Observation

 PlayStation 4
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 80 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 80
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 80
  3. Negative: 19 out of 80

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  1. leighbutler1980
    Sep 6, 2020
    5
    Great game concept with great story let down by awful, just awful navigation. When having to locate other parts of the space station when navigating outside it is confusing, disorientating and slow. Game is not recommended.
  2. NewageLightbulb
    Jun 5, 2019
    5
    I remember playing Heavy Rain and not liking it, and talking to a friend who pronounced, with eyes shut, how the moment where you swing your son around (by pressing a single button on the controller) was one of the best moments he had ever experienced in a game. That was when I realized there are two different types of gamers: the ones who will excuse terrible story for a good game, andI remember playing Heavy Rain and not liking it, and talking to a friend who pronounced, with eyes shut, how the moment where you swing your son around (by pressing a single button on the controller) was one of the best moments he had ever experienced in a game. That was when I realized there are two different types of gamers: the ones who will excuse terrible story for a good game, and the ones who will excuse terrible gameplay for a good story.

    Observation is an interesting story. But it's a terrible game. So whether or not you will like it just depends on where you land on that scale.

    The 'gameplay' is just slowly panning around a screen using the left stick and clicking the only box presented to you, or entering simple patterns. That's it. It will never, ever be challenging because it requires thinking or planning or dexterity. It will be challenging because the interface is obtuse.

    I always think people who make games like this want to be screenwriters but lack the courage to try. They figure the bar for a good story is lower in games, and they're right, so they make a walking simulator or a trivial 'game' like this with an okay story, and it's called a good game.

    But it's not a good game.    … Expand
  3. nofunaloud
    May 29, 2019
    7
    I highly doubt it is actually possible to fail this game. I messed up on a jettison puzzle in the very beginning, I almost restarted the game because of it, but when I continued the narrative of the game claimed I did it no problem. One time I got confused on the Simon says portion, it was like the third or fourth time it happens, and I was accidentally selecting the wrong symbol, over andI highly doubt it is actually possible to fail this game. I messed up on a jettison puzzle in the very beginning, I almost restarted the game because of it, but when I continued the narrative of the game claimed I did it no problem. One time I got confused on the Simon says portion, it was like the third or fourth time it happens, and I was accidentally selecting the wrong symbol, over and over and over and it just keep giving me the prompt over and over and over.

    The controls are very frustrating on PC. There is no ascend and descend control, you have to look down and move forward to descend, to ascend look up and move forward. This has to have been overlooked. Using mouse to turn and look around is also frustrating because the camera does not move with the mouse, the camera moves in the direction you are moving you mouse, like you are using a joystick instead of a mouse.

    Other than that it is pretty much a mash up of the movies Interstellar and Cloverfield Paradox. It was interesting enough to captivate me to the end, even with the incredibly simple puzzles that you can't lose. And if the controls weren't so poor I would probably play it again and try to complete everything, but now, going back would just be more frustrating than interesting.    … Expand
  4. Spidor
    Sep 6, 2020
    7
    Observation is an exploration and puzzle game, where players have to solve problems as the ship's AI to progress the story, unravel the mystery of the broken down space station and protect the crew.

    Observation subverts the genre of claustrophobic space horror by pacing itself, building suspense, and putting discovery and interactivity ahead of scares and heart-pounding action,    Observation is an exploration and puzzle game, where players have to solve problems as the ship's AI to progress the story, unravel the mystery of the broken down space station and protect the crew.

    Observation subverts the genre of claustrophobic space horror by pacing itself, building suspense, and putting discovery and interactivity ahead of scares and heart-pounding action, sidelining horror for immersion. But it also completely fails to deliver a satisfying narrative, ending up with a regurgitated third act straight from some sci-fi schlock. It's the same ending as a terrible sci-fi horror movie that came out a few years ago, which I won't name to not spoil, and this is just too bad. It feels like the whole epilogue is hastily written, and, in retrospect. makes the game feel like it was written and built around set-pieces rather than a cohesive, interesting and fresh story. And that's too bad, it's how you end up with interesting immersive game design and some fairly interesting characters colliding with a very mediocre narrative that falls flat on its face at some point and stays firmly on its face throughout what should be a climax. This is why you need a writer - a good one would've made this game a classic.    … Expand
  5. Faber222
    Jul 20, 2022
    7
    Nice idea and a good story even if Interstellar and 2001 SO cut/paste are so evident.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019
87
#87 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 45
  3. Negative: 1 out of 45
  1. The Digital Fix
    Sep 4, 2019
    90
    Observation is an unnerving, beautiful, and captivating space station thriller that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
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  2. Washington Post
    Aug 7, 2019
    80
    Observation inserts players into the circuits of the onboard AI. And because it is difficult to overlook how unnatural it is for a human mind to mimic the smooth functionality of a machine, the game effects a gap between the player and the player’s avatar that is intriguingly disorienting.
    Read full review
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 27, 2019
    60
    Great when it’s delivering gripping, cinematic moments. It’s just a shame that the bits when you’re controlling a slightly menacing AI aren’t the highlights. [Issue#164, p.91]
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