Info about BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION:

Official game description:
**BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION** is an isometric adventure set in a distant future. **Explore** a post-apocalyptic landscape, **solve puzzles**, **meet** new friends and make powerful enemies, **mediate** conflicts, and **fight** for your life as you unravel the secrets of the world around you.  
Mark, a man out of time, searches for his lost brother Don in a far-flung futuristic era ruled by highly advanced technologies, which are both revered and reviled. Your surroundings hold echoes of a desolate past and glimpses of a dark future that has yet to be written by your actions. Be prepared to face many tough choices that will shape this land long after you complete your journey.  
The inhabitants of this world will help and hinder you as you make new discoveries and navigate the spectacular African-inspired landscape. Negotiate your passage with local leaders, healers, and warriors, or find yourself embroiled in a battle against nanite swarms, enormous scorpions, and rocket-equipped robots.  
From thriving villages to crumbling cities, petrified forests, and bone-dry ocean beds, this strange new world holds a multitude of terrains to uncover.  
**BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION** features music by **MICK GORDON**, known for his work on Wolfenstein®, DOOM®, Prey®, Killer Instinct® and Need for Speed®.  
*   A story-driven adventure set in a dystopian post-apocalyptic future.  
*   A unique aesthetic and 2D isometric rendered and painted environments.  
*   Simple Point & Click interaction with profound puzzles.  
*   Classic adventure gameplay.  
*   Bizarre creatures, animals, and vibrant characters await.  
*   Thousands of lines of dialogue with multiple conversation paths.  
*   Tomes of lore and a world, unlike anything you have seen.  
*   Over 40 Unique Characters to meet.  
*   4k and Ultra wide native support.
90% PCGAMER  
9.5/10 PCINDIEMRACE  
9.5 /10 GAMEPLANET  
4.5/5 PENNYWORTHREVIEWS  
8/10 THEGAMESLASHERS - "...the world of beautiful desolation is like a binder overflowing with artistic creativity..."  
10/10 SHOWGAMER  
5/5 SAVINGCONTENT - "Incredible"  
**BEAUTIFUL DESOLATION** is brought to you by **THE BROTHERHOOD**, the studio behind **STASIS** (Adventure game of the year 2015) and **CAYNE**.

Release date: Feb 26, 2020

Categories: Point-and-click Adventure, Isometric Perspective, Post-apocalyptic, Story Rich, Multiple Endings, African-themed Gameplay, Exploration, Puzzle Solving

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: The Tourist; summary: User reviews predominantly complain about navigation and lack of direction, with players unable to find where to go next and relying on walkthroughs to progress. There is no evidence of Tier 1 farming, Tier 2 inventory management, or Tier 3 learning/quest mechanics keywords. The primary barrier is spatial navigation, matching Tier 4 'The Tourist' criteria.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews include two direct price anchors: one calls $20 a low launch price for the standard edition, and another recommends buying at full price at €16.80, which is roughly $18. Positive remarks about story value and willingness to pay full price support a fair base-game range near the upper teens to $20. Sale-purchase comments indicate some price sensitivity and discount interest, which keeps the range from exceeding $20. Overall, the community sentiment points to a fair base-game range of about $15-$20, with the current $12.99 price sitting below or near the lower end.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 15.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: 60.0h
  - Reasoning: Several reports cluster around 14-15 hours to finish the game: one player completed it around 15 hours, another took 14 hours while also clearing side content, and a player at 7 hours was about half-way. These support gameCompletion and storyCompletion at roughly 15 hours. For endgame, one player reports spending 60 hours to get all endings and route variations, indicating substantial post-story/replay content. No review provides a clear typical session length, so sessionLength is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Reviews report persistent tedium, unclear early goals, and broken progression rather than a later fun payoff, with some players unable to push through even at mid-game. No evidence links a specific later event or state to increased enjoyment.
  - Stance: Never clicks
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: Unclear early goal and empty starting locations; Slow, unskippable combat animations; Repetitive, click-intensive unit selection; Convoluted puzzle and quest progression; Backtracking with slow travel; Tedious exploration with no character progression or combat
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: Even liking the story does not offset tedious backtracking and slow travel.; Preference for steady storytelling over obscure puzzle logic affects tolerance.; Strong visuals and world/lore do not resolve gameplay tedium.
- Player Archetypes:
  - Old-School Point-and-Click Veteran (buy)
    - Motivation: To relive and support classic 90s-style isometric point-and-click adventure design and its RPG-inflected storytelling.
    - Playstyle: Patient, dialogue- and puzzle-focused exploration; accepts slow pacing, obtuse design, and backtracking as genre hallmarks.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: point-and-click fan
    - Reference games: Fallout; Sanitarium; STASIS
  - Narrative-History Immersion Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: To immerse in a historically grounded South African story with emotional depth, politics, and war-veteran themes.
    - Playstyle: Exploratory and dialogue-driven; prioritizes story, atmosphere, and setting over efficient navigation or puzzle difficulty.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: historian
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Streamlined Adventure Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: To enjoy adventure-game narrative and exploration without excessive friction, unclear goals, or tedious navigation.
    - Playstyle: Goal-oriented and pace-sensitive; drops games when direction is unclear or travel and backtracking become repetitive.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Localization-Dependent Supporter (buy)
    - Motivation: To support the developer while waiting for a Chinese localization so the story and dialogue become understandable.
    - Playstyle: Story- and dialogue-oriented, but blocked by language; likely to engage fully only after localization.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Chinese player
    - Reference games: N/A


