Info about Observation:

Official game description:
Observation is a sci-fi thriller uncovering what happened to Dr. Emma Fisher, and the crew of her mission, through the lens of the station’s artificial intelligence S.A.M. Players assume the role of S.A.M. by operating the station’s control systems, cameras, and tools to assist Emma in discovering what is happening to the station, the vanished crew, and S.A.M. himself.  
**You're not _on_ the station, you _are_ the station**  
Blending narrative adventure, puzzles, exploration, and cosmic existential horror, uncover the true nature of yourself, your crew, and the mysterious always-present hexagon on Saturn...

Release date: May 21, 2020

Categories: Puzzle Solving, First-Person Perspective, Narrative Adventure, Exploration, Cosmic Horror, Science Fiction, Atmospheric Horror, Interactive Movie Experience

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement in Instructional Data; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals that the primary issues revolve around the game's complex mechanics, hidden secrets, and unclear quest outcomes. These factors frequently necessitate the use of walkthroughs, impacting the user experience significantly. The lack of clear instructions and the need to rely on external resources for progression are the most critical points of frustration for users.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game exhibits excellent compatibility with the Steam Deck, suggesting a smooth Proton/Linux experience. Users consistently report that the game runs perfectly on this platform.
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Playable with Issues; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several key issues with the game on the Steam Deck. The most significant problems include UI/UX issues, particularly with unreadable text and poor resolution options, which severely impact the user experience. Control issues have also been frequently mentioned, with users finding the controls unusual and not well explained. Despite these issues, many users have reported that the game runs perfectly well on the Steam Deck, suggesting a potential mislabeling of compatibility.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $6.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that users find the game worth purchasing at a price point comparable to a movie ticket, around $10, and definitely worth it at a sale price of $6. However, some users feel that the full price of $25 is too steep, indicating that the fair price range is likely between these lower and upper bounds.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 8.0h
  - Story completion: 5.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct references to the playtime required to complete the game 'Observation.' The first quote mentions completing the game without a walkthrough, suggesting a playtime context. The second quote explicitly states an ~8 hour narrative, which aligns with the game completion time. The third quote provides a range of 6-7 hours to beat the game, with a personal experience of 5 hours, supporting the story completion time. The fourth quote reinforces the story completion time by stating the game is about 5 hours long.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with engaging puzzles and camera movements but becomes tedious after about two hours due to clunky controls and slow pacing. However, the immersive atmosphere and compelling story make it enjoyable once players get past the initial friction.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Story immersion
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Clunky controls; Slow pacing; Tedious puzzles; Disorienting navigation
  - Unlock drivers: Story progression; Atmosphere immersion
  - Conditions: Patience with slow-burning narrative; Tolerance for methodical pacing; Interest in story-driven experiences
- Player Archetypes:
  - Social Story Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Shared storytelling and social interaction.
    - Playstyle: Plays alongside others or watches playthroughs for a shared experience.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: passenger gamer; story enthusiast
    - Reference games: Stories Untold; Alien: Isolation
  - Completionist Hunter (sale)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion and collecting all items.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and meticulous, aiming to complete all achievements and find all collectibles.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: achievement hunter; completionist
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Narrative Atmosphere Aficionado (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersive storytelling and atmospheric engagement.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on experiencing the story and atmosphere, often at a leisurely pace.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: sci-fi fan; horror enthusiast
    - Reference games: 2001: A Space Odyssey; Alien: Isolation
  - Value-Conscious Story Seeker (sale)
    - Motivation: Finding a good story at a reasonable price.
    - Playstyle: Plays through the game once, focusing on the main story and enjoying the atmosphere.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: bargain hunter; story seeker
    - Reference games: 2001: A Space Odyssey; Alien: Isolation


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and well-executed story (weight 0.47): The game features a compelling and intricate narrative with well-developed characters and unexpected plot twists. Players consistently praised the storytelling and its ability to keep them engaged throughout the game.
- Unique concept and perspective (weight 0.32): The game stands out for its unique concept of playing as an AI, offering a fresh perspective in gameplay and narrative. This originality is a significant draw for players looking for something different.
- Varied and enjoyable puzzles (weight 0.31): The game offers a range of puzzles that are generally well-received for their creativity and solvability. These puzzles are designed to be engaging without being overly difficult, contributing positively to the gameplay experience.
- Creepy and immersive atmosphere (weight 0.3): The game excels in creating a tense and eerie atmosphere, particularly within the sci-fi/horror genre. The combination of sound design, lighting, and setting contributes to a highly immersive and engaging experience.
- Immersive space station environment (weight 0.23): The space station setting is highly detailed and realistic, providing an immersive atmosphere. Players appreciated the authentic and believable design of the space station, which enhanced their overall experience.
- Impressive visuals and art direction (weight 0.21): The game's visuals are noted for their high quality and impressive execution. The graphics, effects, and art direction contribute significantly to the game's aesthetic appeal and overall atmosphere.

