Wanderlust
- November 1, 2017
- Eternity Studios
Get on Steam"Wanderlust" is a first-person exploration and puzzle game set in the dreams of a substance-addicted man. The game aims to create a surreal, atmospheric experience, inspired by titles like "The Stanley Parable" and "Dear Esther," with a focus on exploration and sensory stimulation. The game is described as a "walking simulator," "indie," "casual story," "abstract," "mystery," "experimental," "interactive fiction," "horror," "psychological," "relaxing," and "fantasy" experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and an appealing soundtrack that creates a relaxing atmosphere.
- It provides a unique experience of exploring different vaporwave realms, allowing players to unwind and appreciate the visuals.
- Some players found joy and hope in the game, using it as a means to escape from their struggles and enjoy a moment of peace.
- The game is extremely short, with many players finishing it in under 30 minutes, making it feel overpriced for its content.
- There are numerous technical issues, including poor optimization, invisible walls, and unresponsive controls that detract from the experience.
- The gameplay lacks depth and direction, often feeling more like an interactive art piece than a traditional game, leading to disappointment among players.
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its relaxing and beautiful qualities, often described as a good representation of lofi music, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and that transitions between maps disrupt the flow of the music. While the music adds to the aesthetic, there are concerns about its integration with gameplay and the lack of options for customization.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
“This game seems to be a good representation of lofi music in 3D games.”
“I enjoyed escaping my day and listening to the music while walking around taking screenshots for my desktop background collection.”
“It's short, technically flawed, offers neither exploration nor a relaxing atmosphere due to some weird music choices and visual effects and is outrageously overpriced.”
“The transitions between each map were harsh, cut off the music, and interrupted the experience--it would be much better if they faded into one another.”
“The music can't be switched off, though the extremely extensive options menu (2!!!! options, no joke!) has a slider for that...”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their interesting visuals and aesthetic atmosphere, with some levels showcasing beautiful art styles. However, performance issues are prevalent, even on high-end hardware, and many users report graphical glitches and mediocre quality in certain areas. Overall, while the visuals are a highlight, they are not enough to compensate for the underlying performance problems.
“Really enjoyed the different art styles in each of the levels that I played.”
“Beautiful graphics and the music selection suited the different places that were shown.”
“The only saving grace for Wanderlust would be its visuals, because under the hood what it conceals is rather unsettling.”
“In most regions, the graphics look way beyond mediocre and there are a couple of z-buffer problems in many places...”
“Pretty poor performance on a pretty high-end graphics card (GTX 1070).”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally considered lackluster and overpriced, with users expressing a desire for more engaging mechanics and a compelling story. However, there is appreciation for the aesthetic and music, suggesting that with improvements, the game could become worthwhile.
“The gameplay is lacklustre.”
“I'd say it's overpriced for what it is, but you have to admire the work and ethic that was shown right in the screenshots and gameplay.”
“What I will say though, is that if Eternity Studios takes this aesthetic and music and pumps it into an actual game with proper gameplay and story (perhaps surrealish) or with puzzles, it would be a good game, and worth the price tag if not more.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been criticized for poor performance even on high-end graphics cards like the GTX 1070, with unoptimized textures and repetitive assets contributing to significant issues, including stuttering audio and a frustrating gameplay experience.
“Pretty poor performance on a high-end graphics card (GTX 1070).”
“Unoptimized textures and copy-pasted assets.”
“As much as it gives me headaches walking through this simulation game, it's unoptimized in so many ways.”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's story is perceived as lacking depth, with some users feeling there is no substantial narrative to engage with. However, there is a suggestion that the aesthetic and music could be effectively utilized in a future project that incorporates a more meaningful and surreal storyline, potentially enhancing the overall experience.
“The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you. If I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“If Eternity Studios takes this aesthetic and music and incorporates it into an actual game with proper gameplay and a compelling story, perhaps with surreal elements or puzzles, it would be a great game and worth the price tag, if not more.”
“There is no story to speak of here, which also does not help this game's case.”
“What I will say though, is that if Eternity Studios takes this aesthetic and music and pumps it into an actual game with proper gameplay and story (perhaps surrealish) or with puzzles, it would be a good game and worth the price tag, if not more.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is visually appealing, with aesthetically pleasing locations, but is undermined by technical flaws, poor music choices, and distracting visual effects, resulting in a lack of exploration and relaxation. Overall, while the visuals are commendable, they do not compensate for the game's shortcomings.
“It is only saved by a somewhat aesthetic atmosphere, and the actual places you go to are nice to look at.”
“It is only saved by somewhat of an aesthetic atmosphere, and the actual 'places' you go to are nice to look at.”
“It's short, technically flawed, offers neither exploration nor a relaxing atmosphere due to some weird music choices and visual effects, and is outrageously overpriced.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is viewed negatively, with users criticizing the game's pricing of €6.99 as a scam, particularly in light of its advertising as a game.
“Advertising such a project as a game is reprehensible, but selling it for €6.99 is a scam.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
“I can't believe how much they charge for in-game items; it feels like a cash grab rather than a fair pricing model.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users have noted that stability can be affected by graphical glitches, particularly on Linux systems using NVIDIA's proprietary drivers, which are often criticized for their performance.
“I will also refrain from counting any graphical glitches I found, as NVIDIA's proprietary drivers for Linux aren't known to be great.”
