Wonhon: The Beginning
- May 4, 2021
- Busan Sanai
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PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique concept of playing as a vengeful spirit during the Japanese occupation of Korea, providing a fresh take on the stealth genre.
- Gameplay is enjoyable with challenging missions that require strategic thinking, and the use of audio elements enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its short length, the game offers replayability with various modes and the ability to retry missions with fewer enemies.
- The game suffers from repetitive level design and gameplay mechanics, leading to a lack of variety in missions.
- Controls can be inconvenient, and some players have reported minor bugs and glitches that detract from the experience.
- At its price point, many feel the game does not offer enough content or depth compared to other indie titles, making it better suited for a sale.
- story48 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 88 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around themes of vengeance and loss, presented through a series of short, mission-based tasks that include stealth, combat, and escort challenges. While the narrative is described as cliché and not particularly gripping, it effectively incorporates elements of tragedy and conflict, with some players appreciating the depth revealed through character interactions and plot twists. Overall, the missions are engaging and varied, though the repetitive nature of certain tasks may detract from the experience for some players.
“As Wonhon starts to interact with these souls one at a time, they will reveal their story of loss and grief, how they lost their lives and livelihoods.”
“The story of story mode itself is cliché and by no means gripping, but it is more than just serviceable and even manages to invoke the ideas of a serious tragedy a few times thanks to the use of its themes of war and the afterlife.”
“Edit 1: Just got past the general and holy crap... the twists in the story are beginning... I knew it when I saw those 'things' on my way to meet the 저승사자 (grim reaper)... what I noticed and felt suspicious... yeah plot twist... oh man can't wait to keep playing.”
“The story of story mode itself is cliche and by no means gripping, but it is more than just serviceable and even manages to invoke the ideas of a serious tragedy a few times thanks to the use of its themes of war and the afterlife.”
“Much of the game consists of three different types of missions; slaying, in which you'll kill everyone in sight, fetch quests, where you'll sneak around to get something for some spirits' eternal rest, and the unfortunate bulk of them will be rescue missions (escorts).”
“Coupled with the fact that the entire latter half of the game is escort missions, I think the game ultimately does wear out its welcome.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and effectiveness, allowing players to engage in enjoyable yet challenging missions that blend stealth and strategy. While the level design may not be intricate, the mechanics are well-executed, offering varied gameplay options that cater to different playstyles, from stealth tactics to direct combat. Overall, the game successfully balances its dark themes with engaging gameplay elements, making for a compelling experience.
“It had enjoyable but challenging missions, good use of audio elements, and did a great job at balancing the dark theme with the stealth-strategy gameplay.”
“Awesome stealth-tactics game with varied gameplay!”
“The level design isn't super intricate, but it's one of those cases where the developers let the mechanics speak for themselves, and they do a pretty good job even with some jank here and there.”
“Don't want to spoil something, but after a few hours of gameplay, you're about to face a real pain in the ass.”
“The core of the gameplay is simple, but tightly built and excellent.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its dark military camp vibe, enhanced by effective music and visuals that convey tension and immersion. While the sound effects may be lacking, the rich environments and seasonal changes contribute significantly to the overall experience, making it engaging despite some gameplay challenges. The focus on stealth and the use of weather elements like rain and thunder further enrich the atmospheric quality.
“Atmosphere: the music and appearance are very supportive of the overall dark military camps vibe.”
“Most of challenge mode consists of escorts, which is off-putting, but the main game is enjoyable enough for 4-5 hours, especially in terms of rich atmosphere and locations through different seasons, the best part.”
“While there's no flashy graphics, the game manages to convey a sense of tension and atmosphere, and despite being granted some spirit powers, you still feel frail. The focus is very much on stealth with just punctuated moments of action as needed.”
“The sound effect section is pretty upsetting; the game is quite quiet apart from the atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere: the music and appearance are very supportive of the overall dark military camp vibe.”
“While there's no flashy graphics, the game manages to convey a sense of tension and atmosphere. Despite being granted some spirit powers, you still feel frail, and the focus is very much on stealth with just punctuated moments of action as needed.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in "Wonhon" is noted for its engaging theme that evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of the first "Jumanji" movie, particularly due to its drum beats. It effectively enhances the game's dark military atmosphere, contributing to an impressive overall experience given that it was developed by a single individual.
“Wonhon features an interesting theme music that reminded me very much of the first Jumanji movie for some reason; maybe because of those drum beats!”
“The music and graphics are all so awesome, it's really hard to believe this was made by one person.”
“The music and sound effects in Wonhon feature an interesting theme that reminded me very much of the first Jumanji movie for some reason; maybe because of those drum beats!”
“The music and appearance are very supportive of the overall dark military camp vibe.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the tension and theme, despite lacking flashy visuals. The use of weather effects like rain and thunder adds to the immersive experience, and the overall presentation is impressive for a solo development effort.
“The visuals are good and the color scheme fits the theme.”
“The visuals are very atmospheric; I loved the rain and thunder.”
“Controller support is seamless, and the music and graphics are all so awesome; it's really hard to believe this was made by one person.”
“While there's no flashy graphics, the game manages to convey a sense of tension and atmosphere. Despite being granted some spirit powers, you still feel frail, and the focus is very much on stealth with just punctuated moments of action as needed.”
“The graphics are quite dated and lack the detail that modern players have come to expect, making the overall experience feel less immersive.”
“Character models are poorly designed, and the environments feel bland and uninspired, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers a decent level of replayability, featuring extra levels, challenging par times, and secret modes that encourage players to return for more content, despite its short story.
“The game has a high replayability value, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“There is some replayability, including extra levels, mind-boggling par times, and secret modes, providing plenty of reasons to return for more.”
“While the story is short, the replayability makes up for it, allowing players to enjoy the game multiple times.”
“The game has a short story, but that is balanced by its replayability.”
“There is some replayability, including extra levels, mind-boggling par times, and secret modes, so there is plenty of reason to come back if you are still wanting more.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the presence of immortal enemies and repetitive missions, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. However, they acknowledge that these tasks are manageable despite their monotony.
“The immortal enemies are tedious, and I really did not enjoy that part at all.”
“These missions are a bit tedious but totally doable.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game's stability is generally good, with only minor and avoidable bugs and glitches encountered in story mode.
“There are minor bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay.”
“I encountered a few glitches in story mode, but they were very minor and avoidable.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development is praised for its appealing designs and integration into a well-crafted overall story, contributing to a refreshing change of pace in the gameplay experience.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
“The backstories and personal growth of each character add layers to the narrative, making every decision feel impactful.”
