Transpose

Transpose is a pleasant, complicated surprise puzzle VR game that will put your patience to the test, as well as your cognitive skills. If you enjoy puzzle games, such as The Witness, then this one will probably be up your alley.

89%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

story, grinding

93% User Score Based on 151 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

Transpose is a single player casual platformer game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Secret Location and was released on November 6, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Transpose is a dreamlike and gravity-defying puzzle game in VR. It challenges players to solve increasingly complex physics puzzles as they explore an extraordinarily surreal world.

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 151 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Transpose features innovative puzzle mechanics that effectively utilize VR, allowing players to interact with their past selves to solve challenges.
The game offers a unique visual style and atmospheric sound design, creating an immersive experience that enhances the puzzle-solving process.
Puzzles increase in complexity and provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment when solved, making it a rewarding experience for puzzle enthusiasts.

The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay, especially with throwing mechanics and movement options.
Some players find the dark and gloomy art style unappealing, suggesting that a brighter aesthetic could improve the overall experience.
The game lacks a robust narrative and can feel repetitive, with some puzzles being too easy or not challenging enough to keep players engaged.

gameplay
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The gameplay is characterized by dynamic and innovative puzzle mechanics that effectively utilize VR technology, offering a unique and engaging experience. While it draws comparisons to titles like "The Talos Principle" and "Portal," it features its own distinct mechanics, such as manipulating past actions and player echoes, which enhance the puzzle-solving experience. Overall, the game is praised for its intuitive controls, solid level design, and visually impressive aesthetic, making it a worthwhile addition for VR puzzle enthusiasts.
- “Very dynamic, innovative puzzle mechanics, and more!”
- “Brilliant puzzle mechanics at play here.”
- “Fun and wonderful experience, using your past actions as gameplay is mind-breaking.”
- “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.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
40%
15%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the sharp, minimalist aesthetic and beautiful visuals that create an otherworldly atmosphere. While some players appreciate the unique art style and relaxing soundtrack, others feel it could benefit from higher production values and more detailed environments. Overall, the visuals are described as effective and easy on the eyes, contributing positively to the VR experience.
- “Some brilliant VR visuals.”
- “I absolutely love the aesthetics of the game and I'm definitely going back for more.”
- “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.”
- “On the whole, I think Transpose really nails its aesthetic.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The music in the game is generally described as calming and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its minimalistic synth sounds and relaxing qualities. While some players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and its ability to complement the game's aesthetic, there are calls for more variety in the music across different worlds. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's beautiful visuals and engaging mechanics.
- “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.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The story aspect of the game is generally considered minimal and somewhat vague, with many reviewers noting that it feels like an afterthought. While some find the narrative interesting, it does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, which is primarily driven by engaging puzzles and visual design. Overall, players recommend the game for its unique VR puzzling experience rather than its story.
- “The story was interesting but nothing crazy... buy and play if you are looking for a new unique VR puzzler.”
- “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.”
- “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 hours into it, but it doesn't detract from the awesome visual design and intriguing puzzles.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
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.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its relaxing music, minimalist sound design, and beautiful visual style, creating an immersive experience. Reviewers highlight how these elements combine to evoke a unique and captivating ambiance, likening it to a dreamlike state or an alien abduction. Overall, the atmosphere significantly enhances the gameplay experience.
- “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.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a mix of frustration and transcendence in the emotional experience of the game. While the unintended movements caused by the touch pads can lead to chaotic gameplay, the profound connection felt during interactions, such as holding a cube, creates a unique and deeply moving experience that stands out in the gaming landscape.
- “A truly transcendental experience; no other video game has made me feel like this one.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the time-fast-forward feature that alleviates the tedium of waiting for echoes, making the grinding 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.”