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:
- Gorgeous art and design (weight 0.82): The art, character design, and environments are consistently praised as gorgeous and detailed. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork and meticulous design.
- Outstanding visual style (weight 0.73): The visual style and artistic direction are described as breathtaking, with gorgeous visuals from start to finish. The game is visually impressive.
- Beautiful graphics praised (weight 0.73): Numerous reviews describe the game as visually stunning, with gorgeous scenery and a beautiful art style. The isometric rendered visuals and cutscenes receive particular praise.
- Engaging story and characters (weight 0.57): The story is often described as interesting, well-written, and exciting, with unique and memorable characters. Reviewers find the narrative compelling and the character development strong.
- Unique and immersive world (weight 0.54): The game world is frequently described as unique, strange, and fascinating, offering a captivating adventure. The atmosphere and environment are immersive and unlike anything else.
- Choices shape branching narrative (weight 0.53): Reviewers consistently highlight that player choices have real consequences and lead to multiple branching storylines and different endings. Many note the moral weight of decisions and the replay value this creates.
- Great soundtrack by Mick Gordon (weight 0.34): The soundtrack composed by Mick Gordon is widely praised for being fantastic and using African instruments. Many reviewers consider the music a standout feature.
- Memorable and original characters (weight 0.28): Characters are frequently called unique, memorable, and interesting to talk to, contributing to the game's charm.
- Excellent voice acting quality (weight 0.27): The voice acting is frequently commended for its high quality, adding depth and realism to the characters. Reviewers also appreciate the use of South African accents.
- Point-and-click adventure style (weight 0.23): Reviewers appreciate the modern take on classic isometric point-and-click adventure gameplay. It is considered one of the better point-and-click games played this year.
- Puzzle variety and difficulty (weight 0.23): The game offers a good variety of puzzles and minigames to diversify gameplay. Puzzles are described as challenging but not too difficult, with multiple solutions.
- Effective immersion and atmosphere (weight 0.23): The game is noted for its super immersive environment and fantastic atmosphere. The combination of music and visuals creates a unique and beautiful atmosphere.
- Unique and alien world design (weight 0.22): The world is described as very alien and unique, unlike anything else, with a strange and compelling setting.
- Intriguing and weird story (weight 0.2): The story is often described as intriguing, with a unique setting and an unusual apocalyptic theme.
- Strong character design (weight 0.2): The character design is fantastic and unique, with colorful and visually interesting characters.
- Good audio and sound design (weight 0.16): Beyond the soundtrack, the overall audio design and sound effects are highlighted as excellent, contributing to the game's atmosphere.
- Mesmerizing cutscenes (weight 0.08): The cutscenes are described as beautiful and mesmerizing, adding to the overall visual appeal.
- Clean and functional interface (weight 0.08): The interface is noted to be clean and works well, making the gameplay experience smooth.
- Excellent subtitles and translations (weight 0.07): Subtitles, particularly French, are praised for being excellently translated, enhancing the experience for non-English speakers.
- Better than previous Stasis (weight 0.07): Reviewers compare it favorably to the developer's previous game, Stasis, noting it as a better game overall.

