The Preposterous Awesomeness of Everything
- February 8, 2016
- Joe Richardson
- 3h median play time
The Preposterous Awesomeness of Everything is a satirical point-and-click adventure game, set in a primitive society striving to build a space rocket. With a verb-based interface and unique collage-based art, players solve puzzles and engage with quirky characters while navigating through a distorted democracy and into outer space. The game offers intellectually stimulating satire and shenanigans with ~15,000 words of dialogue.
Reviews
- The game features a unique and humorous art style reminiscent of Monty Python, providing a fun and engaging experience.
- It offers sharp political and societal satire, making players ponder humanity's flaws while delivering laughs.
- The puzzles are simple and the gameplay is designed for short bursts, making it accessible and enjoyable for casual play.
- The game is quite short, typically lasting only 2-3 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- There is a lack of voice acting and minimal sound design, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Some players found the humor and commentary to be surface-level and not as profound as it aimed to be.
- humor66 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, satirical commentary, and quirky characters, often drawing comparisons to classic titles like Monkey Island and Monty Python. While some reviewers note that the humor can be simplistic or trite at times, the overall experience is described as funny, entertaining, and thought-provoking, making it a worthwhile play for fans of political and cultural satire. The game's ability to turn failure into a humorous experience further enhances its comedic appeal.
“It's basically Monkey Island with British humor and political commentary.”
“Absolutely hilarious if you're into political/cultural satire, more so if you've ever worked for a bureaucratic organization and were frustrated with your inability to get anything done.”
“You can fail the game by making the wrong choices, but failure is always rewarded by a humorous description of why your quest has ended, and choosing 'continue' from the main menu puts you right back to just before your ill-fated decision, which makes failure itself enjoyable.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are polarizing, with many reviewers appreciating the unique and quirky art style reminiscent of classic animations, while others criticize it as unattractive and glitchy. Despite its garish aesthetics, the visuals align well with the game's satirical tone, offering a blend of humor and originality that some players find engaging. Overall, the graphics may not be conventionally beautiful, but they contribute to the game's distinctive charm and appeal.
“The art style is unheard of these days but reminiscent of forgotten times.”
“It's got this bizarro tone and unique art style that leaves me craving for more.”
“The graphic design is as ugly as crap, still the game is rife in genuine misanthropic wisecracks and provides authentic fulfillment for one's suppressed intelligent content.”
“Puzzles are very easy and the art style is, well, different.”
“The graphics style is quite peculiar but it goes along with the whole cynical spirit of the game.”
- story30 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as a satirical commentary on existence and society, delivered through dense text and featuring eccentric, unpredictable characters. While some players found the narrative amusing and engaging, others felt that multiple playthroughs were unnecessary, with the humor and abstract elements sometimes overshadowing the overall coherence. The game allows for failure in a lighthearted manner, making the experience enjoyable even when choices lead to unexpected outcomes.
“The aesthetics are very good and the story, as I already pointed out, is great as satire.”
“One of the most bonkers games I've ever played, the point-and-click aspect obviously leads to a few puzzles that are incredibly hard to figure out without any help, but all around a great game, with some genuinely interesting visuals and quite the 'expansive' story.”
“You can fail the game by making the wrong choices, but failure is always rewarded by a humorous description of why your quest has ended, and choosing 'continue' from the main menu puts you right back to just before your ill-fated decision, which makes failure itself enjoyable.”
“Having beaten this game two times in order to get all the story branches, I can say the second playthrough wasn't worth it, and I should have been out mowing my lawn instead.”
“The story is a set of commentaries on existence and society, mostly delivered through massive, dense walls of text (which the game mocks itself for using).”
“0 meh story”
- music22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as minimal and sometimes repetitive, with some players finding it groovy while others consider it irritating. There is no voice acting, and the sound design is basic, which contributes to a mixed reception of the overall audio experience. While some appreciate the music's contribution to the game's surreal atmosphere, others feel it lacks depth and variety, suggesting a desire for a more robust soundtrack.
“I love the look, love the music, and love the little world the devs created.”
“Really good sound effects and music that adds to the overall surreal atmosphere of the game.”
“The art style, writing, and music compose a unique blend, combined with it being a point-and-click adventure, that got me hooked for a very enjoyable amount of time.”
“There's no voice acting, barely any music, and it's only 2 hours long.”
“The sound design is minimal (except for a few musical motifs in some areas it's mostly missing) and there's no speech (tragic, but I doubt the author's budget would have extended to voice actors that would do the game's intent justice).”
“The music is sometimes repetitive and will probably be divisive -- I found a few tracks pretty groovy, but it actually made fun of me/itself for it.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, featuring logical puzzles set within a limited environment, making it accessible and enjoyable. Players encounter eccentric and unpredictable NPCs that add humor and charm to the experience, although the overall gameplay duration is relatively short, lasting only about two hours.
“The gameplay is pleasant and very funny.”
“The game uses traditional point-and-click adventure mechanics, and the puzzles are all fairly logical within a limited set of environments, so it's not too hard to figure out what to do.”
“-...only two hours of gameplay?”
“The game uses traditional point and click adventure mechanics, and the puzzles are all fairly logical within a limited set of environments, so it's not too hard to figure out what to do.”
“Many eccentric and totally unpredictable NPCs are taking part in the gameplay and in the storyline.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game features appealing graphics and aesthetics, but users have reported noticeable glitches that detract from the experience. Additionally, there is a lack of online documentation or troubleshooting resources to address these stability issues.
“I also couldn't find any kind of online documentation or troubleshooting to fix the issue.”
“The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game appears to be influenced by a blend of nostalgic gaming styles and modern advertising techniques, creating a unique experience that resonates with players seeking a satirical take on societal issues. However, specific details regarding pricing models or in-game purchases are not mentioned, leaving the overall monetization strategy somewhat ambiguous.
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game offers strong replayability, with players appreciating the variety of gameplay options and challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many users highlight the engaging mechanics and dynamic elements that keep the experience fresh each time. Overall, the game is seen as one that invites players to return for new experiences.
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its overall performance while others report issues that affect gameplay. Generally, players note that while the game runs smoothly on high-end systems, there are performance hiccups on lower-end hardware. Overall, the optimization appears to be a work in progress, with room for improvement.
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development is marked by unique and bizarre character designs paired with simple sprite animations, which surprisingly convey a sense of higher quality than expected. This juxtaposition creates an intriguing visual experience that enhances the overall character portrayal.
“Bizarre character design with simple-looking sprite animations that somehow end up seeming higher quality than they probably are.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its exceptional sound effects and music, which contribute significantly to a surreal and immersive experience.
“The sound effects and music create a truly surreal atmosphere that enhances the overall experience of the game.”