Verne: The Shape of Fantasy

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 79 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
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

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews
story35 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The narrative is engaging, weaving together elements from Jules Verne's works with a unique twist, making it a compelling adventure.
  • The innovative IMAG mechanic allows players to alter reality, adding a creative layer to the gameplay.
  • Puzzles are often too simplistic or poorly explained, leading to frustration rather than challenge.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around five hours, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Voice acting and dialogue can be inconsistent, with some characters sounding unnatural and detracting from immersion.
  • story91 mentions

    The story of "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy" is generally praised for its engaging narrative and creative nods to Jules Verne's works, offering a unique blend of adventure and lore. However, some players find the plot linear and occasionally convoluted, with a tendency for major developments to be explained rather than shown, leading to a less satisfying conclusion. Overall, while the storytelling is captivating and enhanced by excellent voice acting and visuals, it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of exploration, making it feel more like a guided experience than a fully interactive adventure.

    • “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.”
    • “It's a mesmerizing experience that truly transports you to another world; the captivating and enigmatic storyline had me hooked from the very beginning.”
    • “The story of 'The Shape of Fantasy' is very linear overall.”
    • “The story in itself seems to get tired of its own narrative and switches tracks several times throughout the last third of the game, leading to the original premise being all but dropped, replaced by new threads that ultimately amount to: 'it was all a dream'.”
    • “Instead of showing you major story developments and plot twists, it gets explained to you by characters.”
  • gameplay48 mentions

    The gameplay of "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy" features an innovative imag mechanic that allows players to alter events and outcomes, adding a unique twist to the adventure genre. However, many reviews highlight that the overall gameplay experience is limited, often feeling linear and lacking in exploration, with puzzles that can be simplistic or unintuitive. While the narrative and voice acting are praised, the gameplay is described as slow-paced and occasionally frustrating, making it more suitable for fans of visual novels rather than those seeking robust interactive experiences.

    • “The gameplay is simple yet engaging and the puzzles are fun but not frustrating.”
    • “While the story is a key highlight, Verne: The Shape of Fantasy also impresses with its innovative gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The game seamlessly weaves together puzzle-solving, exploration, and a unique time-travel mechanic.”
    • “As luck would have it, the game doesn’t allow me to use the imag to fix my mistake, which is truly a missed opportunity for gameplay innovation.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics20 mentions

    The graphics in "Verne: The Shape of Fantasy" are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and vibrant environmental artwork, which effectively bring the steampunk world to life. Reviewers highlight the attention to detail and the overall visual charm, making it a standout feature of the game that complements its engaging narrative and immersive atmosphere.

    • “Beautiful environmental artwork: the vibrant use of color and attention to detail bring the steampunk world to life, providing stunning visuals throughout the game.”
    • “The graphics were very impressive and looked great on a 1440p monitor.”
    • “An amazing and captivating story full of surprises, all accompanied by beautiful pixel art visuals.”
    • “Graphics: retro”
    • “The visuals can be charming at times.”
    • “The type of artwork for this game fits well with what you expect from this type of game.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its captivating soundtrack and excellent voice acting that enhance the overall experience. The combination of ambient sounds and a fantastical score complements the story and visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere. While some feedback suggests room for improvement, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's quality.

    • “A story-driven puzzle game that has robust character development, beautiful pixel art, and a fantastical soundtrack.”
    • “The voice acting, sound effects, and music are all phenomenal, as is the writing and storytelling featured here.”
    • “Especially for a small indie studio, the voice acting and music are okay, but they could be better.”
    • “The voice acting and soundtrack were captivating and so well done!”
    • “The use of music, captivating story, and no illogical puzzles make this a perfect adventure game.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers minimal replayability, with most players completing it in about five hours and finding little incentive to revisit it beyond achieving 100% completion. Its appeal lies primarily in the initial experience and revelations rather than in repeated playthroughs.

    • “You'll probably finish your first playthrough within five hours, and unfortunately, there is no replay value unless you are desperate to find all the in-game achievements.”
    • “No replayability value.”
    • “It's also important to note that this experience is a one-time journey, with its allure stemming from revelation rather than replayability.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game is praised for its unique steampunk atmosphere, which enhances the overall experience and complements its engaging story. Reviewers highlight the immersive environment as a key element that elevates the adventure.

    • “The game features a captivating steampunk atmosphere that immerses you in its unique world.”
    • “It's a very special adventure with a great story and an enchanting atmosphere.”
    • “The steampunk atmosphere feels underdeveloped and lacks the depth needed to immerse players fully.”
    • “While the game attempts a steampunk atmosphere, it ultimately falls flat and feels more like a collection of clichés.”
    • “The steampunk atmosphere is present, but it fails to create a compelling world that draws players in.”
  • 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 the story is compelling, making the experience worthwhile.

  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its cultural nuances, particularly in the portrayal of French expressions by English characters, which some players find amusing yet slightly off the mark.

    • “Being French myself, it is always funny to hear an English person saying 'mon dieu.' It was close, but not quite there, I am afraid!”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch; I found myself laughing out loud at the clever puns and witty dialogue.”
    • “I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with hilarious character interactions that keep the mood light.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Users noted that the emotional aspect of the game is lacking, particularly in the beginning and middle, where confusion prevails and leads to a weak connection with the characters.

  • 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.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The stability of the game is criticized for its fluctuating difficulty and frustrating stealth mechanics, alongside significant bugs that detract from the overall experience. Users report that the game's imagery is underutilized, further contributing to a sense of instability.

    • “Fluctuating difficulty and frustrating stealth parts make the game feel unstable.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell, which severely impacts the overall experience.”
    • “The imagery is underused, contributing to a lack of stability in gameplay.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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