The Plane Effect

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Players take on the role of Solo, a lonely office worker who's trying to get home to his family after his last day of work. Somewhat worryingly, it seems Solo experiences some trouble remembering his family, and also has to contend with the shifting balance of space and time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

35%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The art style and visuals are beautiful and contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere.
The game offers a unique and surreal experience that can be intriguing and thought-provoking.
Some puzzles provide a rewarding challenge for players who enjoy brain teasers and problem-solving.

Gameplay mechanics are clunky and slow, making movement and interactions frustrating.
Frequent backtracking and nonsensical puzzle design lead to confusion and a tedious experience.
Critical bugs and lack of intuitive controls hinder progress and enjoyment, often requiring players to consult walkthroughs.

graphics
14 mentions
50 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful atmosphere and artistic design, with many reviewers noting that the visuals are a core consideration in level design. However, some players feel that while the art style is impressive, it may have overshadowed gameplay elements, leading to difficulties in platforming and overall enjoyment. Overall, the graphics receive high marks for aesthetics but are critiqued for potentially detracting from the gaming experience.
- “Unlike many games, it does not feel as if an artist was just asked to throw some pretty graphics on top of a game, but rather that the art was always a core consideration when each of the levels was designed.”
- “I must say, it has really great atmosphere and graphics.”
- “The art style and the minimalist score are beautiful.”
- “Only problem is the graphics; it could be a bit better.”
- “Seems to me like they focused too much on graphics and environment instead of intuitive gameplay and controls.”
- “The orthographic view makes some platformer parts really difficult to read.”
gameplay
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with players noting that while the graphics and environment are visually appealing, the mechanics are often confusing and frustrating. Many found the puzzles to be inconsistent in difficulty, ranging from overly simplistic to perplexingly challenging, leading to a sense of disconnection from the game's narrative. Overall, the focus on aesthetics appears to have overshadowed the need for intuitive gameplay and controls.
- “The gameplay is puzzling and somewhat bugged, as it seems to be inspired by many old-style point-and-click adventure games.”
- “Just a non-stop series of nonsensical puzzles with the mechanics of... do you see that object?”
- “It's very pretty and I really tried to like this game, but I couldn't make sense of the gameplay.”
- “Mechanically speaking, the unveiling of this mystery is done by solving a variety of puzzles which range from downright simplistic to incredibly frustrating.”
- “Seems to me like they focused too much on graphics and environment instead of intuitive gameplay and controls.”
music
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its brilliance, enhancing the overall experience and resonating well with players, particularly those with backgrounds in math, science, or music. Many describe it as a standout feature that complements the game's indie charm.
- “Anyone with a math, science, or music background will find some of these to be fun applications of age-old concepts that they were likely presented with in school.”
- “Good game and good music.”
- “Beautiful indie game; the music is brilliant.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its stunning atmosphere, impressive graphics, and beautiful artwork, complemented by engaging audio. However, some players feel that despite these aesthetic qualities, the gameplay itself lacks enjoyment.
- “I must say, it has a really great atmosphere and graphics.”
- “It has a beautiful atmosphere, artwork, and audio.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, particularly as they progress through the content.
- “However, I'm only about 2/3 through, and it very often feels incredibly slow and tedious.”
- “The grinding in this game is mind-numbing and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- “I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which makes the game feel more like a job than a fun pastime.”
story
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The story received mixed feedback, with some players expressing confusion and a lack of understanding, leading to limited commentary on its depth or impact. However, it seems that gameplay elements overshadowed the narrative for many.
- “I don't know what to think about the story; I feel like I didn't understand it, so I have nothing to say about it.”
- “The story was confusing and left me feeling lost throughout the game.”
- “I expected a compelling narrative, but the plot was disjointed and hard to follow.”