Good atmosphere + a bit of 'moon logic'
3.5/5 ✩ 6.5/10
If not for some flaws and some random puzzle solution inputs/moon logic it would have been a 4/5 ✩ 7.5/10.
Good game, with a few issues and puzzle head scratching but otherwise, why the hate?
This is a project by a solo dev from Poland and quiete unique and different in a good way with the loop system, which might not be for everyone.
I wasnt sure I would like this myself at first but I did.
Its not as repetetive in a bad way as you might think, because changes happen. Yes you need to do this, click that, use the same code on the door each time and open those loot boxes every time.
But its not worse than you make it, its fairly short, new things happens, and once youve done it a few times you find a pattern to save some time.
The story and immersiveness of what is happening sucks you in.
Its also not super stressfull as you might also expect because of the 23 min timer, most of the time once I knew the layout I had plenty time left.
I loved the atmosphere!
The sort of topdown angle keeps you on your toes, what might be around the corner, can I blunder on or should I watch my step?
The visuals were great, sounds were good, and the voiceacting by Janet Spots and Daniel Masicotte was very good imo. I cant find any info on them but if this was their debut and only real project, gj!
The story was actually really good and had me captured as it unfolded.
The events along the way, the small dialogue sessions from the inhabitants, and the ending stuff that changes even more were all really good.
Its a story about a space station where something happened and 23 ppl have vanished.
You must make a choice in the end as to your own fate.
I did two of the endings, the first, and then the second option which can be seen by replaying the last chapter hitting continue.
But the final third option needs a replay, as continue was no longer an option, likely because of the second option. I watched that one in a playthrough, of which there only seem to be one of?
Which is sad because this game has a lot to offer on the atmosphere and scifi lvl that I enjoyed very much!
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It does have some things that pull it down and had me super confused at times that I hope the dev could maybe touch on and perfect at some point:
I think the dev maybe thought a few things were too difficult and added a 'random input = solution' to some of the puzzle bits. Or they were bugged or missed an update here?
Im also not sure if it fully deserves the moon logic classification.
A few of them yes for sure, like the divert power thing.
But most of them were a flawed design or missing update to show number/letters that GOG doesnt have (I think), leaving you to do some random guessing. As well as in game things where you are not at all sure why the loop ended without finishing all objectives and with time left, or where you need to go to end the loops.
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The divert power thing made zero sense lol :P
Overload one but when I tried that it didnt work. When I did exactly as the one video guide did, it didnt work, which was definitly a random 2 click thing that magically seemed to work for him.
I tried random things and eventually got it.
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Some objectives seemed to finish the loop without having finished others, and it wasnt always clear what to do or where to go to trigger the end of it. Try to move out of the room or go to a place that seem logical to you on that loops objective list.
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The math puzzles were great in this game tbh, not too hard.
Problem was that either some of these were again bugged, magically work, or miss an update, like I think that AI terminal stuff must have been because no matter what there were no numbers and letters on the buttons in my end like the video has, so I had to randomly guess. That didnt work so I just did it like he did in the video, that didnt work either. So I did random stuff again, and then for some reason just clicking 2 of the buttons worked? Things like this is the games biggest flaw, and annoyance, because you then cant rely on your own puzzle solving skills and the clues you find.
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Other things like before you can reset the station you first need to place some things on that terminal next to it, which was definitly not obvious to me untill many loops later. Needing to turn that power module on was, but not that.
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Be sure to also read the material list on the repair system image on the terminal, it will show you better way than objective list what you need to craft. That repair thing was also confusing layout, you never need to touch some of them and the two you do could benefit from a clearer highlight when you click it or something. but otherwise, loved the interface and all that:)
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The time stops while you read certain notes, but not while you use the terminal interfaces or talk with Luna. I wish it had paused while dialogue was shown personally because it made me read very fast in one of the end dialogues as I was running out of time and I didnt want to restart the loop.
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Minor things like after ending credits the menu becomes unresponsive and have to be closed from outside.
No in game bugs at all tho, apart from the puzzle solution stuff.
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Its a game of trial and error, memory and curiosity and some random solutions, while surrounded by a great atmosphere and immersive suspense and very good story building.
If you can pay attention, realise that certain things must be powered on, others off, maybe temporarily to have enough points to turn another on, then back again, then hopefully you can enjoy this despite its other flaws. I did not mind this at all, it felt real and like a good scifi story,
This might not be for everyone I get it, but I found it better than I expected, also with the loop system.
Its a game thats going on my list of memorable games.
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💾 ⚙️
Keybinds are few and can be rebound.
No analytics or other currently calling out, ty for this.
Because of those puzzle solution gimmicks and few minor issues Id say maybe not worth full price, so maybe with a bit of discount.'
Its a very original type of game with good atmosphere in a small space and short amount of time.
Looking forward to System Says Normal, I love anomaly games!
🐧 Arch Linux EndeavourOS
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