Magrunner: Dark Pulse

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 72 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 72
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 72
  3. Negative: 13 out of 72

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. otter
    Jun 21, 2013
    8
    You can't help but compare this to a certain other game, to the extent that it may as well be called "Magrunner: Progeny of Portal." I don't intend that as an insult though. While the comparisons are too obvious to ignore, Magrunner offers it's own unique take on the genre. If you are a fan of Portal, this is a reasonably priced game that will feel familiar enough, but give new challenges.
  2. akarnokd
    Jun 23, 2013
    7
    Interesting puzzle game, with a few frustrations. Throughout the 2/3 of the game, the puzzles were surprisingly easy to figure out, with the learning curve gradually increasing. However, the last 1/3 is borderline frustrating and annoying sometimes: the difficulty jumps suddenly, and I died at least 100 times on the very same spot; bye bye no-death achievements. Another minor problem isInteresting puzzle game, with a few frustrations. Throughout the 2/3 of the game, the puzzles were surprisingly easy to figure out, with the learning curve gradually increasing. However, the last 1/3 is borderline frustrating and annoying sometimes: the difficulty jumps suddenly, and I died at least 100 times on the very same spot; bye bye no-death achievements. Another minor problem is that you can't jump while holding a large cube: which mechanically comes into play on 1-2 stages, but otherwise, too limiting. I haven't encountered any major bugs, but certain physics puzzles seem to react strangely on my ATI card (game uses PhysX). In addition, I think two of achievements are bugged, since I received them even by clearly violating the conditions. In summary, it's quite a refreshing game.… Expand
  3. InsaneSamurai
    Jun 19, 2014
    3
    It's pretty portal-like for a while, which is charming and quite interesting, but it consistently devolves into tedium and frustration. Who has fun trying to solve a puzzle, making one mis-click, and having to jump down a platform and slooooowly inch it back up the wall with the really annoying dog-magnet over and over and over until it finally does what you wanted? The later puzzles canIt's pretty portal-like for a while, which is charming and quite interesting, but it consistently devolves into tedium and frustration. Who has fun trying to solve a puzzle, making one mis-click, and having to jump down a platform and slooooowly inch it back up the wall with the really annoying dog-magnet over and over and over until it finally does what you wanted? The later puzzles can only be solved one VERY specific way, and despite all the game physics allowing what should be multiple solutions, they just don't work right when they want to force the one solution. The puzzles get harder in the worst ways possible, like "oh you have to look in this particular direction standing in the corner where you have no reason to be anyway to see the only solution" or "good luck trying to fling yourself over this set of specific jumps while an unkillablle monster chases you", or my personal un-favorite "yeah we filled this level with auto-deaths and you don't get a checkpoint cause you explored too soon and wasted it, so have fun doing it 30 times". Also, no game should make you spend a few minutes trying to figure out how to push a button you know you have to push for some reason, only to spend even more time figuring out what the button did since the game gives you no indication whatsoever.

    Basically they had an awesome idea and an awesome setting, then failed miserably at the surrounding game design.    … Expand
  4. Julstar
    Mar 4, 2014
    4
    They said you'd like this game if you liked Portal. NOT AT ALL! Magrunner is way worse than Portal! I mean the puzzles aren't that bad, but in some levels some switches or buttons seem to have no particular functionI. I had no idea what to do but then suddenly something happened and I could go on and I had no idea how I'd done it?! I think the game was made without much dedication by theThey said you'd like this game if you liked Portal. NOT AT ALL! Magrunner is way worse than Portal! I mean the puzzles aren't that bad, but in some levels some switches or buttons seem to have no particular functionI. I had no idea what to do but then suddenly something happened and I could go on and I had no idea how I'd done it?! I think the game was made without much dedication by the developers, the story isn't very interesting and the enemies are just boringly designed! There's no particular reason to buy it!… Expand
  5. vernydub
    Jun 21, 2013
    10
    I'm so sick of stupid shooters, this game is a fresh air for my lights and a great trainer for my brains.
    Will recommend Magrunner to everyone who likes to think, puzzles are really nutty, can't wait to get to the last levels.
  6. Nataraja
    Jun 22, 2013
    8
    This is a fun puzzle game that is "portal-esque" but very different. The game will make you scratch your head and requires ingenuity to succeed rather than twitch reflexes.

