Pneuma: Breath of Life

 Xbox One
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 61
  3. Negative: 7 out of 61

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  1. Game_Pad
    Feb 28, 2015
    7
    Intriguing, philosophical, frustrating but mostly wonderful.
    Pneuma is a bit of an anomaly. Looking at it through the perspective of a 'puzzle' game, it's pretty standard (although set in a beautiful, immense temple indicative of ancient Rome), but as a whole package, this game is something special.
    Some of the puzzles are fairly straight forward, but many others are extremely    Intriguing, philosophical, frustrating but mostly wonderful.
    Pneuma is a bit of an anomaly. Looking at it through the perspective of a 'puzzle' game, it's pretty standard (although set in a beautiful, immense temple indicative of ancient Rome), but as a whole package, this game is something special.

    Some of the puzzles are fairly straight forward, but many others are extremely frustrating! But that's a good thing because the last thing you want, when playing a game like this, is to be able to walk through completely unchallenged. Another good point is the variety of puzzles, yes almost all of them are to do with looking at things and changing your perspective to adjust the puzzles, no two puzzles are the same which adds a new challenge to every single puzzle.

    Throughout the game, you play as some sort of unseen thing that believes himself a god. This god you play as has a voice, of course, which adds a lot of interesting, occasionally humorous, subtext to the game. The voice acting is marvellously done and really does feel like he (yes, the Pneuma god 's a he... and English!) is experiencing this world for the very first time. Not only does the voice acting add a running commentary to your actions and progress through the game, it also brings up many philosophical questions for the player to ponder over.

    The world of Pneuma is truly beautiful and boasts some impressive visuals. Built using Unreal Engine 4, the marble and gold that lines most rooms glimmers and shines like nothing I've seen before! The outside areas aren't quite as stunning as the inside areas, but they are still fairly impressive. The game is also exceptionally serene and calming compared to a lot of gun-in-hand, jetpack jumping and occasional tea-bagging games we see coming out at the moment, and it makes you wish you could be there in real life throughout the entire 2-4 hours play-through.

    Things, however, do start to get a little weird later on in the game. Not only does your god character start saying things like '...what if my movements aren't my own? Does that mean I'm still me? Or perhaps I am merely a spectator?', but the endless idea that 'Well I AM a god, so why can't I walk through walls?' or 'Why do I have to do these puzzles if i'm the all powerful?'. However things soon become clear as you reach the final area. Suddenly, the game that was about solving problems whilst listening to and ever-talking god becomes a project that explores the meaning of humanity and the idea of existence! It all becomes very, VERY weird! But, after the final monologue, and we are returned to the title menu, it all makes a lot of sense!

    I, for one, really did love this game! Yes, it may be short for a £15 game, but the visual design is spectacular I i'm a sucker for these more 'philosophical' games. Even if your not into the whole 'meaning of life' stuff, the game is fun! And if your just looking for quick achievements, 8 of the 11 are achieved just by completing the game (7 100G, and 1 150G) which could give you 850G in just a couple of hours! Either way, it really is worth giving it a go!    … Expand
  2. Gnasher1001
    Nov 2, 2015
    6
    I like a good puzzle game, and overall, Pneuma is a potentially good puzzle game. The puzzles start off incredibly easy, then get slightly easy, then easy, then the game finishes. Oh. It is satisfying, in that how quickly you complete it will make you think you're a (puzzle) god, as our protagonist thinks he is for most of the game. You're not though. This game is very easy, and you'llI like a good puzzle game, and overall, Pneuma is a potentially good puzzle game. The puzzles start off incredibly easy, then get slightly easy, then easy, then the game finishes. Oh. It is satisfying, in that how quickly you complete it will make you think you're a (puzzle) god, as our protagonist thinks he is for most of the game. You're not though. This game is very easy, and you'll have at least 850 gamerscore in less than 2hrs. There was one puzzle that stumped me, which was awkward even when knowing what to do.
    It's pretty, as long as you don't look closely at some objects, and the end is interesting....at best.
    If you got it free in November 2015 Games with Gold or you get it for an incredibly low price, it's worth it, just don't expect any long experience or absolutely any replayability.    … Expand
  3. BetterCallSalt
    Nov 2, 2015
    6
    I'm not really a fan of puzzle games but decided to give this a play purely down to the fact that it was free. The game itself isn't the most challenging and was pretty simple even for me who doesn't play these types of games. There is a back story to the game but I myself found it pretentious and annoying for the most part. Other than that, the game doesn't look the worst and the setting,I'm not really a fan of puzzle games but decided to give this a play purely down to the fact that it was free. The game itself isn't the most challenging and was pretty simple even for me who doesn't play these types of games. There is a back story to the game but I myself found it pretentious and annoying for the most part. Other than that, the game doesn't look the worst and the setting, which is very similar to that of ancient Roman architecture, is quite pleasing to the eye (Although this is the only setting pretty much throughout the whole game. Overall, if you like puzzle games and you can get the game for free or extremely cheap then give it a go.… Expand
  4. Crocsx
    Nov 17, 2015
    7
    Pneuma is a wonderful game. It's a very simple puzzle game, not very challenging, but very beautiful (Unreal Engine 4 and those texture give this game some stunning visuals), with interesting mechanics and a good "game feeling". But Pneuma isn't just that, the funny and interesting part is brought by the character you control.

    You basically play a god, or something else? Who know? Maybe    Pneuma is a wonderful game. It's a very simple puzzle game, not very challenging, but very beautiful (Unreal Engine 4 and those texture give this game some stunning visuals), with interesting mechanics and a good "game feeling". But Pneuma isn't just that, the funny and interesting part is brought by the character you control.

    You basically play a god, or something else? Who know? Maybe you are the god?
    T philosophical questions. The narration is quite amusing and at times pretty deep. This god (Pneuma?) you play as a voice, made by the "award winning voice actor 'Jay Britton', who did a pretty good performance. It's a pleasure to progress trough the (sadly not very challenging) puzzles and ear Pneuma discovering himself and the world and bringing up many philosophical and intriguing questions until the end where.
    The more you progress, the more the dialogue will be deep of meaning, until the final scene.

    Maybe it is a bit expensive for what it is, but it's definitely worth the try !    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2015
26
#26 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Brash Games
    Jan 31, 2016
    70
    To me Pneuma: Breath of Life felt more like a taster of what could have been a huge puzzle game. Not to say the game wasn’t a success, from what we can see the game works very well with new innovative puzzles – I just wish there could have been more!
    Read full review
  2. games(TM)
    Apr 12, 2015
    60
    Breath of Life will have its fervent champions, but it won't go supernova. [Issue#159, p.113]
    Read full review
  3. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Mar 28, 2015
    60
    Pneuma is let down by its waffling and insistence on shoving questions about the nature of reality down your throat. [Apr 2015, p.83]
See all critic reviews »