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[Roberts]

All the videos that I have seen before don't really prepare you for how freaking gorgeous the game really looks. Fidelity, lighting and the overall atmosphere is one of a kind - it really feels like a true current gen game in motion. And it doesn't even have HDR. Yes, it is nothing much more than a tech demo disguised as a puzzle game, but there is something really immersive about walking through these yucky corridors and spaces and that alone makes me curious about where it is going to take me next. And if that doesn't interest you, I could totally see how somebody could be bored out of his wits playing this. So far the puzzles have been relatively easy and weirdly intuitive considering there is no hand holding at all and the game doesn't really give you any specific goals. I'm glad a game like this exists - we need more niche games that, instead of capitalising on popular trends, lets us into the minds of these weirdo developers and their fucked up imagination.

 

[Lasha]

Yea I don’t get it. Like what, Myst would receive a 1/10 today?

I saw a reviewer said he was breaking his head for hours for the puzzles, while others says they’re too easy..

Like wtf is this.

It’s so polarizing that I will buy it on Steam. I just know that most big fucking review houses just want hand holding and brain dead things like painted ledges to know where to climb/jump, narrative to spell it for you what’s going on, à GPS for objectives, a pause and explanation for every items/abilities you receive… then it’s a 10 isn’t it? Sprinkle some cinematic wannabe shit in there and it’s a masterpiece.

They’re mentally challenged

Watching reviewers and streamers play Scorn was a frustrating experience. I was baffled at how stuck the personalities were when faced with rudimentary puzzles that I figured out on sight. Modern gaming culture really isn't configured to deal with sandboxes or actual puzzles.

What I saw of Scorn didn't appeal to me. The combat looks awful to the point that I was unclear why fighting back is possible. Puzzles seemed to be simple with backtracking through the odd looking environment. Gamepass is the only reason I will try Scorn since I can check out the art risk free.

 

[Balducci30]

Hated the medium, will likely hate this - they can do better than these weird super niche games

 

[adamsapple]

All the videos that I have seen before don't really prepare you for how freaking gorgeous the game really looks. Fidelity, lighting and the overall atmosphere is one of a kind - it really feels like a true current gen game in motion. And it doesn't even have HDR. Yes, it is nothing much more than a tech demo disguised as a puzzle game, but there is something really immersive about walking through these yucky corridors and spaces and that alone makes me curious about where it is going to take me next. And if that doesn't interest you, I could totally see how somebody could be bored out of his wits playing this. So far the puzzles have been relatively easy and weirdly intuitive considering there is no hand holding at all and the game doesn't really give you any specific goals. I'm glad a game like this exists - we need more niche games that instead of capitalising on popular trends lets us into the minds of these weirdo developers and their fucked up imagination.

Visually, it is one of the most interesting games in a while. Yes, it's very derivative of Giger art, but realistically how many games emulate it so well.

I'm impressed at how many environments look like I'm playing through hand-drawn concept art.

 

[Bartski]

Just beat it in one sitting. Clear as day why it's so polarising. I haven't seen a single review yet but I'll check some tomorrow. My 2 cents:

Amazing AAA art direction. Not as much Giger for interiors and architectural detail but Beksinski influence for everything else. As a fan, awe-inspiring stuff.

Same goes for audio. I may be biased here 'cause I know the guy who did most of it but it was truly something else.

It's much more of a puzzle walking sim than a shooter which it clearly never aspired to be. It's really neither of those things but something in between.

It's abstract, even a bit too much for its own good. I'm not talking about an average Joe who hates it 'cause it doesn't play like Doom but its actual target audience.

No hand-holding whatsoever, no hud, no dialog. You have no idea who you are or what is really going on. Many examples of games that do it to great effect, but it doesn't hurt if as you go deeper you get a vague sense of a goal or purpose. Here you just push forward till the very end, and then it's over. As if all focus here was making Scorn an impressionistic setpiece nightmare trip through biomechanic hell rather than a game with underlining cohesive environmental storytelling...
Or maybe it's there but just flew over my head. Does a trip like this need clear motivation? I've had an amazing evening just taking it all in.

 

[Elder Legend]

Just beat it in one sitting. Clear as day why it's so polarising. I haven't seen a single review yet but I'll check some tomorrow. My 2 cents:

Amazing AAA art direction. Not as much Giger for interiors and architectural detail but Beksinski influence for everything else. As a fan, awe-inspiring stuff.

Same goes for audio. I may be biased here 'cause I know the guy who did most of it but it was truly something else.

It's much more of a puzzle walking sim than a shooter which it clearly never aspired to be. It's really neither of those things but something in between.

It's abstract, even a bit too much for its own good. I'm not talking about an average Joe who hates it 'cause it doesn't play like Doom but its actual target audience.

