Manual Samuel

 Xbox One
Manual Samuel Image
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

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  • Summary: After a tough collision with a septic truck Samuel finds himself bargaining for his life. Eventually he agrees a deal for his life with chronically-uncool 90s throwback, Death, and now has to survive 24 hours doing everything manually.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. GameSpew
    Oct 12, 2016
    90
    Manual Samuel asks you do the mundane, but in doing so it makes it funny, challenging and engaging.
  2. ICXM
    Oct 25, 2016
    75
    Manual Samuel is a truly unique game that was made as a labor of love.
  3. MondoXbox
    Nov 20, 2016
    75
    One of the most unique and nonsensical games we tried so far, asking us to manually manage every single body function - from moving his legs to breathing - of the poor Samuel. This mechanic goes often over the top though, making us confront with highly frustrating scenarios.
  4. TrueAchievements
    Oct 12, 2016
    70
    A fun game with its quirky humor and innovative concept. The game is easy to learn and enjoyable to play as one helps Sam through his day, but it can begin to pall from simple repetitiveness as one replays chapters and hears the same jokes a few too many times. With its mostly easy achievement list and fast playing time, it will be a fun addition to most achievement seekers' collections.
  5. XboxAddict
    Nov 17, 2016
    67
    Developer Perfectly Paranormal should be commended for creating a unique game that stands out among the numerous remakes and nostalgic 8-bit indie titles. While the game does suffer at times from repetitive, frustrating gameplay, and the comedy wears thin very quickly, there is still some fun to be had as you hilariously and manually take control of Sam and his bodily functions.
  6. XBLA Fans
    Oct 26, 2016
    60
    Manual Samuel starts well but sadly loses steam fairly early on. Which is a real shame as I wholeheartedly loved the first hour or so into Sam's nightmare day. The game is at it's strongest when it's gamifying the mundane aspects of life, but this one trick pony loses its appeal when it tries be a proper game with fighting, boss levels and high scores.
  7. games(TM)
    Dec 18, 2016
    50
    Too inconsistent to truly shine. [Issue#181, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 8
  3. Negative: 2 out of 8
  1. CarlitosSlim
    Aug 22, 2020
    10
    El manual samuel esta bien chido loa neta que si, ira karnal yo lo juege con mi primo el sholostacio y noombre nos la pasamos bomba asi deEl manual samuel esta bien chido loa neta que si, ira karnal yo lo juege con mi primo el sholostacio y noombre nos la pasamos bomba asi de piquita parada neta se los juro por eso le doy un 10 como a mis poderosisismas aguilas del América… Expand
  2. yoghurt95
    Jan 21, 2019
    8
    So fun when you play with friends. There is very original main character management (you control each foot when walking, control your eyes toSo fun when you play with friends. There is very original main character management (you control each foot when walking, control your eyes to blink, breathe air)… Expand
  4. mlo12345
    Feb 27, 2021
    8
    Let me be perfectly clear - I am happy I bought this game a couple years ago. It was definitely worth the price at the time (although it's onLet me be perfectly clear - I am happy I bought this game a couple years ago. It was definitely worth the price at the time (although it's on sale as it write this for EXTREMELY cheap!). The graphics and animations aren't going to wow and amaze you, but the game is unique and comedic. The narrator steals the show here. Amazing.

