There The Light
- May 31, 2019
- CasualBebop
Get on SteamExplore an unknown and abandoned world. Each step, each puzzle, brings you closer to discovering the history and secrets of a lost civilization. Can you find the light?
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a calming soundtrack that create a relaxing atmosphere.
- Puzzles are simple and enjoyable, making it accessible for casual gamers and those looking for a meditative experience.
- The game offers a unique exploration of an ancient civilization, with intriguing art and a subtle narrative conveyed through visuals.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Many puzzles are overly simplistic and repetitive, lacking depth and challenge, which can lead to a monotonous experience.
- There are significant bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including progress-halting issues and long loading times.
- music45 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a beautiful soundscape that evolves as players progress. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the game's aesthetic, creating a serene environment that encourages exploration and reflection. While some found the inclusion of vocal elements less fitting, the majority agree that the music is a standout feature, making it a memorable aspect of the gameplay.
“The music grows and builds on itself as you progress through the level, until you are engulfed by a beautiful soundscape.”
“The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing, and the music is very nice.”
“The music, the lighting, and the artwork really made this little gem a pleasure to experience.”
“Unfortunately, beyond the soundtrack, which is atmospheric and really fits the scene, it doesn't really deliver much else.”
“I also found the parts where the music picked up vocals to be slightly off-putting, as it made it less ethereal and felt like someone had just picked a track to go along with the game rather than crafting music for it.”
“Just like what others say, easy puzzle, but the music man, enjoy the music, I would love to buy the soundtracks.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their aesthetic appeal, featuring beautiful artwork, smooth movement, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers noted that the visuals can occasionally feel bland or empty, the stunning environments and unique art styles across different levels are highlighted as standout elements. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's relaxing atmosphere, despite the simplicity of the puzzles.
“The music, the lighting, and the artwork really made this little gem a pleasure to experience.”
“I found myself really drawn to the art style in the game, both in the illuminated murals you encounter as well as the surroundings.”
“The layout was complex enough, but it was all plain stone, with graphics only appearing on the bits you interacted with.”
“However, the game can get dull and bland in its art style; it just feels a little bit empty sometimes.”
“More on the lines of a walking simulator – because frankly, puzzles are put there merely for show - you stroll through aesthetically pleasing, minimalistic scenarios overflowing with beautiful hieroglyphic-like art and interactive panels; all of this accompanied by heavenly synth music.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty, relaxation, and impressive sound design, with many reviewers highlighting the calming music that enhances the experience. While some noted the simplicity of the puzzles and the short gameplay duration, the overall aesthetic and symbolic elements of the environment left a positive impression, making it a recommended choice for fans of atmospheric and narrative-driven experiences.
“The atmosphere is beautiful and relaxing, and the music is very nice.”
“I would 100% recommend this if you don't mind 'walking simulators' with subtle storytelling and a really great atmospheric soundtrack.”
“The dev nailed the atmosphere, music, and sound effects.”
“The atmosphere is so relaxing and aesthetically pleasing that I really didn't mind the simple puzzles.”
“The calming soundtracks fit the atmosphere of the game and adapt as you progress through different worlds.”
“The developers nailed the atmosphere, music, and sound effects.”
- story14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through visual elements like murals and plaques, leaving much to the player's interpretation, which some find engaging while others see as vague and lacking depth. While it offers an atmospheric experience reminiscent of walking simulators, many players feel that the narrative could benefit from more development and clarity. Overall, the storytelling is subtle and atmospheric, appealing to those who appreciate experiential narratives but may disappoint those seeking a more structured plot.
“I would 100% recommend this if you don't mind 'walking simulators' with subtle storytelling and a really great atmospheric soundtrack.”
“I took the time to review the paintings when I walked by them, and tell a story of what was drawn to myself.”
“There is an underlying story to the game - one that makes more sense than the one in The Witness - but overall the game is just there to look pretty and make you want to see more of it.”
“The game's 'story' is left up to the player's imagination, and I'm not really a fan of the way it is explained through the art murals on the walls.”
“There is some sort of a story, told in plaques and murals that you see on the way, but it remains vague, really.”
“There isn't great depth in the storytelling itself, and it shows.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a lack of challenging puzzles, with many players finding them too easy and only engaging with the mechanics in the final chapter. While the game features a unique approach to puzzle mechanics that encourages exploration without verbal instructions, the limited variety and absence of introductory challenges can lead to a disjointed experience. Overall, the gameplay feels more like an extended tutorial than a fully developed puzzle game.
“The game really offers no explanation of the puzzle mechanics, but it doesn't take long to figure out what you are supposed to do.”
“It has one kind of puzzle that has mechanics that build and interact in interesting ways using no words.”
“This review is split into the two most important parts: the environments (visuals) and the puzzles (mechanics).”
“It's not so much a puzzle game as it looks; it's more like a prolonged intro where you learn the mechanics.”
“The puzzles are a bit too easy for my taste; it was only in the last chapter that I actually had to spend any time figuring out how the mechanics work.”
“This game has extremely few mechanics in each puzzle type (with the connect-the-dots kind having one: connect the dots) that just show up with no introductory puzzles and don't mesh at all.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat repetitive due to the basic puzzles, but the short playtime of about an hour prevents it from becoming overly tedious. However, the loading times between levels, lacking a progress indicator, contribute to a sense of monotony.
“To be frank, doing the same types of puzzles over and over does get a little monotonous after a while, but thankfully the game ends before it gets too tedious.”
“The loading time in between levels with no sort of progress indicator got a little tedious as well.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is generally good, with only minor issues noted, such as occasional lag spikes related to particle physics and a couple of glitches during gameplay.
“After playing it again in February, the only bugs I encountered were with the particle physics causing lag spikes.”
“Buggy.”
“There were only two glitches I found in my play experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a generally relaxing experience, though players may experience occasional random stuttering. Overall, it provides a captivating journey through time and space, despite these minor optimization issues.
“The game suffers from frequent performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
“Optimization is lacking, resulting in long loading times and inconsistent frame rates.”
“Despite its potential, the game is plagued by stuttering and lag that detracts from the overall experience.”