No hand-holding whatsoever, no hud, no dialog. You have no idea who you are or what is really going on. Many examples of games that do it to great effect, but it doesn't hurt if as you go deeper you get a vague sense of a goal or purpose. Here you just push forward till the very end, and then it's over. As if all focus here was making Scorn an impressionistic setpiece nightmare trip through biomechanic hell rather than a game with underlining cohesive environmental storytelling...
Or maybe it's there but just flew over my head. Does a trip like this need clear motivation? I've had an amazing evening just taking it all in.

Our review agrees with you lol.

 

[Gambit2483]

Would anyone actually pay $60 for this? $50? $40??

If Gamepass didn't exist I have a hard time believing this game would even exist...that's not a good thing moving forward

 

[bender]

Would anyone actually pay $60 for this? $50? $40??

If Gamepass didn't exist I have a hard time believing this game would even exist...that's not a good thing moving forward

It was a Kickstarter project from 2014.

 

[Gambit2483]

It was a Kickstarter project from 2014.

That would (most likely) have stayed in purgatory if not for Gamepass, is my point.

 

[adamsapple]

Would anyone actually pay $60 for this? $50? $40??

If Gamepass didn't exist I have a hard time believing this game would even exist...that's not a good thing moving forward

That would (most likely) have stayed in purgatory if not for Gamepass, is my point.

Wait, how is the game being saved from purgatory because of game pass, as you say, not a good thing ?

The game would literally not ever release if it wasn't for the service in that case...

 

[bender]

That would (most likely) have stayed in purgatory if not for Gamepass, is my point.

You can go look at the project data to answer you first series of questions. 5,600+ backers at an average of €34. I'm also struggling to understand how finding additional funding revenues is a bad thing.

 

[poppabk]

Would anyone actually pay $60 for this? $50? $40??

If Gamepass didn't exist I have a hard time believing this game would even exist...that's not a good thing moving forward

Gamepass isn't going away don't worry, MS are 100% committed.

 

[Gambit2483]

Wait, how is the game being saved from purgatory because of game pass, as you say, not a good thing ?

The game would literally not ever release if it wasn't for the service in that case...

I don't want to pay $15 a month for 70% of games that normally I'd never buy/play.

Being saved despite being mediocre to provide filler/padding is not what I want to see out of a videogame subscription service...

 

[bender]

I don't want to pay $15 a month for 70% of games that normally I'd never buy/play.

Being saved despite being mediocre to provide filler/padding is not what I want to see out of a videogame subscription service...

Having interest in 120 games (30% of 400) still seems like a pretty good deal.

 

[Markio128]

What does Starfield have to do with Scorn ?

They're not even published by the same studios ..

It’s an Xbox game that I’m genuinely pumped for, which should have been released in a few weeks. Instead we have been graced with Scorn. Apologies for letting my bitterness seep into this thread.

 

[Roberts]

Visually, it is one of the most interesting games in a while. Yes, it's very derivative of Giger art, but realistically how many games emulate it so well.

I'm impressed at how many environments look like I'm playing through hand-drawn concept art.

Yup. It does indeed feel like you are inside a 3D concept drawing. And I don’t think I ever experienced something like this in any other game.

 

[adamsapple]

I don't want to pay $15 a month for 70% of games that normally I'd never buy/play.

Being saved despite being mediocre to provide filler/padding is not what I want to see out of a videogame subscription service...

I mean, you can always choose to sub/unsub based on a monthly basis depending on if there's nothing coming out that interests you.

But if the existence of a service means that experimental games like this get a safe release venue, on top of everything else it offers, it's a net positive.

Having interest in 120 games (30% of 400) still seems like a pretty good deal.

True. Even if you only find 1/4th of games on any given service of interest, that's still content for year(s) to keep you occupied.

 

[Magic Carpet]

Ive done about 2 or 3 hours and the first 3 puzzles and now Im stuck with nothing else to manipulate.
Game is kinda Gross. Lots of dead naked bodies everywhere. I think I might have opened the wrong side of the grate and cant undo it. Ive missed something somewhere already. Game does not have HDR. This is a big missing graphic I would have expected. Everything instead looks flat and washed out.

 

[Gambit2483]

I mean, you can always choose to sub/unsub based on a monthly basis depending on if there's nothing coming out that interests you.

But if the existence of a service means that experimental games like this get a safe release venue, on top of everything else it offers, it's a net positive.

True. I subbed back in May when I picked up my Xbox Series X but I've been questioning if that $15 a month has been worth it so far...Scorn isn't exactly winning me over, nor has Grounded or As Dusk Fall....Idk, I'll keep it till end of year but shit does it feel like a bum deal so far...

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Played 30 minutes and uninstalled, it's super gorgeous but I had zero idea what I was doing.

 

[killatopak]

Ngl I am disappointed. This is one of my anticipated games.

