If this games' soundtrack doesn't end up on Spotify I'm gonna start throwing tables.
Visivamente bellissimo. Non c'è molto altro.
It's got a lot of style.
It's kind of too vague for me. The beginning was cool but the last bit of the game is kind of okay. It has a good sequence in there but also just feels unneeded idk its weird. Improvisation is a truly great moment though.
It's kind of too vague for me. The beginning was cool but the last bit of the game is kind of okay. It has a good sequence in there but also just feels unneeded idk its weird. Improvisation is a truly great moment though.
Agh, the frustration! This is genuinely one of the most beautiful games I've ever played from an artistic perspective, the monochromatic surrealist illustrations and smooth animations popping out in every moment, a perfect choice to illustrate a universe defined by metaphysics and equations. I didn't love how the story was paced throughout but the way it tells human narratives of perseverance and survival with minimal spoken dialogue is admirable, whilst riffing on noir without resorting to cheap parody. I enjoyed experiencing Genesis Noir, but I didn't always enjoy playing it.
I'm all for interactive experiences and Genesis Noir has more traditional 'gameplay' than the majority of story-driven walking sims out there, but the puzzles and point-and-click sequences are so wildly inconsistent, it's ruthlessly easy to be taken out of the world entirely. I had multiple bugged puzzles where the solutions didn't work until I restarted on top of several occasions where I solved a puzzle only to have no idea why that solution was even the correct one, or what logic to follow. Minimal presentation is preferable to me than a deluge of information, but I ended up craving more context in these moments. Interacting with objects sometimes takes a few seconds to work properly and by the time it's over, these obtuse and exhausting moments stick out more than the positives (at least for me). I'm not exaggerating that the final hour involves a sequence requiring the mouse to be held forward 16 different times. At that point, I'd much rather just watch a walkthrough. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a unique, stunning cinematic experience but with the serious caveat that it's either better to wait until these bugs are resolved, or to experience it online rather than interactively (which in itself is a huge shame).
I'm all for interactive experiences and Genesis Noir has more traditional 'gameplay' than the majority of story-driven walking sims out there, but the puzzles and point-and-click sequences are so wildly inconsistent, it's ruthlessly easy to be taken out of the world entirely. I had multiple bugged puzzles where the solutions didn't work until I restarted on top of several occasions where I solved a puzzle only to have no idea why that solution was even the correct one, or what logic to follow. Minimal presentation is preferable to me than a deluge of information, but I ended up craving more context in these moments. Interacting with objects sometimes takes a few seconds to work properly and by the time it's over, these obtuse and exhausting moments stick out more than the positives (at least for me). I'm not exaggerating that the final hour involves a sequence requiring the mouse to be held forward 16 different times. At that point, I'd much rather just watch a walkthrough. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a unique, stunning cinematic experience but with the serious caveat that it's either better to wait until these bugs are resolved, or to experience it online rather than interactively (which in itself is a huge shame).
It's visually stunning. Truly unique, and every frame is in some shape or form breathtaking. Gameplay-wise, it's a standard point and click affair. There are parts of it I find needlessly tedious and slow, but other parts that are thrilling. I'll need to finish this, but I don't regret buying it on Steam and you should definitely check it out on GamePass if you have that.
Conceptually there is a lot of complex ideas that Genesis Noir wanted to explore but it all seems to have random ideas mixed in causing there to be a lack of focus. There are some beautifully surreal elements, visually stunning segments and the music created a great atmosphere... until the end: The last couple of segments of Genesis Noir gets very surreal but graphically and musically, for me, the quality greatly declined whilst the actual story prolongs itself by adding depth to characters, some of which you have very little interaction with. I had no attachment to the ronin and certainly didn't care for more of his story.
The real tragedy of the game is the bugs and terrible controls making for awkward, long gameplay that can be longer when you have to restart an entire level because close to the end, something doesn't work and you can't progress. I tolerated this while the gameplay and story was novel and interesting but the game definitely tests your patience. Only worth it on sale.
The real tragedy of the game is the bugs and terrible controls making for awkward, long gameplay that can be longer when you have to restart an entire level because close to the end, something doesn't work and you can't progress. I tolerated this while the gameplay and story was novel and interesting but the game definitely tests your patience. Only worth it on sale.