Common complaints:
- Inconsistent voice acting quality (weight 0.23): Voice acting quality varies greatly between characters, with some performances being excellent while others are bland and emotionless. The main character and brother are often singled out as particularly weak.
- Game feels like a chore (weight 0.21): Players frequently compare the experience to a chore rather than an enjoyable game. The repetitive tasks and lack of engagement contribute to this feeling.
- Obtuse and convoluted puzzles (weight 0.19): Many players report puzzles are extremely obscure and rely on tenuous logic, often requiring excessive trial and error. Some puzzles are so convoluted they feel like looking for a needle in a haystack.
- Nearly unplayable without guide (weight 0.19): Numerous players state the game is almost impossible to complete without a third-party walkthrough or guide. They felt lost and stuck without external help.
- Gameplay severely lacking (weight 0.16): Reviewers describe the overall gameplay as atrocious, severely lacking, and a chore to endure. Many had to force themselves to continue playing.
- Excessive back-and-forth traversal (weight 0.16): Puzzle solving and questing require constant back-and-forth trips between locations. This incessant movement becomes tedious and time-consuming.
- Unclear next objectives (weight 0.16): Players often find it hard to determine what to do next without a guide. Objectives are vague and cryptic, leading to confusion.
- Boring and drawn-out gameplay (weight 0.13): The gameplay is often described as boring, tedious, and unnecessarily lengthy. Many players found it a slog to get through.
- Clunky and slow interface (weight 0.12): The user interface is frequently criticized as slow, clumsy, and inconvenient. Players find navigation and interaction cumbersome.
- Confusing and inexplicable ending (weight 0.12): The game's ending is widely described as confusing, hard to understand, and leaving more questions than answers. Many players found it nonsensical.
- Poorly described fetch quests (weight 0.09): Many quests are poorly explained fetch quests that detract from the game's potential. The lack of clear descriptions makes them frustrating.
- Players lost patience and quit (weight 0.09): Several players lost patience and could not finish the game, ultimately giving up. They cited frustration and lack of enjoyment.
- Missing modern QoL features (weight 0.09): The game lacks many quality-of-life features common in modern point-and-click adventures. This makes it feel dated and cumbersome.
- Poor progression triggers (weight 0.09): Progression sometimes requires talking to a character, leaving the area, and speaking to the same character again. This obtuse design confuses players.
- No quest log (weight 0.09): The absence of a quest log makes it easy to forget objectives between play sessions. Players desire this feature to track tasks.
- Lack of Chinese language support (weight 0.08): Some players note the absence of Chinese localization, which hinders their ability to enjoy the game. This limits accessibility for Chinese-speaking audiences.

Gameplay feedback:
- Point-and-click adventure gameplay (weight 0.56): Many reviewers describe the game as a classic point-and-click adventure, often with isometric perspective and item-searching mechanics. It is frequently characterized as a straightforward quest where players click to explore and interact.
- Choices affect story and endings (weight 0.41): Player choices are widely noted to influence character reactions, plot branching, and multiple endings. Reviewers highlight that decisions shape the narrative outcomes and lead to roughly four different endings.
- Isometric open-world exploration (weight 0.32): Reviewers frequently mention an isometric perspective combined with an open or pseudo-open world. The game offers a large, explorable environment from a third-person isometric viewpoint.
- Adventure with RPG elements (weight 0.3): Several reviews classify the game as an adventure or quest game that incorporates RPG-like elements or can pass as an RPG. It blends narrative exploration with puzzle-solving and character development.
- Minimal combat, exploration-focused (weight 0.27): Combat and shooting are not central to the experience, with reviewers emphasizing exploration over consistent fighting. Occasional combat appears as an arena event or late-game mini-game.
- Puzzle and item-search focus (weight 0.23): The gameplay heavily involves solving puzzles, searching for items, and combining objects to progress. Many describe it as a find-your-way puzzle game centered on exploration and item interaction.
- Dialogue tone choice system (weight 0.15): A dialogue system lets players choose between three tones: friendly, rude, or neutral. This mechanic is noted for affecting interactions and character responses.
- Karma system influences endings (weight 0.11): The game includes a karma meter or system that affects the ending. Reviewers note that moral choices tie into the karma mechanic and story outcomes.
- Heavy backtracking in quests (weight 0.11): Some reviewers describe the game as an adventure or quest with significant backtracking. This is mentioned as a notable aspect of the exploration and puzzle progression.

