11 people found this review helpful
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 23.0 hrs on record
Posted: 15 Jul, 2023 @ 8:14pm
Updated: 15 Jul, 2023 @ 9:07pm

[𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀 - 𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤]

• Crafted by the creative minds at Dynamic Media Triad
• Hit the gaming scene in 2018
• A unique blend of Indie, Adventure, and Exploration genres
• Drips with a one-of-a-kind vaporwave aesthetic
• Gameplay is a delightful mix of exploration and brain-teasing puzzles
• Takes you on a wild ride through a virtual reality version of the old internet
• Dynamic soundtrack featuring the talents of Raúl Feliz and other artists
• Characters are a nostalgic nod to the old internet, vaporwave, and memes
• Performance is generally smooth, but watch out for some hiccups in the final world, Innernet
• Tested and reviewed on both PC and Steam Deck

[𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀𝕀 - 𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟]

Category
Score
Explanation
Story
13/16
Broken Reality's story is like a whisper in a bustling room - subtle, yet intriguing. You're dropped into a virtual reality version of the old internet, with a desire to investigate the enigmatic megacorporation, NATEM. The narrative unfolds not through lengthy dialogues, but through your exploration and interaction with the game's vibrant world and its quirky characters. It's a mystery wrapped in a riddle, and you're the detective.
Gameplay
14/16
Broken Reality's gameplay is a delightful cocktail of exploration and puzzle-solving. You start off with a simple 'Liker' ability, collecting likes from posters and around the environment. As you delve a little further you unlock more abilities, each adding new gameplay mechanics. For example, the Bookmarker which allows you to teleport and the Katana for cutting through computer viruses. The puzzles are clever, gradually increasing in complexity but never crossing into frustration territory. The game's characters aren't just for show - they're your quest-givers, guiding you through the various stages.
Performance
12/16
Broken Reality performs well for the most part, but it hits a bit of a wall in the final world, Innernet. This world can slow even the fastest computers to a crawl, a performance hiccup that needs some attention. The game also lacks Steamworks features, but the developers have promised to address this in a future update. (Hopefully before Broken Reality 2000 comes out!) Despite these issues, the game generally runs smoothly.
Longevity
13/16
Lasting around nine or ten hours, Broken Reality is a game I've revisited. However, the replay value could use a boost. The developers have hinted at a future update with quality of life features like better controller support, cloud saves, and Steam achievements, which could add some spice to the replayability. The game is a captivating journey that's easy to get hooked on, but the lack of these features currently puts a cap on its longevity.
Graphics
16/16
Broken Reality is a visual feast. The game's vaporwave aesthetic is a sight to behold, with a low-poly style that fits like a glove. Each world in the game is a distinct canvas, brimming with character and life. The attention to detail in the game's graphics is a testament to the developers' dedication, with designs that are bursting with personality and charm.
Sound
16/16
The game's sound design is a symphony for the ears. The soundtrack, featuring music by Raúl Feliz and other artists, is dynamic and immersive. The environmental audio is the cherry on top, adding to the overall immersion of the game. The audio loops are seamless, ensuring that you're always in the groove, never jolted out of the experience.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢺⡿⣶⣶⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⢟⢯⣷⣿⣻⣿⣤⡄⠀⠀
⠀⠀⢀⢠⢠⢠⢠⢀⠈⠙⢿⢾⣯⣿⡆⠀
⠀⡔⡕⣕⢕⢇⢇⢇⢇⠆⠀⠛⣽⣾⣿⡂
⢜⢜⡜⣜⢜⢜⢜⢌⢆⠣⡁⠀⣿⢿⡾⣯⠀⠀[𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀𝕀𝕀
⢱⢱⡱⡱⡱⡱⡑⡌⢆⠣⡁⠀⣿⣻⣟⣟⠀⠀𝔻𝕖𝕔𝕜 𝕊𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕖]
⠀⠣⡣⡣⡣⢣⠱⡘⢌⠊⠀⣴⣟⣯⡿⠅
⠀⠀⠈⠈⠊⠈⠊⠈⣀⣤⣯⣷⣿⣻⠍⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣲⢾⣻⣽⣾⢿⣾⠋⠃⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢺⡿⡻⠯⠛⠋⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Broken Reality on the Steam Deck is a bit of a mixed bag. The game runs fine, but the lack of official controller support means you'll need to create a custom controller profile. The absence of cloud saves can also be a bit of a headache. Despite these hiccups, the game runs decently on the Steam Deck, but be prepared to do some tinkering.



Score: 2/4


[𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕀𝕍 - 𝕍𝕖𝕣𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕥]

Broken Reality is a wild ride through a virtual reality version of the old internet, wrapped in a vaporwave aesthetic that's as captivating as it is unique. Despite some performance issues and a lack of certain features, the game offers a memorable and enjoyable experience that's worth revisiting. It's a standout title in the indie game scene, and a testament to the creativity and dedication of its developers.

Final Score: 86/100
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