Vanakatu
- June 6, 2024
- Inga
Get on SteamThis is an open-world story about VAN CAT (that's his name, no affiliations with vehicles), a duduk player from a regular family, who tracks down his CULT-LEADING UNCLE through spacetime to talk him out of creating a WORLDWIDE DICTATORSHIP!!! Explore three surreal, immersive worlds swirling with music, light and color, inspired by the Ottoman Empire, Soviet Armenia and modern day Armenia to rescu…
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Reviews
- Incredible and unique art style that stands out and is visually appealing.
- The music and sound effects are enjoyable and add to the overall experience.
- The game offers a fun exploration aspect, allowing players to collect items and discover new areas.
- The gameplay is confusing and lacks clear instructions, making it difficult to understand objectives.
- Numerous bugs and glitches, including a problematic save system and accidental resets, detract from the experience.
- The game feels unfinished and unpolished, resembling an early alpha test rather than a complete product.
- music16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its quality and the interesting mechanics tied to gameplay. However, there are significant issues, such as the lack of looping in rooms and the absence of music in the main menu, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, some sound effects can be overly loud and clash with the soundtrack, suggesting a need for better audio balancing.
“The puzzles have an interesting music-based mechanic, but they can also be convoluted. You essentially find musical notes that you can play on the instrument, and if you play them in the right spot, you will gain access to a new area.”
“I really like the art style, and the music is enjoyable. I have no idea what I'm doing, but I enjoy collecting fish.”
“Yea, fun exploration game! Just very glitchy, so work on that, and make sure the music loops. Maybe add the music in the menu; it will improve the feel of the game a lot.”
“The gameplay mainly involves finding items and playing music, but there aren't many hints, so I got stuck.”
“There are some issues with the soundtrack; I don't mind the music that you are using, but it does not loop if you stay in the same room. I also think you should have music in the main menu as well.”
“The sound effects on the instrument can also be a little too loud and overlap the soundtrack too much; you probably should use something more simple than chords.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique and incredible art style, described as a blend of surrealism and folk art, reminiscent of childlike drawings. Many reviewers appreciate the aesthetic appeal, particularly the whimsical inclusion of cats, while also noting that the music and sound effects complement the visuals well. Overall, the game's graphics stand out as a distinctive and enjoyable aspect, despite some confusion regarding gameplay.
“Incredible art style.”
“I love the aesthetic of this game!”
“Very unique aesthetic, I've never seen this specific flavor of surreal art.”
“The graphics look like they were drawn by a child; the music and sound effects are pretty good on the other hand, but the gameplay is the most confusing part about this game.”
“I can't say that I've ever seen an art style like that; it feels like it's somewhere between surrealism and some type of folk art. I'm not entirely sure how the cats come into the picture, but why not? Just draw as many cats as you can, and I'm sure it will have some aesthetic appeal.”
“(+) Very unique aesthetic; I've never seen this specific flavor of surreal art.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a confusing and convoluted experience, primarily revolving around finding items and solving music-based puzzles. While the mechanics are intriguing, the lack of hints can lead to players feeling stuck, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Despite being free and in early access, both the gameplay and narrative leave much to be desired.
“The puzzles have an interesting music-based mechanic, but they can also be convoluted. You essentially find musical notes that you can play on the instrument, and if you play them in the right spot, you will gain access to a new area.”
“However, I don't want to be too harsh, but the gameplay and the game's narrative leave much to be desired, even considering the game is free and in early access.”
“The gameplay mainly involves finding items and playing music, but there aren't many hints, so I got stuck.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the emotional impact of gameplay, particularly highlighting feelings of confusion and anxiety over potential setbacks, such as losing progress due to unintended actions. The mention of the cat's reluctance to jump adds a layer of emotional connection, suggesting a desire for smoother interactions.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users have reported stability issues, particularly with inventory glitches, such as items appearing as white squares after certain actions, like entering doors or picking up objects.
“There are inventory glitches; I encountered one after entering a door with the key and picking up the next object. It appeared as a white square in the inventory.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
“I've experienced multiple instances of the game freezing, which disrupts the overall gameplay experience.”