 

[bender]

If this game was VR enabled and released in the 80s, Jeffrey Dahmer may have never become a serial killer.

 

[Gambit2483]

Having interest in 120 games (30% of 400) still seems like a pretty good deal.

I agree to an extent...which Is why I still have the service. I didnt make my comment just to crap on the game, just express my very real disappointment thus far.

 

[bender]

I agree to an extent...which Is why I still have the service. I didnt make my comment just to crap on the game, just express my very real disappointment thus far.

If I weren't using Microsoft Rewards, I probably only subscribe to Gamepass for a month or two a year so I get it.

 

[adamsapple]

If I weren't using Microsoft Rewards, I probably only subscribe to Gamepass for a month or two a year so I get it.

I always recommend people use the CDKeys Gold codes and convert to GPU, you get 36 months of GPU for less than $100. Doesn't get any better than that.

 

[Buggy Loop]

This is the only game I’ve ever played that’s given me motion sickness.

Maybe it’s all the penises?

Installing now.

 

[bender]

I always recommend people use the CDKeys Gold codes and convert to GPU, you get 36 months of GPU for less than $100. Doesn't get any better than that.

I earn about 18,000 rewards points per month and 3 months of GPU is 35,000.

 

[poppabk]

I don't want to pay $15 a month for 70% of games that normally I'd never buy/play.

Being saved despite being mediocre to provide filler/padding is not what I want to see out of a videogame subscription service...

You may not have enjoyed it but other people will. The idea that there is an homogenized ideal AAA 90% type game that is the only thing worth playing is one of the worst things in gaming right now.
Quality games that don't appeal to a broad audience is exactly what we should want from a subscription service, it's basically the main advantage.

 

[adamsapple]

You may not have enjoyed it but other people will. The idea that there is an homogenized ideal AAA 90% type game that is the only thing worth playing is one of the worst things in gaming right now.
Quality games that don't appeal to a broad audience is exactly what we should want from a subscription service, it's basically the main advantage.

Well said. Let's be honest, using this game, Scorn, as an example. If it wasn't on an easily accessible sub service, it wouldn't be getting nearly as much chatter over the socials as it is. It would go down as another game that reviewed in the 70's that barely anyone would have known about.

 

[Trazyn the Infinite]

Well said. Let's be honest, using this game, Scorn, as an example. If it wasn't on an easily accessible sub service, it wouldn't be getting nearly as much chatter over the socials as it is. It would go down as another game that reviewed in the 70's that barely anyone would have known about.

Yep. I could not recommend this game at its current price - but on GamePass? Absolutely I can recommend it. I really enjoyed my time with the game, but it is NOT worth 39.99.

 

[bluecowboys]

The game looks okay. Will try it since it is in game pass. The medium got around a
70 average in review scores and I thought it was a good game but flawed.

 

[Pimpollo818]

Played 30 minutes and uninstalled, it's super gorgeous but I had zero idea what I was doing.

sounds like me. I walked down samey looking corridors, found multiple locked doors, my eyes felt heavy, nearly fell asleep

 

[Beechos]

This shouldve been made in vr the atmosphere and eeriness of being alone in the world wouldve been great.

Vr fingering all the control mechanisms in this game wouldve gotten people moist lol

 

[Aguero9320]

If Gamepass didn't exist I have a hard time believing this game would even exist...that's not a good thing moving forward

Don't mean to be rude, but I literally hate this opinion

You can see from the thread that some people are really enjoying it, some aren't too but that's okay. I say this from a position of knowing I will never play it - it's not for me, and I didn't need reviews to know that, but it's great to see different types of games having the opportunity to a) exist and b) reach a potentially much bigger audience than they would ever reach as a cash transaction.

Good on Microsoft for supporting independent development like this. You don't have to play it. I don't want Gamepass to be just sequels to, or reskinned versions of the last blockbuster (now in Japan!) - yes I want AAA too, but I had a blast this month playing Tinkykin and Beacon Pines. Two games I would never have played without Gamepass, and I'm better off for it. I haven't played a single blockbuster on PS+ but I did play Stray (also not for me but I'm glad it exists) and I'm currently replaying Rayman Legends even though I finished it years ago because it's a great drop in, drop out game. Subscription services have revitalised gaming for me, and not because of their AAA content.

 

[Buggy Loop]

Loved what I played so far. Graphics are insane. On ultrawide I took so many screenshots, never seen something quite like this. Up to act III no. Can’t wait to play again.

 

[Northeastmonk]

I’ve been playing on my Steam Deck. Went down to 30% battery life after half an hour. I’ll have to mess with the settings in order to optimize things. It looks great.

