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The Invincible - first-person retro future sci-fi thriller based on Stanislaw Lem
- Thread starter toro
- Start date
Beowulf
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2015
- Messages
- 1,967
In the book it was the top of the line new hardware and the science was accurate or extrapolating on what's know (as is commonly encountered in Lem's works). But the developer decided to go for this faux retro aesthetic hoping to get on the glorious soviet era cosmos exploration train.
The demo showed that this is just another linear walking sim with button prompts to keep the player engaged.
toughasnails
Guest
Eh, the visuals are "catchy" and do make this game distinct from other SF walking sims.
And these do appear to be semi-official Lem-aesthetics at this point. What I mean that p much all the covers for his translations in my language are done in a vaguely retro SF style or a reproducing the old cover art. And looking at the English editions over at Amazon, this appears to be the case for many of them as well.
And these do appear to be semi-official Lem-aesthetics at this point. What I mean that p much all the covers for his translations in my language are done in a vaguely retro SF style or a reproducing the old cover art. And looking at the English editions over at Amazon, this appears to be the case for many of them as well.
everything was better in the 60sEh, the visuals are "catchy" and do make this game distinct from other SF walking sims.
And these do appear to be semi-official Lem-aesthetics at this point. What I mean that p much all the covers for his translations in my language are done in a vaguely retro SF style or a reproducing the old cover art. And looking at the English editions over at Amazon, this appears to be the case for many of them as well.
Playing with 8 GB RAM and 3 GB VRAM on my old rig aka living room popamole machine, and it's smooth like a butter (though looks like it too).
Naraya
Arcane
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2009
- Messages
- 3,897
Ok, tried playing a bit more as friend told me it has nice gfx for my 4090.
Maybe spoilers.
Implied lesbian relationship with older scientist woman.
Sad feminist story about said older scientist woman being deprived by death from being first female astrogator.
Uninstalled again
I bet this game script went trough one of those canadian woke consulting companies.
Maybe spoilers.
Implied lesbian relationship with older scientist woman.
Sad feminist story about said older scientist woman being deprived by death from being first female astrogator.
Uninstalled again
I bet this game script went trough one of those canadian woke consulting companies.
Naraya
Arcane
As far as I remember (but correct me if I'm wrong) there were zero females in Lem's book. It's a brilliant and innovative idea, not to mention one that EVERYONE asked for, to introduce a female protagonist, female scientists and slap a lesbian sticker on top. Motherfuckers.
It doesn't seem to be all that successful. I wonder why?
It doesn't seem to be all that successful. I wonder why?
So basically a reskin of Amnesia: Rebirth. I'd say 'hard pass' if my interest in this wasn't nil to begin with.
Beowulf
Arcane
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2015
- Messages
- 1,967
Spaceship crews at that time were constructed in most sci-fi works as being analogues to sailing ships crews, which didn't (and still mostly don't) have female sailors.
But the times are changing and we have female astronauts on space ship crews so I don't mind including them in game.
But as usual, it's the quality of the implementation that counts - if the character is written as a cliche stronk women trope just to satisfy the gaming journos and woke score, then I will rate it poorly.
As for the steam charts - it's not necessary about female protagonist, but more about this game being a boring walking sim I guess, and the writing is not enough to cover for the extremely shallow gameplay of the genre.
But the times are changing and we have female astronauts on space ship crews so I don't mind including them in game.
But as usual, it's the quality of the implementation that counts - if the character is written as a cliche stronk women trope just to satisfy the gaming journos and woke score, then I will rate it poorly.
As for the steam charts - it's not necessary about female protagonist, but more about this game being a boring walking sim I guess, and the writing is not enough to cover for the extremely shallow gameplay of the genre.
Last edited:
toughasnails
Guest
So, is it true that they don't even use the official anthem of Lemistics?
Neuromancer
Augur
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2018
- Messages
- 1,238
From the trailer it was clear, that there would be a woman protagonist.
As Beowulf said, this could have worked, if the character had been written in a good way. (I can't comment on Lem, since I haven't read the novel.)
But the shit you experienced and constantly talking protagonists are the final nail in the coffin.
So thanks for the warning!
I can skip this one.
lightbane
Arcane
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2008
- Messages
- 10,208
I don't get why devs keep blowing this up. A woman protagonist can work, but apparently you can't have friendships anymore, due the Message or whatever. People of the same sex being together MUST be gay. You can check this in any modern work.
Wokes must be lonely people.
Wokes must be lonely people.
In my playthrough she never mentioned she was lesbian or was in a relationship with anybody.
Anyway, I finished. It's a decent walking sim if you're into walking sims (otherwise avoid). The protagonist talks WAY TOO MUCH, but the game has a pleasant atmosphere and an interesting story (I didn't read the book, so that's why, I guess). It made me realize I read too little of Lem too, I need to pick him up again.
There's plenty of walking, but later mostly driving. Not much gameplay though, it's listening to dialogues and doing simple tasks. No shit jumpscares fortunately though, it's just a pure sci-fi story, though with some 'action'. There's also a lot of choices, but I'm pretty sure they are all fake and stuff would happen the same if I chose differently.
