Theatre Of The Absurd
- May 8, 2014
- Gogii Games
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Theatre of the Absurd" is a surrealistic, first-person adventure game that explores existential themes. Players navigate through a dreamlike world, solving puzzles and uncovering the mysteries of their surroundings while engaging with its peculiar inhabitants. The game encourages philosophical introspection and presents a unique, thought-provoking experience.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and a creepy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The hidden object puzzles are enjoyable and provide a fair challenge without being overly frustrating.
- The story, while somewhat absurd, is engaging enough to keep players interested throughout the game.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under four hours, including bonus content.
- There are issues with backtracking and a lack of a map, which can make navigation tedious.
- Some puzzles and hidden object scenes can be confusing or poorly designed, leading to frustration.
- story137 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in this game is often described as absurd and convoluted, with many reviewers noting its thin plot and lack of clarity, particularly in the bonus content. While some players found the narrative engaging and atmospheric, others criticized it for being predictable, poorly fleshed out, or confusing. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a strong focal point, with mixed opinions on its effectiveness in enhancing the overall experience.
“The story is interesting enough to keep me entertained through it, but at the end of the day I'm left feeling starved.”
“I really enjoyed exploring the castle and watching the story unfold.”
“The story was good and the graphics were nicely done, and the voice overs were done very well also.”
“The story feels incomplete and the 'extra' content does nothing to help that.”
“However, the story itself was pretty thin and the tasks and puzzles were repetitive and uninspired.”
“The storyline was really confusing and I was lost playing through the whole thing.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful artwork, atmospheric design, and detailed environments, contributing significantly to the overall experience. While some users noted that the graphics may feel dated, especially for a game released in 2012, many appreciated the gothic horror aesthetic and the quality of the hidden object scenes. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point, enhancing the intriguing storyline and gameplay.
“The graphics are nice to watch and the overall look of the game feels very atmospheric and concerted with the given topic.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the cut scenes are well done... it is an intriguing story that feels not very well fleshed out.”
“Beautiful detailed artwork/graphics/scenes.”
“The art style is a little disconcerting, the voiceovers are rough (the acting itself is okay but the audio sounds like it was recorded in an indoor pool), the story kinda makes sense (the bonus content didn't really explain anything), and it's probably a 2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale (just over 4 hours of gametime, on expert, no walkthrough, including bonus content).”
“The graphics for the arm/hand could be improved.”
“I have seen better graphics than this game but the story is interesting.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, enhanced by striking artwork, fitting sound design, and a macabre setting. Players appreciate the balance of creepiness without overwhelming fear, making it engaging and enjoyable, particularly in the context of hidden object gameplay. Overall, the game's unique atmosphere stands out in the genre, contributing significantly to its appeal.
“The game looks really good, and the music is fittingly atmospheric.”
“I remember basically devouring the game within a couple of hours, due to its creepy and intriguing atmosphere, alongside the main character's otherworldly abilities.”
“It has a nice creepy atmosphere, good sound effects, and nicely-drawn locations.”
“Not that it's too scary (this is still a HOG we're talking about after all), but it's the first one of these I've played that inspired me to kill the room lighting in order to vibe with the atmosphere.”
“It was interesting and I was keeping up with it until it got towards the end and that's when it lost me, but the story and atmosphere are still very eerie and unnerving just as you'd expect from an abandoned castle.”
“As I've stated at the beginning of my review, the atmosphere is grand.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, characterized by solid mechanics, fluid controls, and engaging hidden object scenes that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the story cliche and occasionally confusing, the introduction of new mechanics and satisfying audio cues contribute to a fun and enjoyable gameplay loop. Overall, the game balances beautiful graphics and sound with accessible yet entertaining gameplay, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
“The gameplay is very nice; the more you play, the more you enjoy it.”
“Very solid gameplay and graphics with the most satisfying confirmation piano note in hidden object scenes.”
“In practice, it is a good hidden object game; its mechanics work very well, and every hidden object scene and mini-game can be enjoyed thoroughly.”
“The gameplay is fairly generic for a hidden object game.”
“Hidden object games generally have exceedingly beautiful artwork, soundtrack, and well-developed storylines to compensate for their lack of real meaty gameplay.”
“Instead, the game focuses more on its mechanics and undergirds them with a pinch of mysticism, supernatural elements, and solid cutscenes.”
- music13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with a fitting blend of foreboding tones and beautiful soundscapes. While some players found the volume levels occasionally overwhelming, the soundtrack effectively complements the game's unique story and art style, contributing to a spooky ambiance. Voice acting received mixed feedback, with some enjoying it while others found certain voices less appealing.
“The music was foreboding, and there were some unexpected jump-scare moments not often seen in a hidden object game.”
“The game looks really good, and the music is fittingly atmospheric.”
“Art is very good, music is well adapted to the environment and never becomes an annoyance while you play.”
“The only thing I can say I didn't like was that the music was crazy loud, but you can just turn that down, so no big deal.”
“The music was appropriate for the game, but I could not stand the voice of the owner of the castle.”
“The soft music actually increases the spooky part.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable experience with the game, noting that they did not encounter any significant glitches or game-ending issues, suggesting that either luck or recent developer fixes have improved stability.
“I didn't encounter any of the game-ending glitches I read about in some prior comments, even when placing items in their locations before having all the components, so I was either lucky or the developer has fixed the issue.”
“I was also surprised I didn't experience any glitches either.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is enjoyable for a single playthrough, but some players feel a sense of dissatisfaction upon finishing, suggesting that while it provides laughs, it may lack depth or lasting impact.
“The humor in this game is spot-on, making every moment enjoyable and filled with laughter.”
“I couldn't stop chuckling at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations throughout the game.”
“The comedic timing is impeccable, and the jokes land perfectly, keeping the experience light-hearted and fun.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers minimal replayability, appealing primarily to those who have a strong affinity for it.
“Almost no replayability; only if you really enjoy the game.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying feel pointless.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience, despite the game's beautiful artwork.
“Despite its beautiful artwork, this is a really tedious, repetitive game.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel monotonous.”
