Soul Axiom

 PC
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 18
  3. Negative: 5 out of 18
  1. 4P.de
    Mar 4, 2016
    42
    Mechanically and in terms of storytelling this is an enhancement of Master Reboot – but a lot happened in the last two years. The combination of story and puzzles feels more organic in The Talos Principle while The Witness shows off the way better puzzles.
  2. GameCritics
    Jun 1, 2016
    40
    Its puzzles and story aren’t really bad, they’re just bland. There are occasional mentions of philosophical and moral debates regarding the game’s artificial afterlife, and a deeper, more thought-provoking analysis would have made for a more engaging experience. Instead, these headier subjects were kept on the back burner in favor of a less-thrilling, more pedestrian adventure, and the game suffered for it.
  3. Games.cz
    Mar 7, 2016
    40
    If you expect a funny puzzle game, you have to look elsewhere. Soul Axiom offers plenty of easily-forgettable levels and dull puzzles, that will resolve themselves. In addition, the game doesn´t excel in its presentation, whether we are talking about graphic stylization or the technical side of the game.
  5. Vandal
    Feb 29, 2016
    40
    Without being a complete disaster, it's a game with too many shortcomings in a genre with too many masterpieces.
  6. Destructoid
    Feb 28, 2016
    25
    Overall, Soul Axiom is a painful experience...I love the plot premise; the idea of a digital, man-made afterlife and how that affects society is a cool idea. I just wish Wales Interactive explored it in a bit more detail, instead of giving us the half-baked story, sparse and boring environments, and easy, repetitive puzzles that it did. It feels like an opportunity for something special that’s been completely wasted.

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Most Shared PC Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 11
  3. Negative: 3 out of 11
  1. mosaic_school
    Nov 21, 2014
    10
    Brilliant game, this is my surprise hit of the year! It's basically a cyberpunk BioShock with cool, non-repetitive puzzles instead of theBrilliant game, this is my surprise hit of the year! It's basically a cyberpunk BioShock with cool, non-repetitive puzzles instead of the fighting. Simply love the style an exploration focus.… Full Review »
  2. livinghero
    Mar 1, 2016
    0
    Bland, boring and low resolution.

    In essence, this game is a walking simulator with puzzles, However, where most walking simulators have    Bland, boring and low resolution.

    In essence, this game is a walking simulator with puzzles, However, where most walking simulators have good stories, this one does not.    … Full Review »
  3. Azurefoxy
    Dec 11, 2016
    4
    Cons:
    The puzzles are not engaging or difficult. The only thing that takes time is figuring out how to actually interact with them.
    The    Cons:
    The puzzles are not engaging or difficult. The only thing that takes time is figuring out how to actually interact with them.
    The gameplay is boring.
    The power mechanics are boring AND slow AND are unreliable AND SOME OF THE "PUZZLES" RELY ON YOU BEING FAST AND ACCURATE WITH THEM LIKE WHY!?
    The levels are boring.
    Most of the models don't even look like they belong in the same game.
    The sound will randomly BLAST you during completely random moments no matter how low you have it turned. I destroy one block? Sound is fine. The next block? Horrible ear death.

    No matter how DESPERATELY I tried to immerse myself in the story and enjoy it...it was boring and I had to take frequent breaks in order to force myself to pay attention. I just didn't care at all, it felt so forced and generic.
    The lighting is so unbearable. Every area is so dark that you can't see any detail whatsoever. They obviously did this to discourage you from looking around so you wouldn't realize how empty the game is. This point is proven when you FINALLY get respite from darkness imprisoning you in the form of a sunny level...and the level is barren and uninteresting.
    When I say "empty" I don't mean short either. They have added levels since this games release, and even show you where you missed collectibles to encourage you to go back to try and find them...but I couldn't even make it through all of the levels ONCE, why would i want to do it AGAIN? Its empty because there's just nothing to it. Just another bland "transcendental" puzzle game with absolutely nothing remarkable or special about it.
    The game tries so hard to be transcendental I almost feel bad for it.

    I didn't notice any game breaking bugs like some of the other reviewers, so maybe they ironed them out? Even then, its not worth your time to play this chore of a game. I did notice one time when I could sequence break the game, but it didn't matter because I would have been without an essential power for the next part.

    Pros:
    At least the way you interact with the world was almost creative...maybe if they would have let you interact with anything besides the extremely context sensitive puzzle components this would have turned out to be a cooler mechanic

    Other thoughts:
    You get an achievement for like everything you do in this game. Did they literally just add fluff achievements to try and make the game look like it had actual content?

    Was Elysia really the most creative name they could think of for their program? How many times do I need to hear that word before it dies. At least Dust: An Elysian Tale was cute and fun and interesting. AND IT WAS 2D. I LIKED THE GRAPHICS OF A 2D PLATFORM SIDESCROLLER MORE THAN A FULLY MODELED 3D GAME WHAT DOES THAT SAY!?

    I've seen some of the positive reviews of this game saying how they are going to play it forever and ever and it makes me wonder if these people are masochists or something? I am willing to give A LOT of breaks to indy companies. Short game, low resolution, muddy sound, bugs, limited animation...thats all okay you didn't have a huge budget. But for the love of god at least make your art UNIQUE, your levels INTERESTING, your story ENGAGING, and your gameplay FUN. You don't need to have a huge production value to make a great game, plenty of indy companies have made worse looking games that still CAPTIVATE people with their art direction and story.
    I've read a lot of the reviews in order to help me formulate what I want to say, and let me tell you I completely disagree with so many of them. The graphics are not interesting or beautiful AT ALL. Its all VERY generic. Sometimes I feel like the critics and users that review these games somehow got a different version.

    If you want a game that centers around a simulated universe or consciousness...go play SOMA, it may be a horror game but you'll certainly enjoy it more than this. This game just feels so generic I am literally FORCING myself to try and enjoy it.

    I really wish I could say I at least finished the game before giving it a review but I just can't force myself to play this anymore. I would literally rather go to work for a 12 hour shift than play this game at this point.    … Full Review »
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