The only thing I complain is that amount of dialogues and monologues, but other than that it's an alright walking sim. Took me 9 hours to finish. An okay experience overall.
Anyway, I finished. It's a decent walking sim if you're into walking sims (otherwise avoid). The protagonist talks WAY TOO MUCH, but the game has a pleasant atmosphere and an interesting story (I didn't read the book, so that's why, I guess). It made me realize I read too little of Lem too, I need to pick him up again.
There's plenty of walking, but later mostly driving. Not much gameplay though, it's listening to dialogues and doing simple tasks. No shit jumpscares fortunately though, it's just a pure sci-fi story, though with some 'action'. There's also a lot of choices, but I'm pretty sure they are all fake and stuff would happen the same if I chose differently.
The only thing I complain is that amount of dialogues and monologues, but other than that it's an alright walking sim. Took me 9 hours to finish. An okay experience overall.
This seems very common now regardless of the game. Often the damn talking interrupts periods when silence is needed, like reading through a document or something. The constant jabbering, Jesus H.
- Joined
- Dec 14, 2009
- Messages
- 3,897
There's a woman as protagonist. Do you really expect a woman to just shut up?
Last edited:
Iucounu
Educated
- Joined
- Jul 4, 2023
- Messages
- 620
Speaking of innovation, there's a line in the game about an NPC becoming "the first female astrogator"...
Van-d-all
Erudite
Finished it yesterday. 6h. Sadly I think it's rather meh, and I actually like walking sims (finished most popular ones). It's pretty much Firewatch in space - walk around, talk through radio, read some lore. There are driving sections but they barely differ from walking.
The story is virtually a copy paste of Lem's book, down to some details (like the bitten soap). There are some choices, but most of them are about achievements, as there are just 3 effective endings, all of which seem to be an outcomes of a final dialogue/section. Gameplay wise, IMO it does a better job than recently released Scorn (and many others), as it doesn't try to "gamify" a walking sim by adding pointless stealth or pseudo shooting sections with janky mechanics.
There are some decent philosophical dialogues, but like the visual style, they are stuck in this '60s retro futurism, in which robots are effectively thoughtless automatons often stuck in their programming. From that standpoint, the whole premise and idea of nanomachines does sound futuristic, but honestly in modern day and age they mostly present archaic viewpoints.
The art style, much in vein of Alien Isolation and slightly Brethedge, presents a nice vision of Lem's future, full of gauges and knobs. Graphics technically, are decent at scale - distant mountains and rock formations do look picturesque, but at the same time, for majority of the game it's just one lengthy, rocky tunnel with outdated visuals - almost flat geometry with visibly tiled texture, and some occasional 3d rocks here and there. Speaking of textures, many objects are mapped poorly with textures stretched on entire sides. Metallic structures being the prime offenders. Most of work is just dumped on engine, up to a point where every setting can be cranked to Epic, and still look weird because the models are not up the task.
Music is decent, an ambient/electronic fitting enough to sound good, but nothing special to write about. It's no Lustmord like in Scorn.
Al in all, a decent game but I sure expected more, especially in terms of original plot and graphical technicalities.
The story is virtually a copy paste of Lem's book, down to some details (like the bitten soap). There are some choices, but most of them are about achievements, as there are just 3 effective endings, all of which seem to be an outcomes of a final dialogue/section. Gameplay wise, IMO it does a better job than recently released Scorn (and many others), as it doesn't try to "gamify" a walking sim by adding pointless stealth or pseudo shooting sections with janky mechanics.
There are some decent philosophical dialogues, but like the visual style, they are stuck in this '60s retro futurism, in which robots are effectively thoughtless automatons often stuck in their programming. From that standpoint, the whole premise and idea of nanomachines does sound futuristic, but honestly in modern day and age they mostly present archaic viewpoints.
The art style, much in vein of Alien Isolation and slightly Brethedge, presents a nice vision of Lem's future, full of gauges and knobs. Graphics technically, are decent at scale - distant mountains and rock formations do look picturesque, but at the same time, for majority of the game it's just one lengthy, rocky tunnel with outdated visuals - almost flat geometry with visibly tiled texture, and some occasional 3d rocks here and there. Speaking of textures, many objects are mapped poorly with textures stretched on entire sides. Metallic structures being the prime offenders. Most of work is just dumped on engine, up to a point where every setting can be cranked to Epic, and still look weird because the models are not up the task.
Music is decent, an ambient/electronic fitting enough to sound good, but nothing special to write about. It's no Lustmord like in Scorn.
Al in all, a decent game but I sure expected more, especially in terms of original plot and graphical technicalities.
Azdul
Magister
When you hear audio recordings of real Apollo-13 crew - it is pretty obvious that they were chosen for the ability to keep calm in ANY circumstances - and to not talk to mission control about irrelevant, private stuff when time is of the essence.
Lem protagonists are similar - calm, collected engineers - with internal monologue that does not really translate well to the screen.
Hollywood adaptation of Apollo-13 had to make astronauts 10000% more emotional - to make it somewhat watchable for average folk.
The game had to do the same - that's why we have a woman - to make it more like horror/slasher instead of dry, hard SF. Of course she need to be 'strong and independent' - because even Soviet Union knew better than sending hysterical housewives into space.
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