    That said though, the game has very little, if at all, replay value other than the time trial mode. It's very short, and I just completed it in a single game session over about 2-3 hours, BUT, I already knew all the mechanics, so your playthrough will be longer. It's hard to not spoil the story, though. Its unique and funny, but basic at its core. YOU WILL NEED TO BE PATIENT WITH THE FINAL BOSS IF YOU HAVENT FULLY GRIPPED THE GAME MECHANICS YET, WHICH IS LIKELY DUE TO THE EXTREMELY SHORT LENGTH THAT IS THIS GAME. Otherwise, 100% worth it in my opinion. Happy shopping, ladies and gentlemen!    … Expand
  5. Che3es
    Jan 24, 2019
    5
    I don't mind short games but this was frustrating at times and I really disliked that final boss. I don't know if the devs are making a newI don't mind short games but this was frustrating at times and I really disliked that final boss. I don't know if the devs are making a new game but i hope that one will be more famous… Expand
  6. AceoHearts
    Oct 17, 2016
    5
    Every once in a while a game comes along that is so off the wall you just have to play it. Manual Samuel released by Curve Digital is one ofEvery once in a while a game comes along that is so off the wall you just have to play it. Manual Samuel released by Curve Digital is one of those games.
    You are Samuel Welthenburg Jr - a wealthy, stuck up man who is having a really bad day. Your girlfriend has broken up with you because of your attitude, and when you try to get her ro reconsider you get hit by a truck. Since you have not been the nicest of people, you get a one way ticket straight to Hell. You are greeted by Death himself who decides to make you a deal. If you can survive for 24 hours while doing everything in your life manually. This means that you will have to walk, breath, talk, stand up straight, and even blink by pressing buttons on your controller.
    You start out in the morning and must make your way through your day. Everything from basic hygiene, getting dressed, driving to work and of course doing your job is on the agenda. The mechanics are easy to learn, and don't require you to totally master them in order to beat most of the 8 stages. Unfortunately the final stage amps up the difficulty to a level that takes the fun out of the game. The quirky mechanics make the final battle a spotlight in tedium. The main issue is that there is a slight pause between each movement so you must have exact timing.
    As you play through the story, after each chapter you complete, you will unlock a time attack mode. In this mode you will get medals based on how well you do. You can also play through story mode with a friend in co-op mode as well.
    The game has very cartoony graphics, because that is probably the best way to showcase a re-animated corpse in a fun way. But the graphics are not what is elevated in this title. The narrator of the game steals to show. There are a ton of one liners and snarky comments to keep you well entertained. This is really the high point of the game.    … Expand
  7. emporio2866
    Apr 18, 2020
    4
    По итогу мы имеем крайне занятный с точки зрения концепции инди-проект с далёкой от идеала технической реализацией, приятной рисованнойПо итогу мы имеем крайне занятный с точки зрения концепции инди-проект с далёкой от идеала технической реализацией, приятной рисованной графикой и хорошим юмором, с которой я советую по возможности ознакомиться. Бежать покупать за полную стоимость наверное не стоит, хотя решать вам, но на скидках почему бы и нет. Я же успел поиграть в Game Pass и то чисто случайно, когда увидел игру в списке покидающих подписку. Если бы она до сих пор там находилась и никуда не собиралась, то вряд ли обратил бы внимание, ибо когда есть огромное количество полноценным крупных проектов, играть в индюшатину на большом экране дома такое себе.
    Ставлю 4,5 из 10, но если бы управление было комфортное и не выбешивало, то оценил бы значительно выше, например, на 6-6,5 баллов.
    Буду наблюдать за студией Curve Digital, разработавшей сей противоречивый проект, с надеждой увидеть в будущем что-то не менее креативное и, судя по всему, им есть чем удивить    … Expand
  8. Broyax
    Dec 21, 2018
    0
    L'indé du week end est une sorte de daubasse en 2D et en 4 couleurs (on dirait un sale jeu flash pour vieux téléphone portable). On yL'indé du week end est une sorte de daubasse en 2D et en 4 couleurs (on dirait un sale jeu flash pour vieux téléphone portable). On y "incarne" un tocard bourgeois mort accidentellement et qui revient dans notre monde ressuscité par la Faucheuse elle-même (qui s'ennuie... et personnifiée par un skateur en jogging à capuche wesh-wesh...) mais sous la condition expresse de sévères handicaps...

    Samuel doit en effet tout faire manuellement, y compris inspirer et expirer, mettre un pied devant l'autre, rester debout, cligner des yeux et j'en passe et des meilleures (et des pas mûres). Sous couvert d'humour discutable et indéniablement portache, pour ne pas dire infantile, le jeu oblige donc le joueur à une succession ininterrompue de QTE pour les moindres actions de la vie quotidienne...

    J"ai lâché l'affaire lors de la conduite de la voiture (avec la boîte manuelle et l'embrayage naturellement...) dont les commandes sont inversées... Ces QTE de merde (pléonasme) sont certainement un hommage aux non-jeux du studio Quantic Dreams (cauchemar ambulant en la matière) mais leur répétition soûle ici encore plus rapidement.

    Voilà donc encore un indé-étron vite fait mal fait qu'on peut laisser là il se plaît le mieux, dans son habitat naturel, c'est-à-dire la poubelle.    … Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016