The Void (Ice-Pick Lodge)

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 12
  3. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. Just Adventure
    100
    A solid "A" for innovation and delivering it in the highest professional manner.
  2. PC Format
    86
    It's a very slow game. But The Void has really got under my skin in a way no game has for a long time, and it's totally recommended. [Christmas 2009, p.95]
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  3. PC Gamer UK
    82
    An astounding world, and a flagship for the imagination and capability of independent game developers. [Christmas 2009, p.94]
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  5. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    80
    Absorbing and atmospheric piece of art – The Void can be described as a survival adventure horror on LSD. Its originality definitely deserves your attention. [Issue#186]
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  6. Multiplayer.it
    80
    The Void is pretty unique: the gameplay is hard to describe with a mix of complex mechanics, the first person view and an innovative storytelling. It's not for everyone but still worth a try!
  7. PC PowerPlay
    80
    Such incredible innovation deserves to be experienced. [Feb 2010, p.54]
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  8. PC Games
    75
    Titled as an action-adventure, this game is not typical. The best way to describe it, is like a modern art picture. You’ll find bizarre and beautiful elements and it his hard to understand, what the game is telling the player. The plot takes place between life and death and the melancholical spoken dialogues are good performed. So if u like to play around with uncommon gameplay, the void is a nice try.
  9. Everyeye.it
    75
    The Void is a strange emotional experiment, with a complex gameplay.
  10. Eurogamer
    70
    I did not get nearly as far into this game as I would want to for a review. I simply couldn't. I tried for long enough. Yet I am completely unwilling to say this a bad thing - I'm certain this is a brilliant thing for the right person. Which is why I hope I've brought you to a place where you can make that decision for yourself.
  11. GameStar
    68
    The Void has its fascinating sides, lucid colors on dull grey, bizarrely warped beings, floating bodies and bare breast. Surrealism plays a huge role in this otherwise quite simple game. Using an out-of-date function like time limits is simply annoying. But the game manages to surprise from time to time and is still worth giving it a try, despite the weaknesses.
  12. SpazioGames
    65
    We are against the time, evil souls and even the atmosphere can't help us. The Void is an hardcore game, not suitable for everyone cause to the high level of challenge and the continuous pressure that the game put on you.Dedicated to those ones seeking for a new videogame's genre.
  13. games(TM)
    60
    Crippled by unavoidable errors. [Issue#91, p.125]
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Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Best PC Game of 2009
62
#62 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 115 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 86 out of 115
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 115
  3. Negative: 14 out of 115
  1. ZachridW.
    Nov 3, 2009
    2
    I may be writing this a little bit soon, but this game has the potential to frustrate you seriously. I really admire games in which you start I may be writing this a little bit soon, but this game has the potential to frustrate you seriously. I really admire games in which you start with a 'WTF'-expression on your face and then have to figure out what you are supposed to do. "Penumbra: Overture" was a great game that way. The problem is, that there is no concrete feedback for your actions and so you can easily navigate yourself into a dead end and waste a couple of savegames, without even realizing it. For instance, you always need to keep some of the "collected color" (yeah, you collect color here) inside your body, while you are on the map-screen, otherwise you die. Easy enough, but you are always processing this color, you put into you body from your stock, into "color you can use" - meaning that you always have to refill the color-chambers inside of you and keep an eye on your stock. The color only respawns at the beginning of each "cycle", so if you are making the mistake to process too much color at one point, you may not have enough to to survive the rest of the circle - because you already have collected evey drop throughout the map. The next thing is: I always got an audio message when I did something wrong, but I never had an idea how serious the impact of my actions was. So I just made my thing, tried to survive the circles, do the quests, collect as much color as possible and donate some of it to NPCs, so I could get access to more areas... but suddenly, at the beginning of a new circle I got attacked by a boss, because "I overdone it" or something like that. I didn't even got the option to flee and so I was out of color (= Life, Ammo, Mana) and in the middle of a bossfight. I could neither attack him, nor survive his attacks or even had a idea how to beat him. I didn't had a any chance to rethink my actions, because the punishment killed me at the end of the cycle and not at the moment I gone to far. Besides, the only thing I did wrong in my eyes was wasting color, and this just because the game often didn't recognized what spell I wanted to cast. So my whole turn was in vain and perhaps don't know how may turns before that one too. Another thing is, that a NPC asked me for green and golden color so I could access more levels, not knowing this in the first place I used that up for spells. But the real problem was, that within the next cycles every other color spwaned, but not the two I needed. So I was struck for a few circles in the first few chambers without being able to do anything useful. ...did I mention that this game has only 35 circles? Yeah, It has a fricking timelimit for the whole game. This game is a blance act, but without you having any sense of balance. It gives you only vague directions, but is unforgiving if you break one of it's rules. It's like one of the old Sierra Adventures: Eat the pie at the beginning of the game and you will never defeat the yeti at the end of the game. This could have been a GREAT and atmospheric game, but like this, it is just frustrating - without a decent walkthrough you will have to start it over A LOT to find out how you have to beat it ... and this is not how games are supposed to work these days.… Full Review »
  2. GregB
    Dec 21, 2009
    5
    This is the Demon's Souls of adventure games. So if you like a super duper challenge, reloading games, repeating the same content over This is the Demon's Souls of adventure games. So if you like a super duper challenge, reloading games, repeating the same content over and over when it becomes apparent that you've hit a dead end, this is the game for you. Interesting atmosphere and story? Yes. Interesting enough to bash my head into a concrete wall trying to figure out the resource management? For me, no. Watch Yahtzee's review of the game Demon's Souls on Zero Punctuation. It fits for this game as well.… Full Review »
  3. Rennn
    Sep 17, 2012
    9
    This game has two main factors to consider when reviewing it. One of these you may love, and the other you may hate. Whether you love or hateThis game has two main factors to consider when reviewing it. One of these you may love, and the other you may hate. Whether you love or hate this game depends largely on what you think of these two things.

    First, the game can "break" saves. They don't get corrupted or deleted or anything like that, but it's possible to use up all your Color (magic), save, and then get stuck when you have no plausible way to get more Color on that save.

    Second, the game is a work of art. The lighting is gorgeous, the environments are at once forboding and alluring, and a lot of inspiration and care went into everything. Just about everything walks the line between creepy and beautiful, and I don't know what engine they used, but the gameplay is silky smooth on any decent card. An HD 6850 or a GTX 460 will max the game at 1080p at 60fps, and it still looks perfect due in part to the minimalist style. The gameplay is unique, and the developers clearly weren't shy about showing off the human body (of both sexes), which is a welcome change of pace from the usual prudish T-rated filler with no artistic direction and no depth.

    In general, (and I'm sure there will be some exceptions), whether you love the game or hate it will depend on how seriously you take both of the above points. If you can usually back up your saves and don't mind being careful, you probably won't have any problems in that regard. If you like mysterious, art and lore driven games, you'll probably love this.    … Full Review »
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