Common complaints:
- Puzzles are frustrating and lack guidance (weight 0.27): Many players found the puzzles to be tricky, difficult, and frustrating due to their vague nature and lack of proper hints or clear solutions. Some puzzles were considered almost impossible without a walkthrough, and the solutions were often unclear.
- Story is weak and unsatisfying (weight 0.27): The story was criticized for going nowhere and lacking a satisfying conclusion. Many players felt that the plot was uninteresting and fell flat at the end.
- Poor navigation and confusing layout (weight 0.26): Players reported that the game's navigation was confusing and frustrating. The layout of the space station was particularly problematic, making it easy to get lost and difficult to navigate.
- Controls are janky and frustrating (weight 0.26): The controls were frequently described as janky, clunky, and disorienting. Players found them frustrating and occasionally hard to manage, leading to a less enjoyable gaming experience.
- Slow and confusing gameplay (weight 0.15): The gameplay was described as slow, drawn-out, and confusing. The slow pace and non-intuitive mechanics frustrated players and detracted from the overall enjoyment.
- Auto-save feature is faulty (weight 0.09): The auto-save feature was a common complaint among players. The lack of manual saving and infrequent auto-saves led to frustration and potential loss of progress.
- Controls for spheres are clumsy (weight 0.07): The controls for the spheres were specifically mentioned as being floaty, awkward, and clunky, adding to the overall frustration with the game's controls.
- Disorientation during space walks (weight 0.06): Players reported getting lost and disoriented during space walks, which added to the frustration and difficulty of navigating the game.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.06): The game was criticized for its poor optimization, terrible performance, and poor graphics quality, which negatively impacted the overall gaming experience.
- Motion sickness issues (weight 0.06): Some players experienced motion sickness while playing the game, making it unsuitable for those with motion sickness or vestibular issues.
- Unintuitive and poorly designed interface (weight 0.06): The game's interface was described as unintuitive, incoherent, and poorly designed, adding to the overall frustration and difficulty of playing the game.

Gameplay feedback:
- Puzzle-solving mechanics central to gameplay (weight 0.24): The game heavily features puzzle-solving as a core mechanic, with players engaging in complex and challenging puzzles that require intuition and trial-and-error. These puzzles are integrated into the narrative and involve various tasks such as solving mini-games and exploring the environment.
- Playing as an AI protagonist (weight 0.21): The game offers a unique perspective by allowing players to assume the role of an AI, which involves controlling various systems and making ethical decisions. This AI perspective adds depth to the narrative and gameplay.
- Exploration through unique mechanics (weight 0.21): Players explore the environment using specific mechanics like cameras and spheres. This exploration is crucial for data collection and interaction with the surroundings, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- Space station setting (weight 0.14): The game is set in a space station, providing a deep space environment for players to navigate and explore. This setting is integral to the game's atmosphere and storyline.
- Cosmic horror and sci-fi elements (weight 0.13): The game incorporates elements of cosmic horror and science fiction, creating a dark and immersive atmosphere. These elements drive the story and enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- Controlling cameras and drones (weight 0.1): Players control cameras and drones to interact with the environment and progress through the story. This mechanic is crucial for exploration and puzzle-solving.
- Zero gravity mechanics (weight 0.08): The game includes realistic zero-gravity mechanics, allowing players to navigate and maneuver in a zero-gravity environment. This adds a layer of realism and challenge to the gameplay.
- Interactive movie experience (weight 0.06): The game blends interactive movie elements with puzzle-solving, creating a unique experience that feels more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. This approach enhances the storytelling and player engagement.
- Unique game mechanics and UI (weight 0.06): The game experiments with intuitive and non-intuitive gameplay mechanics and user interfaces, adding to the suspense and challenge of the game. These mechanics are integral to the game's design and player interaction.
- Navigation challenges (weight 0.05): The game features frustrating and challenging navigation mechanics, which can be a significant part of the gameplay experience. Players must overcome these challenges to explore the space station and progress through the story.

Performance notes:
- Game launch and stability issues (weight 0.13): Players frequently report bugs that prevent the game from launching properly, often requiring restarts. These issues are widespread and significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- Graphical glitches and issues (weight 0.13): There are numerous reports of graphical abnormalities, including visual effects issues, lighting problems, and low-resolution textures. These issues detract from the visual quality of the game.
- Control and input problems (weight 0.11): Many players experience janky and unstable controls, particularly with mouse input lag and speed issues. This makes the game difficult to play and enjoy.
- Optimization and performance (weight 0.11): The game has mixed reports on optimization. While some players report stable performance, others struggle with performance issues, especially on older hardware.
- Clipping and animation errors (weight 0.09): Players have noted various clipping issues, including characters clipping through walls and terrain. Animation issues are also common, affecting the overall immersion.
- Settings and resolution issues (weight 0.08): There are frequent complaints about settings resetting after game restarts and issues with resolution settings. This causes inconvenience and disrupts the gaming experience.
- Cutscene and event issues (weight 0.05): Cutscenes are reported to be full of issues, including bugs and glitches. Event triggering issues are also noted, affecting the storyline and gameplay.
- Ultrawide monitor support (weight 0.04): There is terrible support for ultrawide monitors, with players experiencing UI issues and poor graphics quality. This limits the game's accessibility and enjoyment for users with ultrawide screens.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for sci-fi and narrative fans (weight 0.27): The game is highly recommended for fans of sci-fi, narrative-driven games, and those who enjoy slow-paced, atmospheric storytelling. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate mystery, puzzles, and immersive space adventures.
- Recommended on sale (weight 0.17): The game is often recommended when purchased at a discount. Players suggest buying it on sale to get the best value for money.
- Unique and memorable experience (weight 0.1): The game offers a unique and memorable experience that leaves a lasting impression. It is recommended for those seeking something different and impactful.
- Mixed recommendations with reservations (weight 0.06): While some players have mixed feelings and recommend the game with reservations, others suggest caution for those not interested in the subject matter.
- Use a guide for better experience (weight 0.03): Using a walkthrough or guide is suggested to mitigate frustrations and enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Play Stories Untold first (weight 0.03): It is suggested to play 'Stories Untold' before this game for a better understanding and enhanced experience.
- Worth trying but not exceptional (weight 0.02): The game is considered worth trying but is not exceptional. It has its merits but may not stand out significantly.

