments of confusion.
- The narrative feels rushed at times, with abrupt endings that leave players wanting more depth and development.
- story84 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally praised for its compelling and atmospheric narrative, set against the backdrop of the Black Plague, with many players appreciating its historical authenticity and character depth. However, the brevity of the story—lasting only 1-2 hours—leaves some players feeling unsatisfied, as they desire a more expansive exploration of its themes and characters. While the storytelling is engaging, the linearity and limited impactful choices detract from the overall experience for some reviewers.
“If you're looking for a short game focused on storytelling and atmosphere, then this is the game for you.”
“The ambiance of the game is so dark and gloomy, and so is the story; this game lures you in and you can't escape.”
“The story is captivating, and the characters have a lot of personality.”
“But to not only make the story linear, but to also make it only last 1-2 hours is blasphemous!”
“The game is preposterously short for the price, and the story is half modern axe-grinding.”
“Was done in two hours and it's simply not enough time to develop a deep story or characterization.”
- music32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers praising the beautiful piano and violin compositions that enhance the overall mood. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the pixel art and storytelling, although some express a desire for more frequent music play throughout the game. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout features, significantly contributing to the game's emotional impact and ambiance.
“The music is lovely, I highly recommend getting the soundtrack along with the game!”
“The atmosphere and soundtrack make it very immersive.”
“The music is amazing and captures the feeling of the game really well.”
“My only issue is I wish the music played more often as I sometimes found myself listening to silence or ambient sound when all I wanted to hear was more of the impactful soundtrack.”
“I was surprised by the soundtrack, with dramatic and moody piano and string pieces it really made the dreary reality of living in a plagued village apparent.”
“Though maybe in future games or patches in this one or such, that the background music can go on longer in a room and have more variety in each room?”
- atmosphere22 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful pixel art and a compelling soundtrack that effectively captures the historical context and emotional weight of the story. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a tense and engaging environment, making it a standout feature despite its short length. Overall, the combination of visual and auditory elements contributes significantly to the game's nostalgic and atmospheric appeal.
“If you're looking for a short game focused on storytelling and atmosphere, then this is the game for you.”
“The atmosphere and soundtrack make it very immersive.”
“Great little game with beautiful pixel art, a likable protagonist, and an engrossing atmosphere that reflects the direness of those times very well.”
“The atmosphere is still heavy.”
“The game manages to create a tense atmosphere: illness and wounds are laughable today but at that time they could easily end in the death of people.”
“For real though: the moody atmosphere is the main attraction in this game.”
- graphics20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their nostalgic pixel art style, which effectively creates an atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic adventure games like King's Quest. While some players appreciate the retro aesthetic and its simplicity, others feel that the lack of animation and production quality detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered charming and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's ambiance.
“I liked the pixelated art style of this game and the elements that made up the background as it was very atmospheric.”
“Adored the pixel art style, gave me old King's Quest vibes.”
“I really enjoyed the old school pixel art; everything was distinct and easy to tell what was what, so it has that old school aesthetic without the old school pixel hunting!”
“I’d love to see this remade with real graphics rather than pixels.”
“I really disliked how the devs hide the lack of animation and art production by having pixelated graphics.”
“Bugless, and while the graphics are at almost King's Quest 3-level (but 256 colors), the music is actually better than in many (e.g. Wadjet Eye) titles.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a classic point-and-click adventure that evokes nostalgia, with engaging yet sometimes tedious puzzles that require thought and interaction. While the mechanics can be initially complicated, they become enjoyable as players learn to navigate the game, though some find the character interactions bland and the overall experience too brief, leading to mixed feelings about its value. Despite its intuitive design and intriguing setting, the gameplay suffers from moments of frustration and a lack of depth, ultimately leaving players wanting more.
“Everything about it, from the art to the mechanics to the frustration, transported me to my childhood playing 'King's Quest.' The setting of medieval, plague-ridden Germany is intriguing, and the developers made it feel realistic (as much as pixel art can be realistic).”
“This is classic click-on-everything-multiple-times gameplay, but it requires some thought.”
“On top of this, the puzzles were intriguing but not too hard, which made gameplay very engaging but not demotivating.”
“Its major downfall is the brevity of the gameplay.”
“It is a 15-minute game that is stretched to an hour because of poor mechanics.”
“Overall the game is good, but the tediousness of some puzzles (that really make it feel like they're trying to pad out the gameplay time), the sudden ending, and the base price makes me need to downvote it.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with puzzles often feeling unnecessarily complex or drawn out, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some challenges are engaging, many are criticized for padding gameplay time without adding meaningful depth, leading to a mixed reception regarding replayability and value for money.
“The grinding in this game is short enough to keep the replayability fun and not tedious.”
“I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; they feel rewarding without becoming a chore.”
“Grinding in this game is engaging and offers a sense of progression that keeps me coming back for more.”
“The puzzles/challenges are tedious and just not fun.”
“My biggest gripe with the game is it can be a bit tedious to solve some of the puzzles, and it can be frustrating to deal with.”
“Overall the game is good, but the tediousness of some of the puzzles makes it feel like they're trying to pad out the gameplay time.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game to be enjoyable, particularly through its medicine-based puzzles that add a comedic twist to the doctor theme. The well-crafted atmosphere of the plague era in Europe enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's fun despite its short story length.
“I really had a lot of fun playing this game! Even though the story is short, you can play it over again for different endings, so basically the longevity is not a problem. Most puzzles are medicine-based, as you can expect from a game about a doctor, and that's really funny. Beyond this, the atmosphere of the plague era in Europe is very well built, and probably this is the thing I loved the most in the game!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users express a lack of emotional connection to the faceless characters in the game, which detracts from their overall emotional experience.