    The art work is great but the story is mediocre so far but I have yet to complete the game. The addition of the C'thulu mythos is an interesting twist. Voice acting is okay and the music is decent. All in all its    This is a fun puzzle game that is "portal-esque" but very different. The game will make you scratch your head and requires ingenuity to succeed rather than twitch reflexes.

    The art work is great but the story is mediocre so far but I have yet to complete the game. The addition of the C'thulu mythos is an interesting twist. Voice acting is okay and the music is decent. All in all its pleasant distraction but not a must own type of game but I must say that the puzzles ARE NOT easy. The game really picks up near the end where the creatures are present and the story gets better. The ending is well done. Regardless its worth the money ($15 on sale and $20 at release) and the time to invest. Some of the puzzles are real head scratchers...

    The one downside is that it is short but any longer, IMHO, would have made the game laborious.    … Expand
  7. surtor
    Jun 21, 2013
    10
    Great game! But not for stupid people.

    Pros:
    + Great-puzzle
    + Cthulhuuuuuu... :-)
    + Rather complicated
    + is cheap 13 Phhh! For this game I could give 25.

    Cons:
    - Too short
  8. AshleyLeto
    Jun 21, 2013
    9
    This is a really great puzzle game. I don't really like the story, but everything else is pretty cool! Music, levels, graphics, Cthulhu=), all of this is done well.

    I think this game deserves 9
  9. angelikmayhem
    Jun 21, 2013
    5
    This game is weak.

    Magrunner: Dark Pulse is a 3D puzzle game/Portal clone. And they're very open about that. In this game, you have a magnetic glove that allows you to polarize various things around the room to solve the puzzle of how do you get from point A to point B. In between levels, you have to wait in this ridiculous staging area where you're forced to watch holographs that    This game is weak.

    Magrunner: Dark Pulse is a 3D puzzle game/Portal clone. And they're very open about that. In this game, you have a magnetic glove that allows you to polarize various things around the room to solve the puzzle of how do you get from point A to point B. In between levels, you have to wait in this ridiculous staging area where you're forced to watch holographs that serve as cutscenes when clearly they could have just had the audio running in the background while you solved the puzzles.

    Pros include good graphics and a slightly engaging story. The puzzles are very well conceived and very challenging; you may need a tutorial video or two to get through the whole game.

    Cons include framerate drops, a failure to understand that in physics opposites attract (in the game, it's the opposite), a really bent and absurd storyline, and painfully-long and cruel load times.

    I couldn't get over the failure of physics and the poor programming. For me, this one was a pass.    … Expand
  10. JLK88
    Jun 21, 2013
    9
    I like this game and for the price of $19.99 it's a steal. Runs great, looks great, and plays great. Portal esque to the finest. I highly recommend this game for anyone craving a puzzle thriller with a great and unique story.
  11. shaoran2
    Jun 21, 2013
    10
    I love this game is very fun puzzle to a great extent especially because it has some Lovecraft in love! not for people with little patience immature.I was four hours non-stop playing
  12. Penther
    Jun 24, 2013
    8
    A nice First Person Puzzler (call it Portal-like if you want, but remember that CoD is a doom-like )
    Game mechanics are really interesting, except for physics-nazis who will claim that opposites attracts (that would have ruined half the mechanics of the game)
    Level design is really good too, and I never felt like "oh it's the same mechanics as in one of the previous rooms, let's do the    A nice First Person Puzzler (call it Portal-like if you want, but remember that CoD is a doom-like )
    Game mechanics are really interesting, except for physics-nazis who will claim that opposites attracts (that would have ruined half the mechanics of the game)
    Level design is really good too, and I never felt like "oh it's the same mechanics as in one of the previous rooms, let's do the same thing".
    Graphics are pretty good (I love cthulhu and I only saw 1 display bug on the last levels
    I'd say you'll need 10 to 12 hours to finish the game, it's more than honorable for this genre, and excellent for the price !

