Datura

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: May 8, 2012
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 35 out of 45
  3. Negative: 8 out of 45
  1. Games Master UK
    Jun 25, 2012
    43
    Neat arty ideas but terrible controls and a lazy narrative undermine the gameplay. [Aug 2012, p.79]
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  2. AusGamers
    May 15, 2012
    41
    Datura reeks of under-utilised and squandered potential, making the end result even more disappointing. If you're looking for a moving and immersive title to add to your collection Datura isn't it. Spend your money on Journey instead.
  3. Eurogamer Germany
    May 14, 2012
    40
    Sony, again, proves itself as a publisher willing to treat itself to some unconventional and outright anti-commercial games. In this regard I would love offer the best of compliments to Datura and Plastic – too bad that I can´t think of a single one.
  5. GameSpot
    May 11, 2012
    40
    A short, confusing, and unfulfilling adventure.
  6. Gameblog.fr
    May 11, 2012
    40
    Datura seems like your typical, interesting indie experience. But the truth is : it's as painful to play as it is unsatifying in terms of story and puzzle-solving. The two hours of puzzle solving and unbelievably slow walks in the forest are mainly spent on trying to make sense of the PS Move horrible gameplay than the game itself.
  7. Eurogamer Spain
    May 10, 2012
    40
    Datura wanted to be an adventure, but its control prevents it from succeeding.
  8. Metro GameCentral
    May 9, 2012
    40
    The visuals are amazing but the game's moral quandaries are impossible to care about without any context, let alone any decent gameplay or controls.
  9. Edge Magazine
    May 7, 2012
    40
    You'll trudge endlessly around the forest, cursing your protagonist's languid walk speed as you wander from one already visited landmark to the next in the vague hope of triggering the next bit of scripting in a narrative which goes out of its way to confuse the player.

Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2012
97
#97 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2012

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 50 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 50
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 50
  3. Negative: 14 out of 50
  1. TTW107
    May 8, 2012
    5
    I don't even know how to review this. I've been following the coverage for this game and despite seeing the mixed reviews I still gave it aI don't even know how to review this. I've been following the coverage for this game and despite seeing the mixed reviews I still gave it a shot just to see what it was all about. If you are looking for a really exciting game do not buy this. I think the makers just wanted to show that videogames can be much more than your run of the mill game. I don't have the Move Motion controller, so I just had to use a normal controller and at first a few of the parts pissed me off. I thought the controls were absolutely terrible but come to find out on my 2nd play through I was just doing them completely wrong. The onscreen help isn't much help. For a two hour game with somewhat finicky controls and only a few cool parts, I'm not so sure it was worth 10 bucks. I recommend this game if you are a trophy whore (you can easily get all of them on your first play through) or you are just very curious like I was.… Full Review »
  2. JustinnEveritt
    May 11, 2012
    8
    Datura is an odd experience crafted by the good folks over at Plastic. I've played through the title twice. Once with the Move, and once withDatura is an odd experience crafted by the good folks over at Plastic. I've played through the title twice. Once with the Move, and once with the Dualshock 3. To fully enjoy the immersion Plastic intended, I recommend playing with the Move. If you're looking for a simpler trip down the pig hole, use the Dualshock 3 as it makes it easier to navigate the forest but also dumbs down the controls for the various tasks at hand (pun intended). Datura shouldn't take you more than 2 hours (that's including 100% Trophies) and is best suited to be played straight through in one sitting. I would also like to point out the use of 3D in Datura. Plastic actually went through the trouble of adding a Stereoscopic depth option to fine tune your 3D experience. The loose leaves and feathers. The flies. All floating there, waiting to be reached for, but alas, it's only the 3D. Plastic has not found a way to float these awesomely detailed objects in front of you, although it may seem they have. I highly recommend trying this title with the 3D cranked up to 11, a Move controller in hand (again, pun intended) and a six pack of brews our what ever it is you use to lose yourself. At just $10 ($8 for PS+ users) Datura is an affordable risk that may just turn out to be the Indie film turned video game you've been looking for.… Full Review »
  3. Garfailed
    May 9, 2012
    3
    When you play a game, you expect the controls to work, you expect an appropriate length given how much money you've spent, and you expectWhen you play a game, you expect the controls to work, you expect an appropriate length given how much money you've spent, and you expect there to be some kind of story for the game to tell. Datura fails in all three of these aspects.

    The game's camera is sluggish and does not move freely, so you rely on your movement to correct the angle and it takes away from your exploration of the landscape. The controls are just terrible. There's no question. Why they decided to publish the game with these issues, I have no idea. Perhaps they weren't capable of a solution.

    And the random, drug-induced events and ending... there was no ending. Suddenly the credits roll, and I wonder why the game just ended. It's short and incredibly dissatisfying. The seemingly mysterious and enigmatic atmosphere drew me into buying this, and I kept an open mind because I like supporting smaller companies, but getting this game was a mistake. If you're really curious, I recommend waiting until it's at least 50% off, because that's a bit closer to what the game experience is actually worth.    … Full Review »
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