Unsighted
- September 30, 2021
- Studio Pixel Punk
- 33h median play time
Unsighted Review – The Ultimate 'Beat The Clock' Challenge
"Unsighted" is a sci-fi hack and slash game that offers both single-player and local co-op gameplay. As Automaton Alma, you'll explore the vast world of Arcadia, saving friends before they turn into UNSIGHTED due to the depleting Anima resource. Master the game's rich combat across multiple playthroughs, with varied weapons and timed combat actions, all accompanied by marvelous graphics, spectacular music, and a highly emotional story.
Reviews
- Engaging combat system with satisfying parry mechanics and a variety of weapons.
- Beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.
- Unique time limit mechanic that adds urgency and meaningful choices to the gameplay.
- The story and character development are somewhat shallow and lack depth.
- Some players may find the time limit mechanic stressful and may prefer to disable it.
- Navigation can be confusing at times, leading to unnecessary backtracking.
- gameplay468 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Unsighted" is characterized by its unique time mechanic, which creates a sense of urgency as players must manage the lifespans of NPCs while navigating a richly designed world filled with puzzles and combat challenges. The combat system is fluid and responsive, featuring a satisfying parry mechanic, though some players find the reliance on this mechanic can make encounters feel repetitive. Overall, the game offers a blend of exploration and action reminiscent of classic metroidvanias, with the option to disable the time pressure for a more relaxed experience, enhancing its accessibility and replayability.
“The gameplay is phenomenal.”
“The time mechanic is absolutely amazing: it ties well into the narrative, gives weight to your actions, and creates a trade-off between exploring and advancing the story.”
“The combat is stellar (solid parry and counter mechanics, varied melee and ranged weapons, lots of options for character customization) and the story is fairly good.”
“The wall-jump mechanic is implemented abysmally, and even worse it will be required in some sections.”
“The big letdown is that the timer mechanic doesn't culminate in anything interesting, and doesn't play into the story.”
“The parry mechanic makes boss fights trivial and kind of makes them feel not very satisfying.”
- story360 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging themes and emotional depth, particularly in relation to character relationships and the time-sensitive mechanics that add urgency to the narrative. However, many others found the plot to be generic, lacking in character development, and riddled with clichés, which detracted from their overall experience. While the gameplay and art design were often praised, the story was frequently described as a weaker element, with some players expressing a desire for more depth and complexity.
“The story is very serious and poignant; it demands you imagine a world after yourself.”
“The story is solid and decently written.”
“Everything from the combat, to the exploration, to the story works so perfectly together to create a vibrant and somber world.”
“The story is so basic I have to wonder why they even spent time making flashbacks.”
“I felt that the story was lacking and pretty generic - you only got a few sentences of information at the last boss for his backstory and that was it.”
“The main story is a deeply cynical one, whose lesson can be summarized like this: 'humans as a species are evil/greedy, and are so short-sighted that they'll destroy themselves and everyone around them just to play god for a little.' I feel it's a common artistic expression with those frustrated about climate change, so it's not all that interesting.”
- music150 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising its dynamic and atmospheric qualities that enhance gameplay and storytelling. Some tracks are described as exceptional and memorable, while others feel repetitive or uninspired. Overall, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“The soundtrack while simple and fitting for the game, it changes along with the environment of the dungeons and when the player goes in and out of combat seamlessly.”
“The music is incredible!”
“The soundtrack is fantastic and I've been listening in loop for a week!”
“The music is unbearable, the characters are flat, the visuals are bland, and this game does not surpass its inspirations.”
“The sound effects and music are grating and sound lifted from Minish Cap (which was on the Game Boy Advance).”
“Your mileage will vary, but all the music was forgettable for me.”
- graphics97 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful pixel art style and smooth animations that enhance the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. However, some players find the visuals either too bright or lacking depth, making it difficult to discern important details during combat. Overall, while the aesthetic is appreciated by many, opinions vary on its effectiveness in supporting the game's mechanics and storytelling.
“The visuals of the game are smooth, beautiful, and often feature dim colors that fit the setting perfectly, along with helpful animation clues to indicate enemy actions during the cluttered combat screen.”
“The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, with a pixel art style that is both charming and detailed, enhancing the overall experience of the game.”
“With the amazing pixel-art visuals, sensational soundtrack, and extremely satisfying combat and gameplay, the affection and love placed in every corner of this game is perceptible.”
“This game has some vibes of other games that I like (namely Hyper Light Drifter and old SNES ARPGs), but it has janky movement and too bright and colorful visuals that make it very hard to see the relevant details on screen.”
“The music is unbearable, the characters are flat, the visuals are bland, and this game does not surpass its inspirations.”
“It plays well, at the very least, but the threadbare context and derivative design and visuals just makes this not worth playing.”
- replayability38 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game boasts a high replayability factor, with players appreciating its multiple paths, challenges, and mechanics that encourage experimentation and skill expression. Features like optional time limits, various difficulty modes, and achievements further enhance the replay value, making it a satisfying experience for both casual and dedicated gamers. Overall, the design and gameplay elements create a compelling reason for players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“This game has a massive replayability factor because of its gameplay mechanics, resulting in a decently tough experience even in its occasional easier moments due to the looming deadlines.”
“The game is built around replayability with multiple paths and solutions to each problem and goal.”
“Great exploration, great combat, and amazing replayability with shortcuts and hidden knowledge.”
“The game is built around replayability with multiple paths/solutions to each problem/goal.”
“Even in a blind playthrough, it's not a terribly long game, but there are some extra modes and challenges you can do if you want to extend the replay value.”