    Everything isn't perfect of course, the story is... generic uninteresting and characters too (Portal fans, you'll miss GLaDOS and your companion cube).

    And another negative point enemies They're here to be avoided, to make you run solve the puzzle before they catch you... but they move so slowly that it's ridiculous !
    Not that you can take your time when they're chasing you, but you won't feel like you're chased by monsters, it's more like being chased by turtles... as timings are correct, I'd blame the animations for that feeling.

    In the end I'd say it's a great game, that deserves more than it's price. Unfortunately, its generic storyline/characters will make it forgettable once you've finished it.

    PS: Developers are talking about opening the level editor, that would indeed be nice, because currently you can uninstall the game immediately after finishing it...    … Expand
  13. Duskspark
    Jun 28, 2013
    7
    "Magrunner: Dark Pulse" is a game that's based on magnetic puzzling. An interresting atmosphere and appealing visuals really lift this game up, but the utter feeling of a frip-off immediately drags it down. When we think of puzzle games, we automatically think of "Portal", and this game basically took everything from Portal. You have surfaces you can use and surfaces you can't, it goes"Magrunner: Dark Pulse" is a game that's based on magnetic puzzling. An interresting atmosphere and appealing visuals really lift this game up, but the utter feeling of a frip-off immediately drags it down. When we think of puzzle games, we automatically think of "Portal", and this game basically took everything from Portal. You have surfaces you can use and surfaces you can't, it goes into the same "destructed Aperture" feeling you had from Portal 2, and it even ventures into space. An enjoyable experience none the less, but I couldn't help but think I've seen it all before and done much better, too.… Expand
  14. xkdksk
    Jun 21, 2013
    7
    very brilliant leveling. I love it. Many game contents are creative to make me being immersed in this game. But the problem is that game is not kind. Some level is too hard and there is no hint. The most horrible one is there was no any tip or explanation what I have to do to prove puzzles. Control problem, of course, will be nightmare. I am sure you can be stuck although you already solvevery brilliant leveling. I love it. Many game contents are creative to make me being immersed in this game. But the problem is that game is not kind. Some level is too hard and there is no hint. The most horrible one is there was no any tip or explanation what I have to do to prove puzzles. Control problem, of course, will be nightmare. I am sure you can be stuck although you already solve and understand what you have to do. That make this game couldn't be one of best puzzle game.… Expand
  15. Qwertie
    Sep 20, 2014
    7
    At first I was pretty impressed with this game, even though the "magnetic technology" concept is unrelated to how magnetism actually works. It's a series of puzzles in fancy rooms and it's tempting to compare it to the Valve game Portal. While the Portal concept can't be beat, I hoped that Magrunner would have some fresh ideas, and I it does have a couple, although it's not the best puzzleAt first I was pretty impressed with this game, even though the "magnetic technology" concept is unrelated to how magnetism actually works. It's a series of puzzles in fancy rooms and it's tempting to compare it to the Valve game Portal. While the Portal concept can't be beat, I hoped that Magrunner would have some fresh ideas, and I it does have a couple, although it's not the best puzzle game around. But when you add its odd storyline, as a whole I found the game to be rather incoherent. The puzzles seem to have nothing to do with the storyline that emerges; it's hard to imagine any explanation for the existence of the puzzles you have to complete. I was disappointed by the ending, because it really explains nothing about what was happening throughout the game. But at least the environment and atmosphere were kind of neat (apart from some irritating and inappropriate "music" I felt forced to turn off in a couple of areas). The FOV can be changed, yay for that. I do recommend this game if the price tag isn't too high.… Expand
  16. Klewer
    Nov 11, 2020
    5
    A game in a similar vain of portal, it suffers from a weird story and clunky puzzles. The game has a solid base, but a lot of it feels under polished.
  17. Outlander999
    Nov 16, 2013
    7
    Magrunner is a pretty good first person puzzle, with Cthulhu Mythos influences. Not as good as Portal, but enough to deserve to be played. VIRTUALINN.IT
  18. peterf28
    Jan 9, 2017
    9
    love this game, the puzzles are perfect, sometimes little bit too easy but sometimes u have to try hard . very cool idea and game . also graphics are perfect, i love this unreal engine . story is also good, you do not need to follow it if you just like the puzzles .
  19. rogermorse
    Aug 24, 2014
    7
    Nice ! The story is so so....but the puzzles are quite cool. Basically, mix the mechanics of Portal and Q.U.B.E. together, add Unreal Engine 3, try to put some crazy story together and you have magrunner.

