The Polynomial

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 357 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Polynomial Game Cover
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"The Polynomial" is a musical indie game that takes you on a journey through abstract geometric landscapes, where your movements generate real-time music and visuals. Control a ship that shoots particles reacting to the rhythm,navigating through complex polynomial equations. An immersive and mesmerizing experience, perfect for those seeking a unique blend of music and gaming.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 357 reviews
music53 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The visuals are stunning and create a mesmerizing experience, especially when paired with music.
  • The ability to use your own music enhances the gameplay, making it a unique and customizable experience.
  • It's a relaxing game that can be enjoyed as a music visualizer, perfect for chilling out.
  • The gameplay lacks depth and structure, often feeling more like a screensaver than a game.
  • Controls can be unresponsive and confusing, leading to frustration during play.
  • There is minimal guidance on objectives, making it difficult for players to understand what to do.
  • music240 mentions

    The music aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the ability to use their own music, which enhances the visual experience significantly. However, some users feel that the music's impact on gameplay is minimal, often relegating it to a background role rather than integrating it meaningfully into the action. Overall, while the visuals synced to music are praised, the gameplay mechanics and music integration leave some players wanting more.

    • “Years ago, when I first noticed this game on Steam, the idea of a first-person shooter in space, decorated with fractal-based visuals based off of my own music, drew me in quickly.”
    • “I was surprised to find it paired well with a variety of different kinds of music and the tone of my experience shifted seamlessly from slow and somber while playing to a moody atmospheric track to a bouncy neon zero-g dance club in space while the particles of light around me pulsed to upbeat 80s or grungy punk music.”
    • “The polynomial is a pretty trippy first-person shooter space music visualizer that features the ability to use your own music as well as the game's built-in soundtrack.”
    • “The music barely has presence, and doesn't impact the gameplay, so something like Beat Saber would be more engaging.”
    • “The gameplay has nothing at all to do with the music.”
    • “Tries to be a music visualizer and video game and fails on both counts.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics of the game are frequently described as stunning and mesmerizing, featuring vibrant, colorful particle effects that sync with the player's music, creating a visually immersive experience. However, many reviewers note that while the visuals are impressive, they often overshadow the simplistic gameplay, leading to a perception of the game as more of a visualizer than a traditional shooter. Overall, the graphics are praised for their beauty and customization options, but some players feel that the novelty wears off quickly without engaging gameplay to support them.

    • “The graphics are interesting and even beautiful in a very chilled-out fractal sort of way, but it doesn't look like you're flying through space but instead through some sort of abstract mathematical simulation made out of weird glowing particle effects which glow in time with whatever song is being played.”
    • “A true orgasm for the eyes with blinding visuals which can be edited into infinite different mathematical artistic displays to fly through, and a joy for the ear no matter what musical taste you may have.”
    • “The visuals are simply breathtaking and it just feels wonderful floating through these scenic starscapes.”
    • “Even the game's main selling point, the visuals, aren't as interesting to look at as they could be.”
    • “The novelty of the graphics wore off pretty quickly for me; I just didn't find it very interesting for long.”
    • “Boring game with repetitive visuals and little content.”
  • gameplay48 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is generally criticized for being simplistic, confusing, and lacking clear direction, often feeling more like a visualizer than a traditional game. While some players appreciate the relaxing and casual nature of the experience, many find the controls clunky and the mechanics poorly explained, leading to frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the visuals and soundtrack are praised, but they overshadow the gameplay, which is often deemed unimportant or lacking depth.

    • “The gameplay is pretty decent as well, although there's very little instruction in terms of how the scoring works, and most of the achievements look like impossible goals.”
    • “Great space shooter with amazing design and addictive gameplay.”
    • “Interesting gameplay and unique scoring make this game a great addition to any game collection.”
    • “The ship's controls are clunky and a chore to learn, and it's not very obvious what you're supposed to do gameplay-wise.”
    • “Not nearly as fun as I thought it would be; the music doesn't have any bearing on gameplay outside of visuals, unlike many other rhythm games.”
    • “The gameplay has nothing at all to do with the music.”
  • story5 mentions

    The game lacks a compelling narrative, offering no unlockable items or ships, and is described as a simple point-and-click experience without direction or depth. Players seeking a story-driven or purpose-filled gameplay should look elsewhere, as the game does not deliver on these aspects.

    • “There are no items or ships to unlock; all modes and all levels and all graphics options are available from the outset, and there is pretty much no story going on.”
    • “Don't buy this and expect it to be story-driven or gameplay intense, because it's simply a 6-DOF point-and-click type game.”
    • “If the game has a flaw, it's that it has no story and no direction.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly versatile, seamlessly shifting from slow and somber to vibrant and energetic, enhancing the experience with a variety of music styles. Players appreciate the relaxed and chill ambiance, which contributes to its replayability and overall enjoyment.

    • “I was surprised to find it paired well with a variety of different kinds of music, and the tone of my experience shifted seamlessly from slow and somber to a moody atmospheric track, then to a bouncy neon zero-g dance club in space, while the particles of light around me pulsed to upbeat 80s or grungy punk music.”
    • “It has a very relaxed and chill atmosphere, which lends itself best for those types of music.”
    • “The game is full of replayability, and just watching the atmosphere was well worth the price.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to frequent stuttering and performance drops that detract from the overall experience, despite its visual appeal.

    • “Not the worst game I've played, but it's poorly optimized.”
    • “It was pretty when it wasn't hanging, stuttering, or assaulting my consciousness.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Users find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unappealing, although the option to upload personal music tracks is seen as a positive feature. Overall, the grinding experience is viewed negatively, contributing to a lackluster impression of the game.

    • “The music is grinding, although you can upload your own tracks to play, which is a really nice feature.”
    • “Then I guess you should get this tedious indie game.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players find the game to have strong replayability due to its vibrant arcade style and the ability to play personal music, despite a limited range of activities. The immersive atmosphere further enhances the experience, making it worthwhile to revisit.

    • “The game is full of replayability, and just watching the atmosphere was well worth the price.”
    • “The good: colorful, arcade style, nice blend of music and space shooter; you can play your own tunes, and replayability is there despite there not being much to do.”
    • “The good: colorful, arcade style, nice blend of music and space shooter; you play your own tunes, but replayability is limited despite there not being much to do.”
    • “The game is full of replayability, but the lack of variety makes it feel repetitive after a while.”
    • “While the game has some replayability, the overall experience feels shallow and doesn't encourage multiple playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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