Some jank on Xbox One, and not a particularly fun game to play. But you're probably not coming to it for any of that. It's super stylish, evoking a lot of noir and Saul Bass in a way that keeps things engaging throughout. Jazz soundtrack is great as well, especially in some of the later chapters where it comes front and center.
Not the worst way to spend a few hours as this is a brief, easily digestible experience.
Not the worst way to spend a few hours as this is a brief, easily digestible experience.
Game looks incredible and has a great vibe and great music, but god, it's fucking obtuse. And I am on record as loving obtuse, but this ain't it, chief.
Una experiencia basada en el sentimiento de querer salvar a alguien. Todo adornado por un diseño visual muy pintoresco. Tiene sus minijuegos basura cada tanto, pero no son invasivos.
Lo que me bajoneó del juego es cuanto se extiende, llegó a darme una sensación de ansiedad muy fuerte el querer que el juego termine de una vez y que se extienda por horas. Y ni es tan largo encima, pero toda la segunda mitad del juego pensaba en querer jugar otra cosa, que se termine ya, ya había captado la idea. Estoy seguro de que alguien con más paciencia y disposición puede pasarselo mejor, pero la verdad por el malestar causado, no puedo recomendarselo a nadie. Un sentimiento sólo causado por Metroid Fusion y Resident Evil 6, y acá otro se suma a la lista por desgracia.
Lo que me bajoneó del juego es cuanto se extiende, llegó a darme una sensación de ansiedad muy fuerte el querer que el juego termine de una vez y que se extienda por horas. Y ni es tan largo encima, pero toda la segunda mitad del juego pensaba en querer jugar otra cosa, que se termine ya, ya había captado la idea. Estoy seguro de que alguien con más paciencia y disposición puede pasarselo mejor, pero la verdad por el malestar causado, no puedo recomendarselo a nadie. Un sentimiento sólo causado por Metroid Fusion y Resident Evil 6, y acá otro se suma a la lista por desgracia.
I have to agree with Flatterdorsch's review of this game. The presentation is clearly this game's strong suit and if you're a fan of games with a unique aesthetic you'll love this one. The improvisation scene and a scene towards the end are stand out sections of the game that have a lot of creativity in them, and are what push my score up to 4 stars. I do have to say though, that I had trouble wrapping my head around the puzzle segment with the scientist, and had to look that one up. I also had to look up the final fifteen minutes or so of this game, because as of right now, I've attempted the ending 3 times on Switch, and it keeps crashing.
This game is just flowing with its amazing at times entrancing style it's outstanding, its gameplay is not really all that engaging but it reminds me a lot of Later Algaitor, where it's less about the one to one gameplay and more of the interactions you have with characters in the game.
Looks amazing, sounds amazing, gameplay kinda janky sometimes. Jazz
Mais para uma instalação interativa em um museu do que um game mainstream. Aí sim.
Um espetáculo visual e auditivo como nunca vi – a trilha sonora é de outro mundo. Uma história que engaja, questiona e faz pensar – usa o gênero noir como ponto de partida para gerar observações metafísicas bem Carl Sagan.
Interatividade simples, point and click. Em alguns momentos, em uníssono com áudio/imagem, cria experiências magníficas e inesquecíveis – e, em outros, é simplista demais e pouco interessante.
Gosta de uma coisa meio avantgarde que brilha ao ousar e criar algo totalmente novo? Vai lá jogar – mas cuidado que o jogo tem uns bugs aqui e ali.
Um espetáculo visual e auditivo como nunca vi – a trilha sonora é de outro mundo. Uma história que engaja, questiona e faz pensar – usa o gênero noir como ponto de partida para gerar observações metafísicas bem Carl Sagan.
Interatividade simples, point and click. Em alguns momentos, em uníssono com áudio/imagem, cria experiências magníficas e inesquecíveis – e, em outros, é simplista demais e pouco interessante.
Gosta de uma coisa meio avantgarde que brilha ao ousar e criar algo totalmente novo? Vai lá jogar – mas cuidado que o jogo tem uns bugs aqui e ali.
