Celestial Return

It pains me to write this. I was really excited about this game- the aesthetic, the premise, and the gameplay all were really compelling to me, and I'd been keeping an eye on it so I could snatch it on release. Unfortunately, the game is riddled with graphical bugs and errors (including one where the game simply doesn't render in full-screen). But perhaps more unforgivably, much of the writing seems to have been handled by a large language model (AI). As other reviewers have noted, it's full of "not this, but that" and overwrought similes and metaphors that I would consider to be low quality prose even if it is written by a human being. For a game that's supposed to be carried by its writing and story, that's a no-go on launch for me. I could barely make it through the first level before calling it quits.

So, not really someone who plays these types of games, but I was hooked by the art. A little less than an hour into it, I feel like this is going to be a very slow burn to the end. The pacing is fine generally no complaints but just the way it's going I can see why these types of games can turn people off. That said if you like the slow progression of character development as you yoursellf explore this world, and the minor seeming inconsequential actions that play into the bigger pictuer type games, then this could fit the bill. I can feel myself slowly getting invested, and just need something to take me over the deep end

Celestial Return is a very thoughtful game with a story that I cannot stop reading. It questions society, reality, and personal motives with an art style and music that are an integral part of it all. The story is an investigative gem that progresses like real life in that you do not know everything or see every aspect of an event and your choices really do matter. If you choose to do one thing versus another when offered options, you later learn that certain things you would like to know are now unattainable because of your earlier choices. The dice system is a major part of your making choices. It honestly does make the game more fun. There are just actual dialog choices but the options with more depth and a greater chance of learning things you need to know require a roll. You have to choose your dice as each type has strengths and weaknesses built into them and your supply is limited at times as the ones you roll are then gone. You have to pay attention to dialog and parse out the nuances to reach conclusions about what is really being said by characters. Characters are individuals with their own problems and relationships and backstories, which you pick up along the way. Howard is a very relatable protagonist and I like him a lot, even with his flaws. You can put some of your own character into him by the choices you make for him. Rose as his companion is very interesting and there is a lot about her that I don't understand yet but it is good to have mystery in your mystery. The "side" characters are very well developed, too. I have followed Celestial Return from its earliest days and I am a Kickstarter backer. I've played the demos and watched it change and grow into what I think is a real masterpiece. I have to admit that even I was surprised at just how amazing it turned out. The people at Metaphor Games have really put their hearts into this game. I highly recommend Celestial Return!

Steam recommended this to me and I thought it was a roguelike card game. It is not that. Celestial Return is a dice-driven cyberpunk narrative RPG combining Disco Elysium's inner-monologue writing crossed with Cyberpunk 2077's neon sleaze, plus a streak of body-horror grotesquerie lifted from the nastier end of seinen manga. Too many ideas on paper but it somehow holds together. Four hours in, so early impressions only, but it's got its hooks in. The dice checks make it feel nervy and precarious, and the tone is grimy and melancholy in a way that reads as deliberate, not edgy-for-its-own-sake. But what baffles me is I'd never heard a word about this. I read the blogs, the reviews, the "indies you missed" lists and nothing. Either the best-kept secret on the store or a real miss by the games press. So far one of the most distinctive things I've played in ages.

This is a masterpiece i feel guilty for paying so little for. The writing , presentation, music and soundtrack are all sublime. its been a little rough around the egde's from a launch day perspective but the dev has also been very fast to patch any issues and bugs that have come up. its a 9/10, add some things like font sizes and font choices (open dyslexic would be a huge asset) and a few accessibility options and it would be perfect, it still is well worth your time regardless and im kinda splitting hairs and been and unexpected gem of the year for me.

Celestial Return immediately caught my attention with its intriguing story. It kept me curious from the beginning, and I genuinely wanted to see what would happen next. The soundtrack is another highlight—it fits the atmosphere perfectly and really enhances the overall experience. It's obvious that a lot of passion, care, and hard work went into this game. Every part feels thoughtfully crafted, and that level of dedication really shows. I'm excited to see what this team creates next because I'm confident they have a bright future ahead of them. Wishing the developers all the success they deserve!

So I backed on kickstarter a while ago and got some early playtime for my troble. As such I can say Celestial return is what was promised. The atmosphereis phenomenal the gritty grunge done in such a way that it feel real but not over the top. The dice system is fun, fighing your hoarding/ loss advertion insitic feels visaral. The story and dialog is top notch, I love all the characters I've encountered. My only critisiums is that this game is kinda short im guessing less than 10 hours, I say this only becuse I want more of this writing injected into my Veins. Do you like Citezen sleeper, pick this up. Are you a story head with love of atomsphere, pick this up. 12 bucks is not unreasonable for what is on offer here, I'd view it like a cheaper movie ticket. Buy this game, I want some DLC

Celestial Return is an impressive and highly atmospheric experience. From the very beginning, its distinctive visual style, carefully designed world, and strong sense of identity immediately draw you in. What impressed me most was how successfully the game combines its dark science-fiction setting with a unique artistic direction. The environments, characters, and overall visual language feel cohesive, original, and full of personality. It is clear that a great deal of care and creative effort went into every detail. The game does not feel like a generic production. It has its own voice, its own mood, and a world that stays with you after you stop playing. The storytelling, atmosphere, and presentation work together extremely well. A remarkable achievement by a talented independent team. I truly enjoyed Celestial Return and strongly recommend it to players who appreciate story-driven games, distinctive artwork, and immersive worlds.

A Era Disco é novamente uma realidade. Dessa vez, com inúmeros jogos inspirados na obra-prima Disco Elysium. Felizmente todos os que joguei até hoje têm qualidade dignas da alcunha discolike. Acompanhamos a história do detetive Howard na desconfortável cidade de Netherveil. Sua antiga expertise em seres anômalos chamados de Abstratos o coloca em uma investigação que começa como um favor e se transforma em sobrevivência Análise completa: https://www.vailogarhoje.com/post/review-celestial-return

First of all, I am kickstarter backer. Atmosphere & Art: The artwork is truly fantastic and highly unique. The dark theme of each character really gets under your skin. My only minor wish is that I could dive deeper into the world because some locations look so beautiful, but you can only view them from a distance for now! :( :( Story: The mystery kept me completely hooked. The pacing starts a bit slow, but the devil is in the details. The overall narrative progression feels very promising. Mechanics & Devs: As a Kickstarter indie project, I wasn't expecting groundbreaking mechanics, and what's here is more than enough and varied for a game of this scale. More importantly, the frequent updates show that the developers are pouring their passion into this project and will never stop improving it. It’s rare to find a sci-fi game crafted with this much care and attention to detail. I highly recommend fans of the genre give it a shot. It’s absolutely worth it!