 

[jimmypython]

i got the motion sickness also but turning off motion blur helped a little. The puzzle designs are bit off for me…I need more hints

 

[ShinFuYux]

So, the gist that I'm getting form these reviews is that the game is pretty and creative but the gameplay and everything else is pointless and non-existent story.

 

[Northeastmonk]

So, the gist that I'm getting form these reviews is that the game is pretty and creative but the gameplay and everything else is pointless and non-existent story.

It’s very obtuse. I think an average person might get super annoyed by how obtuse this is. I’m starting to yawn at Act 1’s puzzle. This feels like taking me to an art gallery and telling me all about the meaning to some random painting.

I hate to sound sour, but I’m getting kinda tired of it. They need to make it a bit more enjoyable and not some giant puzzle. It would be a lot better had they made things a lot more meaningful. All I’m doing is walking aimlessly, pulling and pushing whatever. In my 30+ years of gaming, this isn’t fun for me. I had a much better experience with Death Stranding.

 

[Ocean Dweller]

Jason Scorn

 

[Jim Ryan other Clone]

It legit looks like Giger paintings throughout. It's pretty amazing actually. I'd love to know what he thought if he were still around.

Also looks pretty great on an ultrawide.

Why everyone is sharing the same 3 pictures, is there no more places to be?

 

[Jim Ryan other Clone]

Oh I know, it's an incredibly transparent post. I want the user to at least say what they want to openly.

You have to practice the same transparency also yourself and say what you want to say openly. Not just placating everything Microsoft related.

 

[dugdug]

I do wonder and I posted this elsewhere, whether people give up on games too easily because they tried them on GamePass and didn't have to spend money on them outside of the subscription cost that they've already paid.

This is me. I’ve had an Xbox series X for about a year and a half and literally haven’t finished a single game on it.

 

[yet_another_alt]

It's pretty lackluster so far. The art style is great but after 30 minutes I stopped paying attention. Puzzles are pretty easy, it's an insult to Myst how so many people are comparing them. It's really making me wonder how people are having problems solving them. Combat is terrible. It's kinda understandable why it's bad given the setting and your character but I just want to get to the next brain-dead, switch-flipping, crane-moving puzzle so I can see the next samey looking area to see where all this is going.

 

[MatrixReloaded101]

I hate when games just drop you in without explaining the controls or anything. You end up wasting so much time walking around trying to firgure out what to do.

Delete and on to the next game …

 

[sankt-Antonio]

Im actually interested, is this ever going to release on PS5?

 

[geary]

 

[DenchDeckard]

Just beat it in one sitting. Clear as day why it's so polarising. I haven't seen a single review yet but I'll check some tomorrow. My 2 cents:

Amazing AAA art direction. Not as much Giger for interiors and architectural detail but Beksinski influence for everything else. As a fan, awe-inspiring stuff.

Same goes for audio. I may be biased here 'cause I know the guy who did most of it but it was truly something else.

It's much more of a puzzle walking sim than a shooter which it clearly never aspired to be. It's really neither of those things but something in between.

It's abstract, even a bit too much for its own good. I'm not talking about an average Joe who hates it 'cause it doesn't play like Doom but its actual target audience.

No hand-holding whatsoever, no hud, no dialog. You have no idea who you are or what is really going on. Many examples of games that do it to great effect, but it doesn't hurt if as you go deeper you get a vague sense of a goal or purpose. Here you just push forward till the very end, and then it's over. As if all focus here was making Scorn an impressionistic setpiece nightmare trip through biomechanic hell rather than a game with underlining cohesive environmental storytelling...
Or maybe it's there but just flew over my head. Does a trip like this need clear motivation? I've had an amazing evening just taking it all in.

These are all the reasons I am loving it, apart from clunky combat.

I am literally in the world. I am almost born to what the fuck is happening in this horrifying place and just left to pace around to try and make some sense of it.

I think it's very clever and outside of the clunky combat is right up my street. Sure the puzzles aren't difficult but it's doing the job of driving me forward with a sense of achievement and then I'm just in awe at the art direction and my feeling of pacing through this strange alien planet that at times feels like hell.

I'm deffo leaning on the side of this is a great experience but each to their own.

I completely agree with skill up here. Props to the devs on doing their thing and creating something that can't be pigeon holed in this stale cutty cutter games industry. Major props.

 

[Negotiator101]

Im actually interested, is this ever going to release on PS5?

Hopefully, I am finding it interesting but it's not always obvious what to do next, at least for me. Graphics are very nice as well.

 

[Sorne]

I LOOOOVE the atmosphere and all the really beautiful environments in this game.

I can see why it's a polarizing game, thinking this is a AAA shooter, hand holding and catered to people with the attention span of a 5 year old.

This game is more of a interactive experience, and if you expected anything more than this, it's on you.

I think I'm about 3 hours in or so. Gonna try and finish it this weekend. Nice and short.