Tombeaux
- November 5, 2018
- paverson
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Get on itch.io Store"Tombeaux" is a first-person exploration game set in a historically accurate 3D environment, focusing on midwestern American history. Players discover unique objects and narratives in a transforming environment, reflecting on the past and future. It is a story-rich walking simulator, suitable for all ages, with a focus on education and contemplation. The developer will donate 100% of profits to protecting the river the game is based upon.
Reviews
- Tombeaux serves as an important educational experience, highlighting the history and environmental issues surrounding the St. Croix River, making it a meaningful project.
- The game features a soothing atmosphere with beautiful visuals and a poignant narrative that resonates emotionally with players.
- 100% of the profits from the game are donated to environmental conservation efforts, adding a charitable aspect to the purchase.
- The gameplay is very limited, consisting mainly of walking and listening to monologues, which may not appeal to those looking for more interactive experiences.
- Performance issues, such as lag and poor voice acting quality, detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished.
- The game is quite short, lasting only about 30-45 minutes, which some players feel does not justify the price.
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them decent but unremarkable, while others criticize the performance and overall visual quality as subpar. Although certain visuals are appreciated, many feel that better-looking games are available at similar or lower prices, and the limited explorable areas detract from the experience. Overall, the graphics are described as good but not exceptional, with performance issues impacting enjoyment.
“The music is soothing, the visuals are pretty (well, if your computer isn't a toaster), and the message is something that I'd like to see more of in games.”
“Graphics are bad, performance was awful (like 20-30 fps for such an ugly game, wtf).”
“As far as the visuals and actual gameplay go, though, there isn't much to say.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered simplistic, consisting of collecting items and listening to dialogue across six levels, with limited player interaction and some performance issues. While the voice acting varies in quality, the game's focus on research and charitable contributions adds a commendable layer to the experience, suggesting that players may overlook gameplay shortcomings for its meaningful content.
“While not all of the voice acting is equally evocative and the game would certainly have benefited from more player interaction or perhaps some interesting puzzle mechanics, the resulting experience is nonetheless a highly meaningful and commendable one.”
“As far as the visuals and actual gameplay go, though, there isn't much to say.”
“Gameplay-wise, you have 6 levels where you collect one or four items, then listen to someone.”
“Yes, some of the voice acting is pretty cringe, and gameplay and performance-wise it has some issues, but you don't really play these types of games for the gameplay.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and reflective of a broader historical narrative, centered around a single river while exploring themes relevant to various communities across the continent. Players uncover the tale by collecting items that reveal snippets of history, presented in short chapters that span different time periods, though some find the pacing a bit slow.
“Your main objective is just to wander around and pick up items that trigger story snippets that, as far as I understood, were written or said by real people of that age.”
“There are short 'chapters' as you play through the story of this location that take place during different time periods.”
“Take your time (you'll get an achievement for it if you do) and remember that, even though this story focuses on a single river, this is a tale that is found all across the continent in communities large, small, and nearly lost or forgotten.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance, with frame rates dropping to 20-30 fps despite subpar graphics. While some players appreciate the research and charitable efforts behind the game, the overall gameplay experience is hindered by these technical issues and limited explorable areas.
“The amount of research that went into the game is impressive, and the fact that the developers donate the profits really adds to the overall experience.”
“While some graphics look nice, I've seen much better-looking games with better performance at the same price or less.”
“The gameplay and performance have some issues, but the dedication of the developers is evident.”
“Graphics are bad, performance was awful (like 20-30 fps for such an ugly game, wtf).”
“Moreover, while some graphics look nice, I've seen much better looking games with better performance at the same price or less, and the explorable areas are roughly limited.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Tombeaux" falls short of expectations, as it struggles to effectively create an immersive experience typical of walking simulators, while also failing to deliver on its educational goals.
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is praised for its soothing quality, complementing the visually appealing graphics, provided the hardware is capable. Reviewers appreciate the positive message conveyed through the game's audio-visual experience.
“The music is soothing, the visuals are pretty (well, if your computer isn't a toaster), and the message is something that I'd like to see more of in games.”
