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Autumn is a crucial period for the gaming community, as it typically sees the release of numerous highly anticipated video game blockbusters in October and November. This year is certainly no different, with several significant titles having already launched, met, or even exceeded the gaming community's expectations.
Imagine you are a small studio launching your debut indie title and trying to find your place under the sun in the already overcrowded and gloomy autumn days. In order for your game to succeed, it either has to have that certain x-factor or it just has to be very good.
Starward Industries, a team made of thirty seasoned developers with a background in working on major titles, has chosen to launch their debut, "The Invincible," in early November this year. With this release, they aim to carve a mark for themselves among the gaming giants and make a lasting impact. To discover whether they've achieved this goal, take a look at our review.
Story
Given that "The Invincible" is a narrative-driven game, the expectations for its story are naturally set at the highest level. Let me make it clear from the beginning that the story of "The Invincible" is truly exceptional. It draws inspiration from the visionary concepts of the renowned Polish writer and philosopher Stanisław Lem, who, back in the late 1950s, envisioned a future world. The game's developers have made a concerted effort to bring Lem's vision to life within "The Invincible."
The story unfolds through the experiences of Yasna, a young scientist, and her crew, who were returning from a space expedition in search of new planets. As they completed their mission and began their journey home, their astrogator intercepted a radio communication. This transmission revealed that their rival, the Alliance space company, had dispatched their most formidable ship to investigate the Regis III planet, located inside the very orbit they were in at that moment.
Recognising the significance of this development, the astrogator made the bold decision to send the crew to explore the planet while they retained a strategic advantage over the Alliance. And so, the thrilling adventure takes flight.
Yasna will soon discover that the seemingly unremarkable Regis III planet is holding a profoundly unsettling mystery. What began as a routine research mission will rapidly transform into a daring rescue operation. Yasna will find herself on a mission to save her crew, who are experiencing increasingly bizarre and alarming phenomena.
What sets this story and the game apart, making them truly captivating, is the manner in which the narrative unfolds. While the gameplay may not feature any groundbreaking elements, the story consistently propels you forward, leaving you eager to reveal this mystery and discover how it will be resolved.
An integral and highly engaging aspect of the story revolves around the choices Yasna must make throughout the game. Frequently, you will be presented with two or three response options to various questions and dilemmas. Each choice you make significantly influences the progression of the narrative and, naturally, the ultimate outcome, which can vary in several different ways.
The story's richness is a product of the profound intrigue displayed by the protagonist and her primary companion, the astrogator, with whom she remains in radio contact throughout the entire game. Their dialogues are intellectually stimulating and deeply philosophical, given their backgrounds as highly accomplished scientists who are experts in their respective fields.
In essence, "The Invincible" boasts a remarkably deep and captivating storyline. Considering that the game places its primary emphasis on delivering an exceptional story, the developers have undeniably succeeded in this aspect, and I must say I was quite impressed by it.
Gameplay
When it comes to gameplay, "The Invincible" can be best characterised as nearly non-existent, resembling more of a walking simulator. The available tools are limited to a monocular equipped with a built-in scanner, a tracker for locating lost crew members' beacons, and a journal serving as both a map and a record of Yasna's observations.
When I refer to a "walking simulator," I mean it quite literally, as Yasna's movement speed is exceptionally sluggish. Despite the inclusion of a sprint button, it's arguably one of the most useless mechanics in gaming in general. Yasna's sprint is limited to a mere ten metres before she's left gasping for breath. Whether it's due to her suit or another factor, the inclusion of this mechanic seems highly useless given its limited usage.
Later in the game, you acquire a rover for better mobility across the map, but it's a bit of a mixed blessing. While driving the rover, the field of view is severely limited to just 20 per cent of the screen, as you're essentially peering through a small window on the windshield.
Considering the absence of clear navigation indicators in the game, relying on visual cues becomes essential, often requiring you to stop the rover and step out to review your location and destination. Additionally, the need for extremely precise actions when re-entering the rover can be frustrating, as the game recognises your action only if you meticulously place the cursor on the door handle.
These small setbacks can really break the immersion of the game, leaving you utterly frustrated and sometimes even quite lost.