Other player notes:
- Inaccurate playtime tracking (weight 0.04): Multiple players reported that the game does not accurately reflect or track playtime.
- Game completion time (weight 0.02): The base game takes around 8 hours to complete, and 8-10 hours to achieve 100% completion.
- Spanish language support (weight 0.02): Players have noted the availability of Spanish language support for the interface and subtitles.
- Controller recommended for controls (weight 0.02): Players suggest using a controller for a better control experience.
- Ultrawide resolution fix available (weight 0.02): There is a link provided by players for fixing ultrawide resolution issues.
- English keyboard for better controls (weight 0.02): Switching the keyboard to English is recommended for improved control.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.32): Players are primarily frustrated with the game's controls, which are described as confusing, slow, and difficult to manage. Additionally, the lack of clear guidance and vague instructions for puzzles and objectives contribute significantly to this frustration. Technical issues such as bugs, crashes, and poor performance further exacerbate the negative experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.18): Players enjoy the game's unique and immersive atmosphere, which is complemented by a strong narrative and engaging story. The cosmic horror elements and puzzles also contribute to a fun and captivating experience. The unique perspective of playing as a space station AI adds to the overall enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Players express disappointment mainly due to the game's story and ending, which are described as confusing, nonsensical, and unsatisfactory. The gameplay and controls also fall short of expectations, with some players finding the game boring and repetitive. Additionally, the lack of proper horror elements and emotional pull in the story contribute to the disappointment.
- Excitement (weight 0.09): Players are excited by the game's unique and captivating story, which is often described as engaging and tense. The innovative gameplay experience, including the unique twist of playing as the station AI, adds to the excitement. The game's atmosphere and horror elements also contribute to a thrilling experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Players find satisfaction in the game's unique gameplay mechanics and immersive atmosphere. The engaging plot and pleasant interface, along with the tense story and beautiful visuals, contribute to a satisfying experience. The game's originality and intriguing plot are also highlighted as sources of satisfaction.
- Confusion (weight 0.03): Players experience confusion due to unclear objectives and complex story elements. The ending of the game is particularly noted for leaving players with unanswered questions. Poor interface design and disorienting navigation also contribute to the overall confusion.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique atmosphere and graphics, as well as the excellent visual concepts. The narrative pacing, UI design, and overall quality of the game are also highlighted. The story-driven nature and incredible writing are noted as significant contributors to the appreciation.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's detailed locations, plot, and unique systems. The positive aspects of the game's atmosphere, sound design, and narrative contribute to this enthusiasm. The immersive story and unique setting also add to the overall positive experience.
- Positive (weight 0.02): Players have positive feelings towards the game's ease of play, story, and visuals. The enjoyment of the game's gimmick, design, and cutscenes, along with the atmosphere and storytelling, contribute to these positive emotions. The graphics and voice acting are also highlighted as positive aspects.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's mystery and interesting puzzles. The sense of mystery and thought-provoking themes, along with the exploration and discovery mechanics, contribute to this curiosity. The story's intriguing elements also spark curiosity.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Players feel immersed in the game due to its detailed space station setting and unique AI perspective. The gameplay mechanics and atmosphere, along with the narrative and immersive gameplay, contribute to this sense of immersion. The thematic and futuristic setting also enhances the immersive experience.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's innovative gameplay and unexpected plot twists. The initial impression being misleading and the realization that symbols had meaning contribute to the surprise. The entity trying to communicate is also noted as a surprising element.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the game's brilliant concept and incredible atmosphere. The authentic space station setting and the game's ability to reveal more depth on a second playthrough are also admired. The good story and concept, along with the deep narrative and atmospheric experience, contribute to this admiration.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the game's cinematic scenes and gameplay as AI. The interesting puzzles and good story, along with the story and atmosphere, contribute to this engagement. The events and narrative also keep players engaged.
- Tension (weight 0.01): Players experience tension due to vague instructions and exploration. The atmosphere and sound design, along with the pacing, contribute to this tension. The overall atmosphere and the need for exploration add to the tense experience.}