Visual Out
- January 24, 2015
- madameberry
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Visual Out" is a rhythm game where players follow the beat to hit notes that come towards the screen. The game features a variety of songs and difficulty levels, with a unique visual style that complements the music. Players can customize their experience with different characters and skins, adding an extra layer of personalization to the gameplay. Overall, "Visual Out" is an engaging and challenging rhythm game that is sure to test your reflexes and coordination.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique visual aesthetic and atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience.
- It innovates on traditional Metroidvania mechanics by emphasizing puzzle-solving over combat, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Exploration is encouraged, with a well-constructed world that offers a sense of mystery and discovery.
- Backtracking can be tedious, and the confusing map design may lead to players getting lost frequently.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the pacing of certain abilities and the lack of clear direction, can be frustrating and hinder progress.
- The story feels lacking and pretentious, which may not engage players looking for a strong narrative.
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their unique visual aesthetic and atmospheric quality, with some users highlighting the effective use of effects and a nostalgic CRT monitor style. While there are occasional graphical issues, such as black lines on sprites, the overall presentation is considered beautiful and enhances the gameplay experience. Players recommend the game for its artistic appeal, despite some technical limitations.
“In visual out, the aesthetic is handled brilliantly.”
“In terms of the visuals and music, simply fantastic.”
“Beautiful visuals and music along with fun and challenging gameplay make for a highly enjoyable experience.”
“Starting with abilities, jammer was my favorite by far, although there was a graphical issue where it would sometimes have black lines along the left and bottom of the sprite.”
“Numerous games through the years have used the 'ye olde CRT monitor' aesthetic, but rarely (in my opinion) to terribly good effect.”
“Regarding graphics, visual output is a game heavy on the effects.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of traditional metroidvania mechanics, such as double jumps and dashes, alongside unique powers, allowing for intuitive exploration. However, some players feel it lacks direction and motivation, prioritizing artistic presentation over traditional gameplay elements. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, engaging music, and challenging mechanics contributes to a highly enjoyable experience.
“While the current power and the jammer power are the core of the gameplay, there are traditional Metroidvania movement powers as well – such as the obligatory double jump and a dash ability.”
“After the opening cutscene, the player is quickly (but not abruptly) thrown into the world and given the freedom to figure out the intuitive mechanics of the game for themselves.”
“Beautiful visuals and music along with fun and challenging gameplay make for a highly enjoyable experience.”
“Though its presentation brings to mind many other indie darlings with similar quirkiness, its gameplay lacks direction or motivation.”
“Visualout prioritizes its (admittedly very nice) artistic ideas over the traditions of exploration gameplay, and it suffers.”
“While the current power and the jammer power are the core of the gameplay, there are traditional metroidvania movement powers as well – such as the obligatory double jump and a dash ability.”
- story7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The story in "Visual Out" is cryptic and intriguing, appealing to fans of narrative-driven games like "Axiom Verge" and "Hollow Knight." While it offers just enough context to engage players without overwhelming them, some find the narrative lacking depth and emotional investment. The storytelling is primarily conveyed through short data logs and monologues, emphasizing player exploration over a traditional narrative structure.
“I think that if you liked the cryptic nature of the narrative in games like Axiom Verge, Hollow Knight, or the From Software Souls games, and would like to see a game centered around only that storytelling aspect, you might find Visual Out appealing.”
“Right from the get-go, Madameberry provides the player with just enough of a story to intrigue them, but not so much that deciphering the plot is a chore all on its own.”
“If you're looking to try something weird and techy, then you'll love this, but the lacking and pretentious story that we have no real stake in won't hold it up narratively for you.”
“The rest of the story is laid out as needed through short data logs and the occasional monologue.”
“Right from the get-go, madameberry provides the player with just enough of a story to intrigue them, but not so much that deciphering the plot is a chore all on its own.”
- music7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the unique art style. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.
“The ribbon that ties this quintessential metroidvania package together is the excellent atmospheric music.”
“The soundtrack is very atmospheric and fits the derelict tone very well.”
“Beautiful visuals and music along with fun and challenging gameplay make for a highly enjoyable experience.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its unique and immersive qualities, highlighted by impressive graphical elements and a standout room featuring a giant fan. The atmospheric music complements the derelict tone, enhancing the overall experience and solidifying the game's metroidvania appeal.
“In terms of atmosphere, there’s nothing quite like it.”
“One particular room with a giant fan (though taxing on the processor of my 6-year-old laptop) really demonstrated the technical, graphical, and atmospheric quality of the game.”
“The soundtrack is very atmospheric and fits the derelict tone very well.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect tedious due to excessive backtracking and a confusing map layout, which diminishes their desire to revisit the same areas repeatedly.
“The backtracking was just too tedious, and the map was too confusing for me to want to wander through the same areas repeatedly.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, making the game more of a slog than an enjoyable experience.”
“I found myself stuck in a loop of repetitive tasks that drained the fun out of the game.”
