The Quiet Man

31%
Game Brain Score Based on 306 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Quiet Man Game Cover
The Quiet Man has great live-action cutscenes, but the repetitive gameplay becomes tiresome.
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In "The Quiet Man," play as Dane, a deaf protagonist, in a cinematic action game that blends live-action, CG, and combat. With minimal audio and no subtitles, experience a unique story-driven journey to uncover the motives behind a songstress's kidnapping by a masked man. The game's events and characters are entirely fictional.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

31%
Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews
story33 positive mentions
gameplay16 negative mentions
  • The concept of playing as a deaf protagonist is unique and thought-provoking, providing a different perspective on storytelling.
  • The FMV scenes are well-produced and visually appealing, showcasing high production values.
  • The game attempts to create an immersive experience by removing sound, allowing players to engage with the narrative in a different way.
  • The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with basic combat mechanics that become tedious quickly.
  • The lack of sound and subtitles during key dialogues makes it difficult to follow the story, leading to confusion and frustration.
  • Technical issues, such as poor camera angles and hit detection, detract from the overall experience, making combat feel clunky and unresponsive.
  • story206 mentions

    The story of "The Quiet Man" is widely criticized for its confusing execution, primarily due to the lack of audio during the first playthrough, which leaves players guessing the plot until they replay the game with sound. While some appreciate the unique storytelling approach and the potential for different interpretations, many find the narrative clichéd, poorly written, and difficult to follow, often leading to frustration rather than engagement. Overall, the game attempts an innovative concept but ultimately fails to deliver a coherent and compelling story experience.

    • “The story is great, the characters are great, the film aspect is great.”
    • “The story itself seems interesting, if a bit mundane.”
    • “It's very interesting how they manage to weave such a story with basically no sound.”
    • “The final product is an absolute mess; the combat system is way too basic, the story doesn’t make any sort of sense, and the fact that you have to beat the game to unlock the voice acting is a stupid idea.”
    • “The story is entirely silent aside from some dialogue you can't hear, with nothing in the visuals to convey what's going on; it's like watching a film on mute.”
    • “The story is so badly written it'll give you a headache if you try to make sense of it.”
  • gameplay93 mentions

    The gameplay in this title has been widely criticized for its linearity, repetitiveness, and lack of depth, with many reviewers noting that it primarily consists of fighting the same few enemies in a basic brawler format. The transition between cutscenes and gameplay is seamless, but the overall experience is marred by clunky mechanics, minimal player engagement, and a frustrating lack of direction, leading to a perception that the game is more of a cinematic experience than a playable one. While some appreciate the narrative elements, the gameplay itself is often described as boring and unenjoyable, making it difficult for players to remain invested.

    • “The combat mechanics at play are very straightforward and effective.”
    • “The transition from the video to gameplay was mostly seamless and the in-game graphics are insanely good.”
    • “I'd give this game 12/10, and I wouldn't even subtract points for the gameplay, as this is a completely own genre and it's so good at it.”
    • “It's more like watching a movie, and the gameplay part is not playable at all.”
    • “Gameplay consists of you being in extremely linear levels or sometimes just rooms, and punching the same 3 dudes over and over.”
    • “All there is to the gameplay is the combat and it is clunky, glitchy, poorly thought out, shallow, and overall unenjoyable.”
  • graphics49 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the cinematic quality and detailed cutscenes, while others criticize the in-game visuals as subpar and reminiscent of older console graphics. Many users noted a stark contrast between the polished cutscenes and the less impressive gameplay graphics, leading to a jarring experience. Overall, while there are standout moments in terms of aesthetics and texture work, the inconsistency and lack of graphical options detract from the overall experience.

    • “The way the game is done is fantastic, mixing real life with game graphics.”
    • “The graphics are so awesome; I haven't seen such realistic and more than perfect graphics ever.”
    • “The graphics do impress with crisp game models and some pretty decent rigging to add some necessary realism during conversations.”
    • “The 'game' is 90% cut scene, switching between FMV that is reminiscent of a university arts student's first failed foray into filmmaking, and in-game graphics cut scenes for the parts they didn't have the budget to film.”
    • “When the game swaps to rendered cutscenes, or actual gameplay, it's a jarring and obvious transition, because the graphics are horrendous.”
    • “Graphics are from PS3 era.”
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the emotional impact of the soundtrack, particularly the ending credit song, while others criticize the lack of audio during the first playthrough, which features muffled sounds and no dialogue. The use of music and sound effects is noted to enhance the gameplay experience in the second playthrough, but some players feel that the overall musical composition is underwhelming and fails to fully utilize the potential of a deaf protagonist. Overall, the soundtrack is described as "pretty ok," with moments of brilliance overshadowed by significant audio limitations.