Performance notes:
- Good optimization and performance (weight 0.13): Clusters 2, 3, and 6 highlight that the game runs smoothly with good optimization, low resource consumption, and stable performance in 1440p at 85Hz. This indicates a well-optimized experience for most players.
- Autosave bug causes lost progress (weight 0.06): Cluster 5 reports that the autosave feature is sometimes bugged, resulting in the loss of three hours of progress when the game crashed. This is a critical issue that can severely impact player experience.
- Minor bugs but good polish (weight 0.05): Cluster 4 notes that very few minor bugs were encountered, and the game is otherwise well-polished. This suggests an overall high level of quality with only negligible issues.
- No critical problems reported (weight 0.05): Cluster 1 states that there are no critical problems with the game. This reinforces the positive reception regarding stability and functionality.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended by Many (weight 0.84): Numerous clusters express strong recommendations, often from players who enjoyed the game. This indicates a generally positive reception among those who appreciate story-driven or adventure games.
- Targeted at Specific Niche (weight 0.42): Several clusters mention that the game is best suited for fans of old-school point-and-click adventures, STASIS, or The Brotherhood's previous works. Others note it may not appeal to everyone, especially those expecting a full RPG or dislike getting stuck.
- Unique Setting and Story (weight 0.23): The game's unique science fiction setting and narrative depth are frequently praised, especially its South African influence. Many recommend it for the story and exploration.
- Polarizing Negative Reviews (weight 0.21): A few clusters give negative reviews, citing consistency issues, frustration, or simply not recommending the game. This highlights a divide in player opinions.
- Complex and Confusing Navigation (weight 0.15): Some players find the lack of direction frustrating, often getting lost or having to backtrack excessively. Using a guide is suggested to avoid wasting time.
- Technical and Quest Issues (weight 0.05): One cluster specifically mentions consistency issues with quest progression, voice acting, and UI, leading to a negative recommendation. This suggests some technical flaws that detract from the experience.
- Localization Request (weight 0.04): A cluster recommends that the developers add Chinese language support by contacting a localization group. This indicates a demand for broader language accessibility.
- Multiple Playthroughs Suggested (weight 0.04): One cluster advises that the game should be played multiple times to achieve the true ending. This suggests replay value for those who enjoy the game.
- Voice Acting Appreciation (weight 0.04): A cluster notes that players should not skip dialogue because the voice-over effort is high. This highlights the quality of voice acting as a positive aspect.