“A ton of hidden secrets and some replayability through sequence breaking or speedrunning.”
- emotional36 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its immersive storytelling, well-crafted characters, and impactful music, which together evoke a range of feelings from joy to heartbreak. While some players found certain characters flat and the story linear, many praised the game's ability to create a personal and urgent emotional experience, particularly through its unique time mechanics and character interactions. Overall, the combination of heartfelt narratives and engaging gameplay leaves a lasting emotional impression on players.
“Unsighted genuinely brought with it an emotional kick every time I got the alert that an NPC I liked had gone unsighted.”
“The story was touching and brought a tear to my eye.”
“Great story, characters feel so authentic, the flashback scenes and interactions with all the characters you meet take you on an emotional ride that's quite rare in gaming.”
- atmosphere21 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive worldbuilding, stunning pixel art, and a unique timer mechanic that adds tension and urgency to exploration and character interactions. Players appreciate the blend of engaging combat, a haunting soundtrack, and the emotional weight of losing characters, all of which contribute to a rich, atmospheric experience reminiscent of classic titles like "Majora's Mask." Overall, the combination of art, music, and gameplay creates a captivating environment that resonates deeply with players.
“Great top-down metroidvania/Zelda-like with very snappy, responsive combat & movement, gorgeous pixel art style, great exploration, and overall fantastic atmosphere/worldbuilding.”
“The boss fights, key items, dungeon design, and time-sensitive plot recall the atmosphere of 'Majora's Mask' re-imagined as a 2D sci-fi epic-- you want to take it all in but you also want to save everyone, and there isn't time for both.”
“Loved the atmosphere while exploring the vast, abandoned, and unsighted infested cyberpunk city.”
“Without the timer, this game's atmosphere, and a few of the mechanics, make no sense.”
“Losing characters from running out of time has a very big impact on the atmosphere of the game.”
“Not to mention the pressure put on by the real-time clock on every NPC's life, which really helps build an atmosphere unlike any other game out there!”
- grinding15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the frequent need to swap between various weapons and items, which can disrupt gameplay flow. The upgrade costs and backtracking, while mitigated by fast travel options, still contribute to a sense of monotony, especially for those pursuing completionist goals. Overall, the design choices around inventory management and exploration puzzles have led to frustration among users, making the grinding experience feel more laborious than enjoyable.
“There's backtracking, especially when you obtain a new traversal skill, but there are plenty of fast travel points around, so it's not really tedious.”
“The grinding feels rewarding, as each level up brings a noticeable improvement to my character's abilities.”
“I appreciate how the game balances grinding with engaging quests that keep me motivated to level up.”
“Inventory swapping, having to regularly swap between gun, double hookshot, frost bomb, and fire shuriken is a bit annoying. Those are just the required ones to progress; if you want more variety and use the optional ones, it becomes rather tedious.”
“The chips screen was the worst offender, especially since I wanted to vary my build for certain situations (exploring, farming for money, boss fights, etc.).”
“When you have a specific combination of weapons you like (for me it was a sword and a shotgun), having to switch them out constantly is tedious and frustrating.”
- character development15 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking depth, with many reviewers noting that aside from the main character, Alma, there is minimal exploration of themes or growth. While the character designs are often praised for their variety and animation quality, the writing and overall story are criticized for being generic and not fully utilizing the potential for deeper character exploration. Despite some positive remarks about the art style and gameplay, the consensus is that character development could be significantly improved.
“I love the style, the combat and gameplay, but the character development is a nice surprise.”
“I like the character designs, and the story's drawing me in thus far.”
“The movement is a joy, the music lovely, and the character designs are really cute.”
“Beyond the main character Alma, there's not much character development or exploration of the themes this world sets up (what makes a person? How do you choose who to save when you can't save everyone?).”
“This could be so much more in terms of character development.”
“- No character development (story basis).”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through clever observations and witty commentary, such as the absence of male characters and the playful comparison of genre expectations between metroidvania and soulslike games. Players find the humor to be a significant and enjoyable aspect, enhancing the overall experience.
“So take the initial funny review and now the 'no seriously, this is genius' review and go play it!”
“Funny observation: why are there no males in the game?”
“A most excellent metroidvania/soulslike (as far as I can tell, these are practically the same genre but with different combat difficulty expectations, which is kind of funny when keeping Metroid Dread in mind).”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by a flexible design that allows for sequence breaking, enabling players to explore previously inaccessible areas through creative use of movement options and abilities. This aspect enhances the gameplay experience, as it encourages experimentation and community-driven discovery, though it may also lead to unintended glitches. Overall, the stability of the game supports a dynamic exploration style typical of the metroidvania genre.
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
“I encountered multiple bugs that caused the game to freeze, forcing me to restart my console.”
“Stability issues are rampant; I often experience frame drops and lag during critical moments.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized for speedrunning, offering numerous opportunities for optimization and sequence breaks, and players report no bugs or performance issues.
“Did not experience any bugs or performance issues.”
“It also seems made for speedrunning, with so many opportunities for optimization and sequence breaks.”
“Did not experience any bugs nor performance issues.”
Critic Reviews
Unsighted
Unsighted Review – The Ultimate 'Beat The Clock' Challenge
90%Unsighted review
Unsighted is hard enough to be a challenge, but just fair enough to hook you in for one more go. Well worth checking out.
80%Unsighted Review — Better, faster, stronger
Unsighted is this year’s best Metroidvania/Zelda-like game by a long shot. It’s creative, gripping, and accessible with a ton of stuff to do and see. There are a few small issues, like some awkward writing or too much menuing, but those are well worth it for such a fun, polished experience.
95%