Tries to be profound in a way I thought was nonsensical
Hey
The game's ok
It looks too cool
Gameplay's a bore
Peaks before end
The game's ok
It looks too cool
Gameplay's a bore
Peaks before end
This review contains spoilers
The final stretch of this honestly single-handedly reduced my rating, mostly due to its length but also in the specific ways it decides to utilize its time and, frankly, abuse mine.
It was already pretty light on the adventure-puzzle side of things but the aesthetic and score had made the journey effortless, not to mention it generally being a pretty snappy game. But it's important to stress that mechanically this doesn't have much going for it, and too often its mechanics are closer to busywork than actually harmonizing with the world and themes. "Improvisation" was my favorite chapter to play, not because I played Simon Says [which I definitely did] but because it had an exciting spirit to it that most other chapters didn't. There's a point late in the game where it goes off the rails in a way that's meant to be resonant, but I found it a little weird. [I guess I'll mark this review for spoilers just in case for the following comment, but Sayonara Wild Hearts this super isn't.] Anyway, by the end of the game the "mechanics" are you holding a mouse button and dragging up or down to move through time, and that's it, and wow that is phenomenally boring, and you do it a lot!
The visual style and music in this are truly out of this world, and similar to how I felt with Cuphead this makes me want developers to really consider underutilized aesthetics, if it's in their wheelhouse and artistic inspirations. Hopefully it goes with a game I will want to play again at all, but I will at least be excited to see new things.
An aside: it is apparently incredibly easy to break this game? I managed to break the scripting three times, and had to exit and continue to be able to progress. Two of those times I'm not even sure what I did "wrong" and the other time I guess I clicked too much? In this adventure game? Also, the first time I finished the game [loaded the final chapter to see the other ending] there was no music. Seems buggy! Didn't hurt my opinion of it too much though, other than it happening late enough in one chapter that I had to walk around and pick up items again which was a little annoying.
It was already pretty light on the adventure-puzzle side of things but the aesthetic and score had made the journey effortless, not to mention it generally being a pretty snappy game. But it's important to stress that mechanically this doesn't have much going for it, and too often its mechanics are closer to busywork than actually harmonizing with the world and themes. "Improvisation" was my favorite chapter to play, not because I played Simon Says [which I definitely did] but because it had an exciting spirit to it that most other chapters didn't. There's a point late in the game where it goes off the rails in a way that's meant to be resonant, but I found it a little weird. [I guess I'll mark this review for spoilers just in case for the following comment, but Sayonara Wild Hearts this super isn't.] Anyway, by the end of the game the "mechanics" are you holding a mouse button and dragging up or down to move through time, and that's it, and wow that is phenomenally boring, and you do it a lot!
The visual style and music in this are truly out of this world, and similar to how I felt with Cuphead this makes me want developers to really consider underutilized aesthetics, if it's in their wheelhouse and artistic inspirations. Hopefully it goes with a game I will want to play again at all, but I will at least be excited to see new things.
An aside: it is apparently incredibly easy to break this game? I managed to break the scripting three times, and had to exit and continue to be able to progress. Two of those times I'm not even sure what I did "wrong" and the other time I guess I clicked too much? In this adventure game? Also, the first time I finished the game [loaded the final chapter to see the other ending] there was no music. Seems buggy! Didn't hurt my opinion of it too much though, other than it happening late enough in one chapter that I had to walk around and pick up items again which was a little annoying.
Ok, I finally played through game that can be best described as part pretentious kurzgesagt video, part crazy Doctor Who episode.
I am incredibly torn on this game. On the one hand, two chapters in particular just absolutely blew me away with everything they did (Improvisation and... the other one ;>). "The other one" in particular is an especially amazing experience. It clevery turns the tropes of the Film Noir on its head, delivering a message that is so simple yet they manage to make it feel ethereal. The improvisation chapter managed to hook me too - I spent way more time in it than I had to. And overall: the presentation is brilliant, absolutely top-notch in soundtrack and visuals. And then there's the less good parts...
First, this game has heavy scripting problems. Sometimes I was able to fix them by going to the pause menu, sometimes I wasn't. These NEED to be adressed, I had to replay some chapters because I was stuck at some point. Also: many other chapters feel quite hollow, gameplay- and presentation-wise. The last two chapters retroactively kinda help in justifying that, but it's still unhelpful while first playing through the game. Some puzzles also seem... a little dumb. And I would advise every developer in existance against Simon Says, please. It doesn't work. At all. The improvisation chapter worked despite of it, not because of it. This game is also incredibly pretentious at times and it never really works for me.
