There Was the Moon
- September 6, 2019
- Ben Lapid
Get on Steam"There Was the Moon" is an atmospheric exploration game where players must complete a ritual in a monument under the moon's gaze. The game features meticulously crafted environments, a surreal soundscape, and puzzles to solve. With a short, satisfying experience and multiple endings, players can expect a divine encounter in this mystical adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features stunning visuals and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in a surreal experience.
- The puzzles, while not overly difficult, provide a satisfying challenge and complement the exploration of the beautifully crafted environments.
- The narrative and artistic direction create a unique and meaningful journey, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric games.
- The game is relatively short, with many players feeling that the price is steep for the amount of content provided.
- Some puzzles can be obscure or frustrating, leading to moments of confusion and backtracking.
- There is limited replayability due to the short length and only a couple of endings, leaving players wanting more depth and exploration.
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating and unique qualities, evoking feelings of isolation and intrigue through its sound design and environmental storytelling. Many players appreciate the blend of exploration and light puzzle-solving, noting that the atmosphere is the standout feature, even if some found its religious undertones off-putting. Overall, the immersive environment significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it a key reason to recommend the game.
“This game reminds me so much of Kairo, but it brings out a unique atmosphere of its own.”
“The game definitely soars on its atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere was really good; it managed to inflict a feeling of isolation, even scaring me a few times with strange sound effects.”
“But buying it, I think I failed to understand how religious the atmosphere of the game feels.”
“And I wasn't a fan of the religious eerie atmosphere.”
“There is some light puzzle solving, but it's mostly just wandering around soaking up the atmosphere.”
- story10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a surreal and experimental journey that unfolds through environmental puzzles and exploration, creating an engaging mystery. While some players appreciated the psychological twists and atmospheric elements, others felt the narrative was vague and wished for more depth and content. Overall, it is seen as a visually captivating experience that combines artistic storytelling with puzzle-solving.
“It truly is a visual and storytelling masterpiece.”
“The story had an interesting premise and I would say the atmosphere of the world was the best part.”
“The game drops you in the middle of something bigger than you, and as you travel the mind-bending ambient landscape, performing a ritual through environmental puzzles and exploration that leaves you in mystery, the story unravels in front of you.”
“I've always loved these kinds of puzzle game/walking simulators; these surreal, experimental journeys through strange places and structures, piecing together the story through the bits you find, if there is a story to begin with.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay features walking and solving sequencing puzzles, but some players found the mechanics unintuitive, leading to frustration. While updates improved the experience by clarifying mechanics, the overall gameplay duration is perceived as short for the price.
“I was having trouble with one of the puzzles in the game, but after it was updated, it was much more enjoyable since I could understand the mechanics - but it wasn't too easy.”
“I don't know how much development went into the game, so I don't want to undermine the devs' work, but the price feels a bit steep for less than an hour of gameplay.”
“Game mechanics weren't super intuitive (at least not to me), and it became unplayable.”
“The gameplay consists of walking around and occasionally solving sequencing puzzles.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised, with reviewers noting that the soundtrack enhances the visual experience and complements the game's aesthetic effectively. Overall, it creates an enjoyable and immersive environment for players.
“The art direction and sound/music design are top notch.”
“It is a visual treat with a soundtrack that I took pleasure in listening to.”
“The sound design and ambient music fits the aesthetic really well.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their stunning psychedelic visuals, creating an immersive experience that complements the exploration gameplay. The aesthetic is particularly appealing to fans of vibrant and unique art styles, enhanced by fitting sound design and ambient music.
“Amazing experience; this type of aesthetic is my favorite in exploration games.”
“Really cool psychedelic visuals throughout the game, pretty fun.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its only two endings, with players suggesting that the inclusion of more secrets and achievements could enhance the experience and encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I find that many similar games do well when you add lots of little secrets around the game for replay value, maybe more achievements to support them.”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and hidden content, I always discover something new every time I play.”
“There are only 2 endings, so there is very little replayability.”
“I find that many similar games do well when you add lots of little secrets around the game for replay value; maybe more achievements could support them.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game "Ego" is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but it hints at a potential connection to a previous title, "Naissance," suggesting that players may have expectations regarding pricing or value based on past experiences. Further details on monetization strategies or practices are not provided.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game somewhat tedious, though it is balanced by enjoyable psychological twists in the story, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
“The story had some enjoyable psychological twists, and I would say it ended on a high note, even though it was a little tedious in between.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported, which do not significantly detract from the enjoyable atmosphere and engaging puzzles.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress.”
“I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the overall experience.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
