Zefyr: Prologue

About

Zefyr: Prologue is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Oneiric Worlds and was released on July 22, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Zefyr: Prologue is a colorful adventure where you play as a young thief exploring an archipelago, investigating kidnappings, and sailing between islands on a turtle. Experience a blend of exploration, puzzles, dialogs, and boss battles in a vibrant world inspired by classics like Zelda and Beyond Good & Evil. Choose stealth or combat as you face pirates, guards, and other foes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

optimization2 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and a charming art style, reminiscent of classic 3D platformers like Spyro and Zelda.
Gameplay is fun and relaxing, with smooth movement mechanics and a variety of exploration opportunities that encourage players to discover hidden areas.
The dedication of the solo developer is evident, and the game shows great potential with its captivating atmosphere and engaging storytelling.

The game suffers from performance issues and lacks optimization, with animations feeling choppy and movement sometimes sluggish.
There are several gameplay mechanics that feel unpolished, such as awkward jumping animations and poor enemy AI, which detract from the overall experience.
The story and character development are lacking depth, making the narrative feel hollow and leaving players wanting more context and engagement.

story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The story has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating its rich atmosphere and subtle storytelling that leaves them curious about future developments. However, others criticize it for being shallow and lacking depth, with many quests feeling like mere fetch tasks that do not explore the characters or world meaningfully. While the game offers a lighthearted experience with engaging gameplay, concerns remain about the overall narrative coherence and depth in the full release.
- “The atmosphere is rich, the storytelling subtle but impactful, and it left me genuinely curious about what’s to come in the full game.”
- “It's a lighthearted game that left me smiling all the time, with a variety of quests along the main story.”
- “The visuals, the gameplay, music, and the story make me want to play this game and continue doing so.”
- “Anything that is ever said is meant to shunt you from one fetch quest to another for some reason that's never explored and doesn't say much about the characters or the world at large.”
- “There are ingredients to a fascinating world and story—like the fact you live with two sisters and that your pet is sick—but nothing is explained in this prologue and I don't have much faith in the full release.”
- “Your sisters just act like quest givers and navigation marks respectively and your sick pet seems to be just to serve as an introduction to the animal curing mechanic, and everyone seems to care about the fennec less than I do.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smoothness, vibrant visuals, and engaging pacing, reminiscent of classic platformers like Sonic. However, some players criticize the lack of depth in character interactions and the repetitive nature of tutorial segments, suggesting that the game feels somewhat hollow despite its appealing mechanics and aesthetics. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable and promising, it could benefit from more meaningful character development and streamlined tutorials.
- “Amazing graphics, great pacing, great gameplay, story, and actually everything else... :-D.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, very colorful, and fun.”
- “The visuals, sounds, and gameplay all work together to make this look and feel like a very solid PS2 or GameCube game that I missed out on many years ago.”
- “It feels like ledge grabbing should be a standard mechanic in a game like this, but it’s completely absent.”
- “As far as gameplay goes, I have a few criticisms.”
- “It feels like we go through three separate tutorial levels for all the same platforming mechanics before we finally get to stealth, and I feel that we could've saved a lot of time by just starting in the dojo.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their captivating and haunting visuals, complemented by a unique art style and immersive sound design. Reviewers highlight the breathtaking quality of the visuals, which evoke nostalgia for classic PS2 and GameCube titles, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The combination of stunning graphics, engaging music, and a compelling story creates a strong desire to continue playing.
- “It's a captivating and mysterious journey that instantly pulled me in with its haunting visuals and immersive sound design.”
- “So far I love the visuals and it's absolutely breathtaking at times!”
- “The visuals, sounds, and gameplay all work together to make this look and feel like a very solid PS2 or GameCube game that I missed out on many years ago.”
- “The game-play is beautiful with a unique art style.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, users express a desire for improved optimization in the final release, noting that performance remains similar across both high and low settings. However, the controls are well-optimized for the Steam Deck, enhancing the exploration experience in the prologue.
- “The controls are optimized for the Steam Deck as well, and there's plenty of exploration to go around and do in this prologue!”
- “I just hope and wish the final release is better optimized; it has almost the same performance in the highest settings and GameCube mode (the lowest settings). Or maybe it's just me?”
- “I just hope and wish the final release is better optimized; it has almost the same performance in the highest settings and GameCube mode (the lowest settings). Or maybe it's just me?”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty and richness, with subtle yet impactful storytelling that fosters curiosity about the narrative's progression. The combination of music and art contributes to a peaceful and immersive experience.
- “A beautifully atmospheric experience.”
- “The atmosphere is rich, the storytelling subtle but impactful, and it left me genuinely curious about what’s to come in the full game.”
- “The music, the art, the atmosphere all made it into a very peaceful experience.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is consistently praised for its chill and peaceful quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere and visual experience. Reviewers highlight how the harmonious blend of music, art, and gameplay contributes to an engaging and immersive experience that encourages continued play.
- “The music, the art, and the atmosphere all create a very peaceful experience.”
- “The music is very chill, and the visuals and art style look awesome.”
- “The visuals, gameplay, music, and story make me want to play this game and continue doing so.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, with a notable lack of options to speed up movement, which contributes to a frustrating experience.
- “Running is slow and tedious, and there’s no way to move faster.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “Leveling up requires an excessive amount of time, turning the game into a chore.”