Observation

 PC
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 29
  3. Negative: 0 out of 29
  1. GameStar
    May 22, 2019
    71
    As much as I like the oppressive atmosphere of the Space Station in Observation, the game works effectively for me only in the moments when the game takes control of me and I am a passive observer.
  2. The Escapist
    Jun 12, 2019
    70
    I was grateful that Observation lets players take their time.
  3. GameOver.gr
    Jun 7, 2019
    70
    Having the control of an A.I., inspired by HAL amongst others, is a novel idea, and completely in sync with the claustrophobic environment of the Observation. The mystery as well builds up quite well. Unfortunately, a less than satisfying ending, some quite disorienting free-moving sections and some vague objectives that will leave you scratching your head about what to do next diminish the experience.
  5. Twinfinite
    May 23, 2019
    70
    Despite the control and movement issues in Observation, I would definitely recommend playing it, as it is an experience few other games are likely to offer you. Just be careful, as you may have an existential crisis after the game’s crazy story wraps up.
  6. We Got This Covered
    May 21, 2019
    70
    The gameplay in Observation might be a bit of a slow boil, but it's unusual enough to be engaging in between its fascinating narrative moments.
  7. The Overpowered Noobs
    Jun 17, 2019
    60
    Challenging puzzles and a thrilling story makes Observation truly fantastic — but launch prices paired with the brevity of the experience and its lack of replay value make it hard to recommend.
  8. Gameplanet
    May 28, 2019
    50
    Observation is undeniably beautiful, but it is also vapid and shallow. An interesting premise is let down by simple puzzles and awkward controls. While the game does have some interesting ideas, the execution fails to stick the landing.
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  1. Polygon
    May 21, 2019
    Observation is a conceptually ambitious, albeit mechanically flawed, effort — an experience that, while impressive in some respects, too often seems like it can’t stop getting in its own way by dint of its own design. It’s worthwhile experience, warts and all, though one whose peculiarities will inevitably confine it to the niche audience of players willing to look past its shortcomings.
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    May 21, 2019
    Observation is clever, but it’s also astoundingly dumb. You’re placed in a unique perspective, where onscreen inhumanity accentuates your oh-so-human instincts. Then it subverts that! But then it makes you control a sphere that can’t move directly up or down, furthering the nightmare of navigating already labyrinthine spaces. It asks you to do something, without telling you how...It’s worth persevering with. When you get stuck though, don’t hesitate to use a walkthrough.

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best PC Game of 2019
74
#74 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
41
#41 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 180 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 180
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 180
  3. Negative: 26 out of 180
  1. theswedishdude
    May 22, 2019
    7
    Amazing and skillfully crafted presentation with great graphics, art direction, sound design and performances.
    The game does a great job of    Amazing and skillfully crafted presentation with great graphics, art direction, sound design and performances.
    The game does a great job of melding John Carpenter, Alien Isolation, 2001 and Interstellar.
    It perfectly sells the setting and does a great job of building and maintaining tension throughout most of the game.

    The gameplay ranges from fun to OK but can get tedious and even frustrating at times.
    The game works best when you play it trough the static cameras rather than with free 360 movement which you will have to deal with from time to time.
    Moving from point a to b can be alot harder and sluggish than it should be and the game can be very disorienting as certain points.

    The moment to moment gameplay is simple but engaging for the most part. The puzzles are very straight forward and easy with a couple of frustrating exceptions.
    I did get stuck a couple of times that wasn't because of puzzles but because at times the game is very unintuitive and does a poor job of guiding you in the right direction.

    You will also be asked you to rinse and repeat certain menial tasks like turning on power switches, continuously inputting random 3 button combinations, and scan every single room for interactable objects.
    Tasks that offer little in terms of satisfaction.

    While the story starts of very intriguing and got me hooked and making me want to find out more, you slowly realizes the writing is obtuse and nonsensical rather than deep and cerebral. The plot seems expansive at the beginning but there is little pay off and there are plot points that go nowhere.

    I did enjoyed my time with the game, so much so I finished it in a single session. I would recommend it for the moment to moment experience, despite some minor frustrations and pacing issues.
    Unfortunately, the story did leave me underwhelmed when all was said and done. I expected more when it came to the writing and I wanted something that stuck with me for days or weeks rather than being forgettable.

    If your into suspense, adventure games, walking sims and space, definitely pick this up. Just don't expect it's themes to be as awe inspiring as it's vistas.    … Full Review »
  2. nullbs
    May 25, 2019
    3
    Poor UI/UX.
    Boring game play.

    It's better to do something different than play this game.
  3. a_wild_dandan
    May 15, 2020
    3
    Captivating story, stunning atmosphere, and aggressively awful gameplay & controls...

    Let's start with praise: the story's mystery sinks    Captivating story, stunning atmosphere, and aggressively awful gameplay & controls...

    Let's start with praise: the story's mystery sinks its claws in and holds you until the (admittedly disappointing) ending. It's reminiscent of the first few episodes of Lost. The characters are engaging and charismatic. The world is superbly crafted and oozes eeriness and atmosphere (sometimes literally). It reminds one of *Alien: Isolation*.

    Unfortunately, the most important aspect of a game -- the gameplay -- is stunningly bad. Here's the game loop: you are tasked with traveling to a particular room in the space station; you must scrupulously hunt pixels in this room to find a puzzle device that progresses the story (usually a laptop or switch); you must fiddle with said device in some insultingly tedious, time consuming way ("press your W key for awhile", "look at these symbols and regurgitate them back"); you thus trigger a progression cutscene; you do it all over again. It is the worst gaming experience I've had in recent memory.

    A game consisting solely of tedious busywork would perhaps be bearable if not for the astonishingly terrible controls. They're so convoluted and bizarrely unintuitive that it borders on parody. To avoid a scathing diatribe of nearly every aspect of this senseless, clearly-ported-from-a-console control system, I will simply say this: It feels as if someone who has never used a computer before was told to design the game's controls, they did, and Observation was shipped with this system with nary a playtest for usability. From using WASD instead of a mouse to control excruciatingly slow cameras, to hacky junk like holding `RMB` & `W` to change drone elevation, Observation's controls are a special hell that can only be truly appreciated by playing it.

    Worse, various cutscenes and collisions needlessly cause your viewport to jolt/flicker nauseatingly. I had to put the game down twice to avoid being sick. That has never happened to me in any other game, ever. Kudos for that achievement. I simply refuse to believe that any playtester gritted their teeth through this kludge and said "yeah, this is fine."

    But worst of all? This game had so much potential. The story and art direction are world class. The game mechanics are there. As an omnipresent AI, you could've had a quest in which you must dance from room to room helping the protagonist escape an enemy. There could've been genuinely rewarding and clever puzzles instead of a string of inane "fiddle with MacGuffin #2 in Room #11" missions.

    As a 20 minute short film, Observation would've been enjoyable. As a game? A game needs serviceable gameplay. 3/10.    … Full Review »
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