    The magnet interactions were a nice change from the portals or the stuff you found in Quantum Conundrum. In a way, Magrunner is still different from all the others. It is no    Nice ! The story is so so....but the puzzles are quite cool. Basically, mix the mechanics of Portal and Q.U.B.E. together, add Unreal Engine 3, try to put some crazy story together and you have magrunner.

    The magnet interactions were a nice change from the portals or the stuff you found in Quantum Conundrum. In a way, Magrunner is still different from all the others. It is no masterpiece but it is definitely a good puzzle game. Enemies will also come in some levels to put you some pressure, and the puzzles change enough to keep you interested. The story though (if there is one) is what it is....but better than nothing I guess, and the game has still atmosphere and is polished enough to be enjoyed. 12 Hours to play everything and get every trophy. Get this cheap and go past the beginning that looks a bit lame. 72/100    … Expand
  20. nabbone
    Jan 1, 2015
    9
    The game is very similar to the Portal, but this similarity does not bother. It is not a masterpiece, but at least it differs from most video games in circulation that now are all the same, just change the setting in which they are located stories. In this impoverished view of originality and also well where nobody dares to even a game like this stands out. ...quì bisogna usare un minimoThe game is very similar to the Portal, but this similarity does not bother. It is not a masterpiece, but at least it differs from most video games in circulation that now are all the same, just change the setting in which they are located stories. In this impoverished view of originality and also well where nobody dares to even a game like this stands out. ...quì bisogna usare un minimo d'intelletto.… Expand
  21. Voyou
    Aug 22, 2016
    3
    This Portal clone does what most other platformers disguised as puzzlers do wrong: It doesn't let you save, using checkpoints instead, but still makes you carry cubes around (always a bad sign) for ages, jump from tight spots to tight spots (preferably timed jumps,) and as a result forces you to grind all these moves all over again at the first faux pas.

    As in so many coattails riding    This Portal clone does what most other platformers disguised as puzzlers do wrong: It doesn't let you save, using checkpoints instead, but still makes you carry cubes around (always a bad sign) for ages, jump from tight spots to tight spots (preferably timed jumps,) and as a result forces you to grind all these moves all over again at the first faux pas.

    As in so many coattails riding titles, your brain won't break a sweat. All you need is jumping patience.

    Well, in this particular game, you'll even need patience between the rooms, as you'll be stuck listening to the mandatory conspiracy story line narrated by static holograms. The makers didn't grasp what made their model, Portal, alive and entertaining. Not only aren't the game mechanics as simple and fun, the whole thing just doesn't flow.    … Expand
  22. bancandrei
    May 19, 2020
    5
    Poor man's portal. The story is pretty weak and it is presented in a very bad fashion. Puzzles could feed your appetite, but to me they were simply not fun. It would feel nice to encourage such a eclectic game (original would be going too far), but it's just not well realized and the aesthetic is not good either

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Mixed or average reviews - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 31
  3. Negative: 1 out of 31
  1. XGN
    Nov 15, 2013
    80
    A great puzzle game, Magrunner challenges you step for step. The difficulty gradually gets more difficult and it takes a while before you see the end screen. With some rooms being without any addition, it feels a bit empty sometimes.
    Read full review
  2. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 7, 2013
    80
    Have you heard from a little game called Portal? The guys at 3AM Games sure haven't, because Magrunner is almost an exact replica of the Valve's award-winning masterpiece. The portals are replaces with magnetism and the level design takes it's from Ctulhu mytology, but other than that, it's pure Portal from start to finish. [Aug 2013]
  3. PC PowerPlay
    Sep 25, 2013
    60
    Thematically undercooked, but this clever puzzler does feature progressively exciting level design. [Oct 2013, p.85]
See all critic reviews »