Covenant: Project Zero

Covenant: Project Zero brings back some of the good vibes from the time when storytelling was the most important aspect of adventure game, and when games inspired player with nice original artwork and music to do some footwork in order to uncover a story that lies behind it. of course, there is some challenge in it for the arcade gamer, as well as number of puzzles to solve, however this game is primarily a nice story-driven adventure, reminiscent of the golden age of point-click adventures from the glory days of Amiga, with rich stories, graphics and music, and that is the best way to approach and enjoy it. i definitely recommend it.

[i][b]tl;dr: A flawed but ambitious indie adventure game with a captivating sci-fi story, retro aesthetics, and lackluster combat, held back by technical issues. Despite its shortcomings, the narrative depth and passion of the developers shine through[/b][/i] [h3]Review[/h3] There's something inherently charming about a small indie team pouring their vision into a game that blends adventure with dashes of RPG and shooting elements. However, despite the store pages promising ad-text, this game doesn't feel so much as a soap opera but a put-it-all-in B-movie, with a story that could have easily filled twice the games length, if explored thoroughly. This is not a bad thing by design but I could feel that, in the end, I was craving for more. More explanation, more exploration, more exposition ─ but less combat. Really. [hr][/hr] The prologue starts with a chain of mundane fetch quests. John Covenant, an ex-soldier turned starship captain and main-character, is doing weirdly basic tasks as someone who actually has authority on a space vessel. Sure, it works quite well to explore the ship and get to know the crew but I do think both could have been handled in a better way, like, calling everyone to the conference room? I wouldn't mention it if the prologue wasn't so [i]uninteresting[/i], so much so that I actually considered not playing any further. However, a look into the codex felt like the saving grace: lore, plenty of it. Maybe even a bit too much. The story recap, without giving everything away is this: War between multiple nations wreaked havoc on late 22nd century earth. While big corporations sold their weapons to every faction, they secretly plotted a plan to overtake the blue planet, creating an armed corporatocracy. Also, space faring was invented but the universe, despite finding smaller lifeforms, didn't seem to offer any intelligent race despite humans. Now, to keep the balance in check, said corporations refer to espionage, creating the endless cold war. Captain John Covenant fought for the losing side and is now looking to earn his money with jobs of varying degrees of legality. Of course, one of these jobs ─ your main mission ─ could possibly mean the end of life as we know it. Also, Tyranids. Or Necrons? Not exactly both of them but I was instantly reminded of their typical flavors. For a game this indie, the story would have been absurdly epic, if it wasn't crammed into such a short game. Remember as a kid, when you wrote something on a piece of paper, you always started in the middle, with big, bold letters. Then, reaching the end, you noticed how little space there was left but the words had to come out, so the letters became smaller and smaller, until parts of the message were hard to read and understand; I'd really loved for Covenant to be the very large piece of paper because the story was what kept me going, apart from the retro aesthetics and unique artstyle in some of the short cutscenes. [hr][/hr] Combat however felt very lacking. Like, a basic version of an action game but you have to try really hard to get killed. Aside from the final fight, there wasn't a challenge to combat. Agents from every corporation, didn't mean business but running in circles, shooting lasers, kept coming at me over and over again. There are special duck-and-cover situations as well, but these happened only twice throughout my playthrough. Killing the last boss was the only tough situation I encountered in-game yet that wasn't the real challenge. Instead, I came across a couple of bugs. Some of them were only minor spelling mistakes or grammar issues; it was obvious from the start that the development team didn't natively speak English but that didn't have any major impact. What did were enemies, stuck in geometry, outside of camera range. I couldn't kill them so the camera did not reset, forcing me to reload the game. Another time, I triggered a quest ending but neither took the quest in the first place nor got a useful explanation for what I actually achieved. A thing of beauty was the laser beam of the final boss that created a major graphic bug or artifact. It seems like the assets weren't all deleted and so I watched my credits roll with a rather unique overlay: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3218642434 [hr][/hr] [h3]Conclusion[/h3] Covenant: Project Zero clearly was a passion project of a small development team. I'm glad I kept playing for roughly four hours before the credits rolled, despite the amount of question marks that were still floating around my head. Maybe the final achievement "The End... Or is it?" was more than just a nod to a particular well-known franchise and there is a part two in the making? Even if there isn't, there is plenty to enjoy here, especially if you like adventure with great retro vibes. The story, while at times feeling totally underdeveloped, really made up for the subpar combat and a small army of bugs. Next time, just ditch the combat, ditch the side quests and solely focus on the epic plot. [code][i]If you like reviews about indie games, consider joining [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/indiestructible]INDIEstructible[/url] and follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41972991/]my curations[/url].

Covenant: Project Zero is a game centered around a sci-fi space quest line. as the Captain of the ship you have to take your crew through the awesome journey of fighting multiple factions and enemies who try to stop you. The game has one of the friendliest user interfaces where you can track your missions and progress , its a 2.5D game that has genuinely a good feeling , the controls are nice and the game mechanics are easy to learn with time , mainly you need to keep moving while fighting to avoid getting hit , and never forget to use your batteries to recharge your shield. Some quests need puzzle solving or strategies to win them so take a good look on the environment you may find things that help , the game has many side quests and they are as fun as the main story . The developers are active and always pushing updates to the game , from little tweaks to bug fixing , after playing the game for some time i can say that its worth it and you can have many hours of enjoyable time playing it..

A big little indie. Covenant is a p&c adventure-meets a top-down 2d shooter, with a retro console look & feel. Pretty zen until the action starts, and then it can get dicey! The game has a pretty sweet soundtrack, stylish art, good amount of playtime, some classic sci-fi tropes, and is quite polished and gamepad friendly. I wish the player char would move just a [i]little[/i] faster as there are lots of miles to cover across some big and beautiful locations, especially later in the game. Overall - a quality way to shave a few hours from existential pain and another good choice for the indie gamer crowds. 4/5 stars for this great effort!

I'm only a few chapters in but so far i highly recommend this game. The art, music, and gameplay combine to a really atmospheric experience. The story is intriguing and action is fun. If you're a fan of shoot em ups, point and click adventures, or solid original stories, this has it.

[b] Project Zero [/b] successfully blends RPG elements with its action-adventure gameplay. The multiple equipments allowed me to customize the character to my preferred playstyle. The game offered a vast universe to explore, filled with engaging side quests and memorable encounters. [u] RPG lovers won't be disappointed. [/u]

Covenant: Project Zero effortlessly channels the nostalgia of storytelling-focused adventure games, taking players on a captivating journey of discovery. With its original artwork and enchanting music, the game creates an immersive experience that encourages exploration to uncover its intriguing story. While offering challenges for arcade gamers and a variety of puzzles, it shines as a story-driven adventure, reminiscent of the golden age of point-and-click games. Its rich narratives, stunning graphics, and mesmerizing music make it a must-play for fans of the genre. I wholeheartedly recommend this nostalgic gem.

As a seasoned gamer, This game satisfied my craving for an epic space adventure. The combat mechanics were challenging yet rewarding. The game truly captured the essence of a space opera. It's a must-play for any serious gamer.

I enjoyed playing Project Zero during my downtime. The storyline was intriguing, and I appreciated the immersive space and worlds. The controls were easy to pick up, and I didn't feel overwhelmed by the gameplay. It's a solid choice for a relaxed gaming experience.

Covenant: Project Zero is a love letter to science fiction fans. The attention to detail in the lore and world-building is remarkable. The game delves into complex themes and levels, providing a thought-provoking experience. It's a game that sci-fi enthusiasts like me will deeply appreciate.