I'm still giving this 3 1/2 stars. Why? Because of the amazing presentation, the clever twist on Film Noir tropes (which I actively hate when they are recreated uncritically), the brilliant soundtrack and the two chapters I absolutely loved. Everything else in this game is mediocre at best. But I love it for these parts in particular, and these will always stick with me. And now to wait for the soundtrack on Spotify...
I am incredibly torn on this game. On the one hand, two chapters in particular just absolutely blew me away with everything they did (Improvisation and... the other one ;>). "The other one" in particular is an especially amazing experience. It clevery turns the tropes of the Film Noir on its head, delivering a message that is so simple yet they manage to make it feel ethereal. The improvisation chapter managed to hook me too - I spent way more time in it than I had to. And overall: the presentation is brilliant, absolutely top-notch in soundtrack and visuals. And then there's the less good parts...
First, this game has heavy scripting problems. Sometimes I was able to fix them by going to the pause menu, sometimes I wasn't. These NEED to be adressed, I had to replay some chapters because I was stuck at some point. Also: many other chapters feel quite hollow, gameplay- and presentation-wise. The last two chapters retroactively kinda help in justifying that, but it's still unhelpful while first playing through the game. Some puzzles also seem... a little dumb. And I would advise every developer in existance against Simon Says, please. It doesn't work. At all. The improvisation chapter worked despite of it, not because of it. This game is also incredibly pretentious at times and it never really works for me.
I'm still giving this 3 1/2 stars. Why? Because of the amazing presentation, the clever twist on Film Noir tropes (which I actively hate when they are recreated uncritically), the brilliant soundtrack and the two chapters I absolutely loved. Everything else in this game is mediocre at best. But I love it for these parts in particular, and these will always stick with me. And now to wait for the soundtrack on Spotify...
Una idea base y un estilo artístico flipante para un videojuego que en su recta final se desinfla una barbaridad, convirtiéndose en algo tedioso y muy estirado. Es una pena, porque en sus primeras horas me estaba pareciendo sobresaliente, pero creo que durando la mitad de lo que dura habría cumplido muchísimo más y su idea habría quedado mejor dibujada, en lugar de abusar y recrearse en sus propios conceptos hasta la saciedad.
Rife with imagination, an absolute feast for eyes and ears, more-than-slightly buggy, and unapologetically stylish -- sometimes to its own detriment. It's an EXPERIENCE, unlike anything I've ever played, but mileage will vary.
Except for the "Improvisation" chapter, that one is perfect from top-to-bottom.
Except for the "Improvisation" chapter, that one is perfect from top-to-bottom.
sounds and looks great. a bit longer than it probably needed to be though.
Yo you ever wanna play a game that's half confusingly vague film noir tropes and half complex science lesson on the history of the universe? Then boy howdy is this the game for you!
Genesis Noir tries to blend the themes of film noir with existentialist avant garde cosmic reflection to varying degrees of success. On one hand, this game is truly stunning, it looks and sounds unlike anything I've had the pleasure of playing. On the other, it tries to do so much and doesn't give enough attention to its best parts, overinflating its worst parts to the worst extremes.
I feel like I probably went into this game with the wrong expectations, that is, more of a murder mystery cosmic noir type deal and less universal existentialist acid trip fueled by cosmic dread. All of this to say, I still enjoyed it quite a bit!
I think Genesis Noir is at its best when both it and the player knows what its trying to convey, and too often are the two out of sync. Definitely worth giving it props on the art style and sound design though, holy crap.
Genesis Noir tries to blend the themes of film noir with existentialist avant garde cosmic reflection to varying degrees of success. On one hand, this game is truly stunning, it looks and sounds unlike anything I've had the pleasure of playing. On the other, it tries to do so much and doesn't give enough attention to its best parts, overinflating its worst parts to the worst extremes.
I feel like I probably went into this game with the wrong expectations, that is, more of a murder mystery cosmic noir type deal and less universal existentialist acid trip fueled by cosmic dread. All of this to say, I still enjoyed it quite a bit!