    • “The ending credits song never sounded so sweet after beating the game three times.”
    • “This game had a lot going for it: a genuinely interesting premise, Square Enix’s backing, Imogen Heap to compose a musical theme, Joe Kelly as a writer, and Human Head Studios (of Prey 2007 fame no less) for the gameplay side.”
    • “Good story, music, and acting thanks to the second playthrough.”
    • “The quiet man has two playthroughs, the first one without any sound and the second one with audio and soundtracks.”
    • “They don't use the character's deafness for anything gameplay related besides the first playthrough having no dialogue, no music, and very muffled sound.”
    • “There is no sound, no dialogue that we can hear, no music.”
  • humor14 mentions

    The humor in "The Quiet Man" is largely described as unintentional, with players finding amusement in its numerous flaws and awkward moments rather than intentional comedic elements. While some appreciate the absurdity and occasional funny bugs, many feel that the humor quickly wears thin, leaving a sense of disappointment in the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as a mix of unintentional hilarity and frustration, making it a curious but ultimately unsatisfying endeavor.

    • “The Quiet Man™ is a hilarious, artsy cinematic masterpiece that doesn't get enough credit for the pure entertainment value it provides, and I hope more people give it a shot just for the hell of it.”
    • “One boss even has fairly decent guitar riffs blasting in the background, which caught me off guard and made me laugh harder.”
    • “There are times where I actually found myself laughing at scenes where I'm supposed to take the game seriously.”
    • “It's not funny bad, it's just bad.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response, with some players experiencing genuine feelings of joy and sadness, while others criticize the poorly executed story and unrelatable characters that detract from the intended emotional impact. Despite attempts at creating a heartfelt narrative, many find the gameplay mechanics and overall presentation frustrating, leading to a lack of engagement with the emotional themes.

    • “This story will take you on an emotional roller coaster; you'll laugh at the hilarious jokes, cry at the sad scenes, and ask questions like 'What is the quiet man doing?' and 'Why does the quiet man do this?'”
    • “Brain: you should really care about the characters and the story that's going on here; it could be quite an interesting and heartfelt plot.”
    • “The source of the whole conflict, the struggle, and the emotional trauma that the hero faces was when a young punk from a poor family stole shoes.”
    • “Live action cut scenes with horrible acting, terrible unrelatable characters, and you need to grind through the boring story without sound for the gimmicky reveal.”
    • “I can at least appreciate the attempt to do something different, but none of it is done well, so you're left with a boring story and frustrating, unfinished combat mechanics.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game's stability is severely criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches, a broken dodging system, and overall janky combat that detracts from the experience. Many liken its instability to the problematic launch of Cyberpunk, advising potential players to avoid purchasing it due to its numerous bugs and repetitive gameplay.

    • “The combat is jank, barely works, repetitive button mashing, glitches out constantly, and the dodging system required to hit bosses is broken and only works when it feels like it.”
    • “Don't waste your money on this game; the glitches are so bad it reminds me of Cyberpunk's first release.”
    • “That's not even touching the gameplay, which is a horrid generic brawler type that glitches out more than it actually works.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, particularly regarding the enforcement of forum rules that restrict discussions about alternative purchasing options, leading to frustration among users who feel their attempts to share better deals are unfairly labeled as advertising. This has resulted in negative sentiments towards the game's pricing and overall value.

    • “I got banned for a week from the game's forum for posting a link showing that Green Man Gaming sold it cheaper than on Steam, and the reason was 'please refrain from any form of advertisement.' What the heck?”
    • “I was stating a fact; I'm not sponsored nor do I own Green Man Gaming. That is not advertisement.”
    • “Final score 1/10 for wasting my time and the $12.86 that I spent on a superior website, Green Man Gaming. Yes, I'm advertising a better place to buy your games.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for poor performance, particularly during later boss fights, which are described as severely unbalanced. Overall, the technical issues detract significantly from the experience, overshadowing any positive elements like visuals and voice acting.

    • “The performance is so bad, and the boss fights later in the game are so severely unbalanced it's a joke.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of influences, combining elements reminiscent of "Karate Kid" and "Darksiders" with a cinematic feel akin to "Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater," all infused with an 80s aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the strong mood and engaging story that enhance the overall experience.

    • “For me, it's a mix of Karate Kid meets Darksiders with a Metal Gear film atmosphere (like in Snake Eater, here 80s style).”
    • “The story is quite good, as well as the atmosphere and mood that the game provides.”
    • “The atmosphere feels like a mix of 'Karate Kid' meets 'Darksiders' with a 'Metal Gear' film vibe, reminiscent of the 80s style in 'Snake Eater'.”
    • “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
    • “I expected a rich, immersive atmosphere, but instead, it felt flat and uninspired.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development in the game is widely criticized, with users expressing strong dissatisfaction and stating that there is virtually no development at all.

    • “Awful character development.”
    • “There is no character development at all.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

20% average critic score

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