Transpose
- November 6, 2018
- Secret Location
- 7h median play time
"Transpose" is a single-player fantasy platformer VR game offering 10 hours of playtime, set in a universe where time and gravity are manipulated to solve puzzles. Players create and interact with looped recordings of their actions, working with past selves to progress through increasingly complex physics-based challenges in a dreamlike setting. By bending notions of space and time, players must think creatively to generate the infinite cycle of creation and destruction.
Reviews
- Transpose features innovative puzzle mechanics that effectively utilize VR, allowing players to manipulate time and gravity while collaborating with their past selves.
- The game offers a visually stunning and atmospheric experience, with unique environments that enhance the overall immersion and enjoyment.
- Puzzles are well-designed and progressively increase in difficulty, providing a satisfying challenge that rewards creative problem-solving.
- The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially with throwing mechanics and movement options.
- Some players find the art style to be dark and gloomy, which may detract from the overall experience and enjoyment of the game.
- The lack of a clear narrative and some repetitive puzzle mechanics can make the game feel less engaging over time.
- gameplay49 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by innovative and dynamic puzzle mechanics that effectively utilize VR technology, offering a unique experience reminiscent of titles like "The Talos Principle." While the puzzles are engaging and visually impressive, some players found the tutorial confusing and noted that the core mechanics, though interesting, could become repetitive. Overall, the game is praised for its intuitive controls and the surreal experience of interacting with past actions, making it a worthwhile addition for puzzle enthusiasts.
“Very dynamic, innovative puzzle mechanics, and more!”
“Brilliant puzzle mechanics at play here.”
“The mechanics and level design are great.”
“The gameplay tutorial in the beginning was confusing.”
“I didn't like the gameplay, I didn't like its style, even though the graphics were good, but what is bad is that it is not available for other devices, at least in the menu, settings, and stuff.”
“The puzzles are a good level of difficulty, but the puzzle mechanics are the same pretty much the whole game; it's only changed up just barely enough to keep it interesting.”
- graphics21 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the sharp, minimalist aesthetic that enhances the VR experience, creating an otherworldly sci-fi environment. While some players appreciate the unique and beautiful visuals, others feel that the art style can be too dark or lacking in detail, suggesting a desire for higher production values and more vibrant backgrounds. Overall, the visuals are generally considered effective and enjoyable, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.
“Some brilliant VR visuals.”
“The puzzle mechanics are really weird, yet still very intuitive; the weird geometric aesthetic is really pretty, and the soundtrack is really relaxing.”
“It's a little bewildering at times, but the graphics are crisp and simple, albeit beautifully done, creating an otherworldly sci-fi environment with a great use of scale and 3D.”
“I am not a huge fan of the art style, being all dark and gloomy in VR.”
“I didn't like the gameplay, I didn't like its style, even though the graphics were good, but what is bad is that it is not available for other devices, at least in the menu, settings, and stuff.”
“Looks like Tron with sharp visuals.”
- music15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and atmospheric, complementing the futuristic and dreamy aesthetic. While some reviewers appreciate the soothing quality and the way it enhances gameplay, there is a desire for more variety in the soundtrack. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, making it enjoyable and immersive.
“The vast scale of the hub worlds and the increasing fullness of the music as you progress through many of the levels were very well done.”
“The music is nice and calming, not interrupting the thoughts in any way.”
“There are 3 worlds, all have a similar futuristic dreamy vibe, all with the same minimalistic synth music.”
“The soundtrack is pretty and soothing, helping you to gather your thoughts.”
“The soundtrack is very relaxing and the game mechanics are pure fun.”
- story12 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered minimal and somewhat vague, often described as an afterthought that doesn't significantly impact the gameplay experience. While some players found the narrative interesting, it lacks depth and coherence, with many reviews emphasizing that the engaging gameplay and unique puzzles compensate for the weak storyline. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre despite its limited plot.
“The story was interesting but nothing crazy... buy and play if you are looking for a new unique VR puzzler.”
“Although there isn't much of a plot to follow and some of the puzzles aren't as satisfying as the others, fans of the genre will be remiss not to play this excellent adventure from Secret Location.”
“It is rather uninteresting but serviceable visually and runs well; the story is vague to non-existent but doesn’t get in the way of playing.”
“The story comes across as a bit of an afterthought, at least as far as a couple of hours into it, but it doesn't detract from the awesome visual design and intriguing puzzles.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly with minimal bugs, and delivers excellent performance, particularly in VR. Players appreciate the fluidity of gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
“The implementation runs smoothly and is largely bug-free.”
“Excellent performance in VR.”
“It's very satisfying to do a fluid optimized chain.”
“Performance, while not a big deal for this title, I make a mention of in my reviews.”
“The game struggles with frame rate drops, especially in crowded areas, which really affects the overall experience.”
“Loading times are excessively long, making it frustrating to jump back into the action.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its relaxing music, minimalist sound design, and beautiful visual style, creating an immersive experience that enhances the gameplay. Reviewers note that the combination of sound and visuals contributes to a captivating and otherworldly ambiance, likening it to a dreamlike state.
“I love the atmosphere of the game, such as the minimalist sound design.”
“I also love the visual style and the wonderful soundtrack that together make for great atmosphere.”
“Atmospheric and beautiful puzzler that feels like you've woken up during your abduction by aliens.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a mix of frustration and transcendence in the emotional experience of the game. While the controls can lead to unexpected movements that disrupt immersion, the overall experience is described as uniquely profound, evoking feelings that are unmatched by other titles.
“A truly transcendental experience; no other video game has made me feel like this one.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the time-slider feature that alleviates the tedium of waiting during grinding, making the experience more manageable. While the levels are challenging yet not overly frustrating, many find the repetitive nature of grinding mentally taxing, leading them to take frequent breaks.
“No level was too hard that I wanted to quit, but grinding through level after level was certainly a workout for my mind, and I took breaks often.”