I think Genesis Noir is at its best when both it and the player knows what its trying to convey, and too often are the two out of sync. Definitely worth giving it props on the art style and sound design though, holy crap.
I can honestly say that for a game that starts with a jealous lover's horrible deed causing a literal big bang, I was surprised that it continued to subvert my expectations even by the end of the story.
This might be a silly comparison, but in some ways it's similar to a comedic noir game, Later, Alligator, in which each section of the game involves a specific minigame/mission to uncover a piece of evidence behind the mystery.
There is honestly a lot going on when it comes to space metaphors and the history behind the big bang theory that can be a bit overwhelming, but the story behind all the layers of scientific theories and hypotheses is a simple story about the universal tragedy of lost love that has spanned for generations to infinite cultures.
I'm curious how much I'll think about this game by the end of the year, but at the very least it's one of the most visually striking games to come out this year.
This might be a silly comparison, but in some ways it's similar to a comedic noir game, Later, Alligator, in which each section of the game involves a specific minigame/mission to uncover a piece of evidence behind the mystery.
There is honestly a lot going on when it comes to space metaphors and the history behind the big bang theory that can be a bit overwhelming, but the story behind all the layers of scientific theories and hypotheses is a simple story about the universal tragedy of lost love that has spanned for generations to infinite cultures.
I'm curious how much I'll think about this game by the end of the year, but at the very least it's one of the most visually striking games to come out this year.
This game is sexy
This is a visual delight, though the lack of clear direction during a few of the vignettes started to wear me down a little. I'd recommend playing this with a keyboard and mouse, if you can.
This game is filled to the brim with style. The simple black and white lines do so much. I'm a huge fan of art playing with perspective and this does it expertly.
The story is .... Complicated. I could have told you what it was about for about 75% of the game and then I have no idea. It definitely follows the traditional noir story. You're a detective trying to prevent the beautiful starlet from being shot. That's the basic... After that it involves a lot of philosophy regarding the creation and death of the universe.
I enjoyed it all the way through though and was constantly impressed with the scene transitions. The music was an absolute treat. But I have a lot of time for jazz.
It's a tad buggy and will crash a couple of times but it was easy enough to get back into it.
I've not seen anyone else talk about this game which is a shame as it definitely deserves a lot more eyes. A wonderful experience.
The story is .... Complicated. I could have told you what it was about for about 75% of the game and then I have no idea. It definitely follows the traditional noir story. You're a detective trying to prevent the beautiful starlet from being shot. That's the basic... After that it involves a lot of philosophy regarding the creation and death of the universe.
I enjoyed it all the way through though and was constantly impressed with the scene transitions. The music was an absolute treat. But I have a lot of time for jazz.
It's a tad buggy and will crash a couple of times but it was easy enough to get back into it.
I've not seen anyone else talk about this game which is a shame as it definitely deserves a lot more eyes. A wonderful experience.
Possibly my game of the year, enjoyed it so much that I treated it as a series, trying to take my time with it the most I could, the art style is some next level stuff and with HDR its the best a game has looked on my Series X, loved it.
What a visually striking game to make me crave for a nice OLED monitor. While the puzzles can drag and the logic can leap, the jazz soundtrack and fantasia 2000 inspired energy really propels this into an addictive experience. I finished in a single 4 1/2 hour session, but I did find the ending drawn out.
There's really no other place to go if you want an existentially cosmic detective pulp.
There's really no other place to go if you want an existentially cosmic detective pulp.
Músicas boas
It has the style but lacks the substance needed to truly draw you into the experience. The story itself is a unique one and framing around a detective noir aesthetic should be excellent staring ingredients - unfortunately what's added are puzzles which don't particularly compliment the tale being woven that go on for just a tick too long and pacing that, while generally fine, can feel glacial at points.
I can forgive those things somewhat though when you're provided with Genesis Noir's spectacle - certain sections have an almost transcendental quality that can put a smile on your face.
I can forgive those things somewhat though when you're provided with Genesis Noir's spectacle - certain sections have an almost transcendental quality that can put a smile on your face.
I don't really know what this game is trying to tell me but it sure does look good doing it