Other player notes:
- Comparison to Stasis (weight 0.29): The game is frequently compared to the developer's previous title, Stasis, with many noting it as an improvement or a similar experience. It is described as Stasis-like and refined from that game's concepts.
- Post-apocalyptic South African setting (weight 0.22): The game is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in South Africa, with distinct South African accents and cultural references. Developed by a South African studio.
- Visual and interface comparison to Fallout (weight 0.15): The game's graphics and interface style are compared to Fallout, especially the first two games. This gives a slight Fallout feel to the post-apocalyptic setting.
- Game length around 8-20 hours (weight 0.15): Reviewers report varying playtimes: some say about 8 hours, others 15 hours, and some up to 20 hours. This suggests different playstyles or completion levels.
- English voice-over and French subtitles (weight 0.14): The game includes English voice-over and audio, as well as French subtitles. This makes it accessible to a wider audience.
- Kickstarter-funded project (weight 0.14): The game was funded through a Kickstarter campaign, and some reviewers supported it on Kickstarter. This indicates a crowdfunded development.
- Genre mislabeled as RPG (weight 0.12): Several reviewers point out that the game is listed as an RPG in some places but is actually a point-and-click adventure game. This mislabeling causes confusion.
- Small indie studio development (weight 0.09): The game was developed by a smaller studio or small team as an indie game. This context is often mentioned in reviews.
- Multiple endings available (weight 0.09): There are four possible endings plus a hidden fifth ending, according to some reviewers. Others simply mention multiple endings.
- Open-world post-apocalyptic setting (weight 0.09): The game is set in an open-world post-apocalyptic world, according to some reviewers. This setting is a key aspect of the game.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players frequently report being unable to determine where to go next due to a lack of direction, vague objectives, and obtuse puzzles that often require random attempts or consulting a guide. The clunky interface, excessive backtracking, and incomplete quest tracking exacerbate the feeling of being stuck and wasting time.
- Disappointment (weight 0.14): Many found the game failed to meet expectations, citing a weak or non-existent plot, unsatisfying endings, and tedious gameplay that felt like a fetch-quest simulator. Technical issues, poor voice acting, and a lack of RPG elements also contributed to the letdown.
- Appreciation (weight 0.11): Players appreciated the game's unique South African setting, beautiful artwork, and fascinating world, along with its engaging story and moral choices. The soundtrack, voice acting, and multiple ways to solve quests were also highlighted as strengths.
- Boredom (weight 0.07): The gameplay often felt tedious, involving repetitive fetch quests, endless wandering through empty locations, and a lack of tension. Combat and item hunting were described as boring and drawn-out.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Many enjoyed the game's story, characters, and dialogue, which kept them engaged despite other issues. The art, voice acting, and atmosphere were also praised as highlights.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Players admired the game's stunning visuals, immersive environments, and high-quality art direction, often comparing it favorably to AAA productions. The detailed locations and character work were particularly impressive.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.03): Those who completed the game felt a sense of satisfaction from the steady progression, meaningful choices, and overall quality of the story and world. Supporting the developers and experiencing a well-crafted adventure was rewarding.
- Annoyance (weight 0.03): Annoyance stemmed from unclear traversal, vague objectives, and an inconvenient UI that required pixel hunting. Excessive backtracking and a lack of reliable indicators for interactive elements further irritated players.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): The engaging story, original plot, and interesting alien races kept players invested in the world and its characters. The dialogue and sci-fi elements contributed to a compelling experience.
- Confusion (weight 0.02): Players struggled to follow the complex story, often forgetting key details and feeling unsure of what to do next. The open-world design and unfamiliar terms made it hard to grasp the scenario and gameplay.
- Delight (weight 0.02): The unique setting, distinct South African flavor, and visually gorgeous presentation delighted players. The art, voice acting, and soundscape created a bewitching experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiastic players praised the game as a unique and entertaining adventure with branching storylines that encouraged multiple playthroughs. The rich story and meaningful choices made it a standout experience.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Some players expressed a desire for a sequel or a CRPG version to explore more of the world and enjoy deeper companion interactions. They wanted more of the game's universe and mechanics.
- Indifference (weight 0.01): Indifference arose when the story failed to grab players and the need for numerous items to progress became tedious. Some quickly lost interest in the fate of the main characters.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement was generated by the exploration of a post-apocalyptic Africa with narrative depth, unlocking new areas, and the imaginative world. Players looked forward to future projects from the developer.
- Intrigue (weight 0.01): The unique setting, mysterious opening, and interesting lore intrigued players, drawing them into the adventure. The non-banal plot and characters encountered along the way kept their attention.
- Disinterest (weight 0.01): Disinterest occurred when players could not determine next steps, found puzzle logic tenuous, and the story insufficiently compelling. Nothing in the game kept them interested.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players loved the imaginative setting, creative characters, and the dystopian sci-fi story. The voice acting, art style, and companion P00CH were particularly cherished.
- Immersion (weight 0.01): Immersion was enhanced by realistic details like snow footsteps, a progressive story with meaningful choices, and a fitting soundtrack. The South African accents and sound design contributed to a believable atmosphere.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation stemmed from the desire to discover more of the game, play more the next day, and explore the world. Some had waited years for the game and were eager for more from the developer.}