In terms of other gameplay mechanics, it's best not to set your expectations too high. The Invincible lacks any weapon systems or combat elements, and you're essentially immune to death in the game. While there are occasional decisions to be made, like assessing the safety of jumping from a hanging rope or gauging the risk of descending a slide, these choices are relatively infrequent. These moments of decision-making represent perhaps the sole gameplay aspect worth noting, but they are few and far between.
What caught me off guard and what I anticipated a game of this nature would surely have were puzzles. With the absence of action in the game, one would typically expect the presence of well-designed puzzles. Unfortunately, such puzzle elements are nonexistent.
Regrettably, the entire essence of this game revolves around storytelling. However, it would certainly benefit from the incorporation of more conventional gameplay elements. After all, it's a video game, not merely an interactive novel where your role is limited to controlling a character and patiently awaiting the unfolding of events.
Graphics, sounds and performance
Allow me to clarify from the start: the graphics of "The Invincible" are far from breathtaking. While the game can occasionally present a decent visual experience, there are many instances where it harkens back to the PlayStation 3 era, particularly in terms of character modelling.
This came as a bit of a surprise, especially when considering that the game utilises the Unreal Engine, a tool that numerous indie studios have leveraged to craft visually stunning works of art.
From a graphical standpoint, the game can be categorised into two different segments. The first portion unfolds within the relatively open landscapes of the Regis III planet, bearing a resemblance to Earth's desert regions. This segment constitutes the majority, accounting for about 80 per cent of the game. The remaining 20 per cent of the game takes place within more enclosed environments, characterised by impressively detailed interior designs.
The desert regions, containing numerous caves, tend to be somewhat monotonous, featuring a predominantly pale colour palette. Moreover, every area within the game looks kind of identical. Modern graphical effects are rarely employed. Sometimes you'll witness the use of particle effects within caves or during sandstorms, or the clever use of lighting effects during microbot swarm attacks, but these moments are a pure rarity.
I've previously highlighted the exceptional design within enclosed spaces, and I can't help but shower this aspect with more praise. In these sections, the developers have made a commendable effort to encapsulate the future's design as envisioned and articulated by Lem in his literary works, resulting in visually stunning environments. To avoid spoilers, I won't delve into details, but if you decide to play the game, you'll undoubtedly experience what I'm referring to.
The voice presentation, much like the visual aspect, deserves both appreciation and critique. However, one thing is certain: alongside the compelling story, one of the game's most prominent strengths lies in the outstanding voice acting. Special commendation is due, particularly to the actress who provided the voice for Yasna; her performance is truly praiseworthy.
A beautifully delivered voice, adorned with a subtle British accent, effectively conveys the haunting feeling of isolation on an abandoned planet and the relentless battle for survival. Surprisingly, even in these challenging circumstances, Yasna occasionally breaks into soft, melodic singing, which is a truly delightful touch and contributes to an immensely appealing atmosphere.
Regrettably, everything else related to sounds is overwhelmingly negative. The game suffers from an almost complete absence of any noteworthy soundtrack. Additionally, the excessively loud and monotonous sounds, at times even frustrating, frequently drown out both character dialogues and monologues. To make matters worse, there are issues with the rover's sounds, causing disruptions. In summary, the sound presentation is in disarray. One can only hope that these issues will be addressed in forthcoming patches, as playing in such conditions can be significantly problematic.
In terms of performance, "The Invincible" runs smoothly on PlayStation 5, free from any major problems or crashes. There are a few minor bugs, like occasional missing journal pages or the absence of movement animations for certain characters. Nevertheless, these issues are relatively minor, and the developers have acknowledged them, assuring players that they are actively working on resolving these bugs.
Conclusion
"The Invincible" is a game that definitely prioritises the delivery of an exceptional story over everything else, and it undeniably excels in that regard. However, if you're seeking a robust gameplay experience, you may find yourself somewhat disappointed.
Nevertheless, the sheer quality of the narrative within this game ultimately outweighs its apparent shortcomings. In the grand scheme of things, you'll be inclined to forgive any imperfections, as I ultimately did.
The Good
An incredible story- Beautiful art inspired by Stanisław Lem's books
- Amazing voice acting
- Choices that matter
The Bad
Almost nonexistent gameplay elements- Sound issues
- Lack of puzzles
- Levels looks pretty much the same
