Close to the Sun

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Video Chums
    Nov 14, 2019
    80
    If you like first-person adventure games of the horror and mystery variety then you'll definitely enjoy Close to the Sun.
  2. PSX Extreme
    Dec 5, 2019
    75
    Close to the Sun is an experience that I enjoyed but I also found myself wanting a bit more out of. The environments look fantastic and presentation was on point. Despite a few technical glitches. And while interesting, the story did fall a bit flat at times and seemed a bit rushed at others. I did enjoy my time with it though and especially enjoyed seeing what could have been possible if history had taken a different route. If you’re into the genre, like alternate history, or appreciate a well done style and tone, then I say go for it. It was a cool trip.
  3. PlaySense
    Nov 14, 2019
    75
    Combining BioShock's focus on exploration with the tense chases of Outlast, Close to the Sun delivers an intriguing alternate history in a detailed, believable setting. It's not perfect though: puzzles are often way too easy and the game at times refuses to register your button inputs.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 22
  3. Negative: 7 out of 22
  1. angelknives
    Jan 14, 2021
    6
    This looked like it'd be right up my ally, the design, the concept, it's nothing new, but it is exactly what I enjoy. But Close to the SunThis looked like it'd be right up my ally, the design, the concept, it's nothing new, but it is exactly what I enjoy. But Close to the Sun just didn't scratch that itch for me. The story is incredibly predictable, and never lives up to its promising premise. The environments are gorgeous (though on the ps4 the graphics have this strange blurriness to them), and look enticing to explore, but exploration is almost never rewarded.
    This game completely restricts your movements, meaning you never feel like you're exploring the place, just being shown around by the game. That makes you feel completely disconnected from the main character. Besides exploration, the game has a few action moments, but they all fall flat. The mechanics are janky and the enemies ridiculous. And speaking of ridiculous, the game manages to boil down an interesting mystery about time bleeding throughout the ship to a fight against boring enemies.
    I think the game would have done better to stay a mystery about time experiments, with no enemies running after you and more to explore.    … Full Review »
  2. inmh
    Sep 5, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. Not the worst game I've ever played, but certainly not the best.

    The running/chasing function is screwed (in particular, the chase in Flowers of Persephone is damn near game-breaking), the story and characters are thin, and the voice-acting for Rose in particular was... Not great. I also cringed at how a lot of Rose and Ada's dialogue came off as weirdly modern for 1897, very little attempt to write/portray the characters as speaking the way people would have at the turn of the last century. It was even worse in contrast to Tesla and Aubrey, who speak at least in a way that wouldn't be totally out of place.

    And I'm sorry, but I'm gonna be That Gal and say it: They ripped a LOT off from Bioshock, from the font they used for the title to the use of Greek Gods in the names of the levels, to the fact that Helios is supposed to be a refuge for scientists/actors/what have you to be uninhibited by society, to the fact that the Voice Over the Radio double-crosses you...

    They COULD have had all of these things and had it be similar to Bioshock, while being its own game. They COULD have. But as I said before, the story and characters are far too weak and underdeveloped to stand on their own, which makes the Bioshock references and aesthetic stick out even more.

    The best I can say for this game is that it had a decently creepy atmosphere and was not totally boring.    … Full Review »
  3. rickdonnie
    Jun 26, 2020
    6
    The gameplay is not great and finally, the game lacks of real gameplay. Puzzles, well, the same here. Graphics are good, the game looks great.The gameplay is not great and finally, the game lacks of real gameplay. Puzzles, well, the same here. Graphics are good, the game looks great. The set and everything looks a lot like Bioshock, and it was clear from the start. Is it a rip off? No, it tells its own story, and that's good. The story and by extension, of course, the game, are pretty short. Nothing impressive by any mean, but it can keeps you entertained during your playthrough, and maybe after that you'll want to play Bioshock 1 and 2 again.… Full Review »
See all user reviews »