Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 44 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Verne: The Shape of Fantasy Game Cover
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In "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy," play as Jules Verne in 1888, aboard the Nautilus in search of the Flame of Hephaestus to save Hemera from the destructive Nation. Discover wonders and confront a dark entity threatening to eliminate imagination. Two other games are also mentioned in the store page: "Between Horizons" and "Mira and the Legend of the Djinns."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews
story22 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions
  • The pixel art is beautiful and richly detailed, creating an immersive world.
  • The story is engaging and offers interesting references to Jules Verne's works, making it a treat for fans.
  • The voice acting and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The puzzles are often too simple and can feel insulting, with some being mere stalling mechanisms.
  • The gameplay is linear and lacks depth, with minimal exploration and a reliance on backtracking.
  • There are significant issues with the narrative structure, including an exposition dump and confusing plot points.
  • story50 mentions

    The story has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative and strong voice acting, particularly in its homage to Jules Verne's works. However, some players found the pacing slow and criticized the linearity and lack of exploration, leading to a somewhat predictable and rushed conclusion. Overall, while the story is captivating and beautifully presented, it suffers from minor inconsistencies and could benefit from tighter execution.

    • “The story overall was interesting and for the most part engaging.”
    • “The story and world-building is likewise good, and intelligently incorporates elements of mythology and Jules Verne's own writing into a story about the relationship between fear and creativity.”
    • “The voice acting, sound effects, and music are all phenomenal, as is the writing and storytelling featured here.”
    • “Gameplay is nonexistent mostly; it feels very on rails most of the time, there's only one storyline, basically nothing in terms of exploration, and there are no significant side quests.”
    • “The story of Verne, no matter how it's decorated, is a common tale that has occurred with nearly every famous writer.”
    • “My main problem is with the ending - the story ending was lackluster and also kind of felt rushed and was a bit confusing (not because of the complexity, but because of the way it was revealed).”
  • gameplay23 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily linear and lacks significant exploration or side quests, making it feel constrained and slow-paced. While it features simple mechanics and light puzzles that can be engaging, many players find the overall experience repetitive and lacking depth, particularly in terms of meaningful choices and impactful gameplay. The unique time manipulation mechanic offers some innovative puzzle-solving opportunities, but the execution leaves much to be desired, resulting in a gameplay experience that may not appeal to those seeking more dynamic interaction.

    • “The gameplay is simple yet engaging and the puzzles are fun but not frustrating.”
    • “The one unique thing that this game has is a time warp mechanic where Verne can use this item he has called an imag and he can use it to basically re-write a past event.”
    • “This mechanic is cool and innovative and brings a new level of exploration and puzzle solving to this kind of genre.”
    • “Gameplay is nonexistent mostly; it feels very on rails most of the time, there's only one storyline, basically nothing in terms of exploration, and there are no significant side quests.”
    • “The biggest problems I have with the game are probably its repetitive gameplay mechanics and its overly slow pace.”
    • “The imag mechanic - the option to manipulate time in order to solve some hurdles - is kind of basic and you don't really feel that your choices matter.”
  • music8 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the storytelling and overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its soothing quality and strong complement to the narrative. While some mention that the voice acting and sound effects could be improved, the soundtrack is generally considered excellent, contributing to the game's immersive experience. Overall, the music is highlighted as a key element that elevates the adventure and emotional depth of the game.

    • “Also, I thought that the soundtrack was excellent and perfectly complements the story, drawing you in.”
    • “It has all the elements of a quality adventure - cool story, beautiful artwork, diverse scenery, soothing soundtrack, and reasonable puzzles.”
    • “A story-driven puzzle game that has robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”
    • “Especially for a small indie studio, the music is okay, but it could be better.”
    • “The soundtrack is soothing, but it lacks variety and can become repetitive.”
    • “While the game has a captivating story, the music does not enhance the overall experience.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their top-notch artwork and stunning pixel art, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances the overall adventure. Reviewers highlight the beautiful scenery and well-designed backgrounds, which complement the engaging story and quality puzzles, making it a must-try for fans of point-and-click games.

    • “Going into it, I already knew the visuals would be amazing, and the developers didn't disappoint.”
    • “A ton of lovely lore, stunning visuals in a pixel form, and the overall feel of being in a Verne novel - a must-try for point-and-click adventure game enthusiasts.”
    • “Super duper nice game with nice visuals and super nice pixel art and a really well-written and interesting story; the backgrounds and the overall design were stunning.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the final puzzle, but overall, the gameplay is enjoyable and complemented by a compelling story.

  • emotional1 mentions

    Users noted that the game struggles to establish an emotional connection with its characters, particularly in the beginning and middle, leading to a confusing experience that diminishes the overall emotional impact.

  • character development1 mentions

    The game features strong character development that enhances its story-driven narrative, complemented by beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack.

    • “A story-driven puzzle game that features robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game is characterized by a one-time journey that emphasizes revelation over replayability, suggesting that its appeal lies in the initial experience rather than repeated playthroughs.

    • “It's also important to note that this experience is a one-time journey, with its allure stemming from revelation rather than replayability.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, contributing to a unique adventure experience that is enhanced by a compelling story.

    • “A very special adventure with a great story and atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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