why is this game having so many bad reviews?

[HorowitzCarilla]

when i scroll donw on the main page almost all the reviews are bad, i dont get it.

[qbicfeet]

Because it's a very polarizing type of game and depending on your expectations regarding story, progress and puzzle variety might disappoint you.

Steam's 2h refund policy also makes many people quickly judge it without getting too far into it and makes many miss out on things that could have possibly swayed their opinion.

[Snake]

I think it's getting bad reviews because it was too defensive about its secrets and its true nature. In this day and age you have to at least tease people about the depth your game has beyond what everyone sees in trailers and screenshots and hears about in reviews - panel puzzles.

If professional reviewers were given a little more leeway to give some proper hints about the nature of the game that goes beyond the panels and the snaking lines, about the whole bubbling cauldron of mystery and secrets within secrets that exist well outside of those endless puzzle panels, the game I imagine would have both sold better and would have been better accepted by the general audience.

I understand Blow wants to keep this aspect of the game as unspoiled as possible but you need to tell your audience that it IS there. And chances are you will NOT find it within Steam's 2-hour refund window and will not read about it in the review articles.

[The Renderer]

Actually most reviews are positive (81% currently), I don't know how Steam choses which ones it shows on the main page.

[HorowitzCarilla]

Originally posted by The Renderer:

Actually most reviews are positive (81% currently), I don't know how Steam choses which ones it shows on the main page.

it chooses the more voted ones... so they are there for that reason

[Erling Braut Haaland]

Beacause people don't do research on what they buy. They expect the game to be what they want it to be, and since it is not they feel obliged to give negative review and refund it. I say judge the game for what it is(A damn good puzzle game) instead of what you want it to be.

[Snarke]

Think of it like this. Everyone who enjoyed the game are busy playing it, while those who hate it feel it is their duty to go downvote or upvote reviews which fit their sensibilities. Its's the same mentality that leads to those weird metacritic ratings for games like call of duty. The developer is also infamous among certain communities on the internet so the pitchforks are out in full force.

[Curious Duck]

Originally posted by harypotr:

Beacause people don't do research on what they buy. They expect the game to be what they want it to be, and since it is not they feel obliged to give negative review and refund it. I say judge the game for what it is(A damn good puzzle game) instead of what you want it to be.

A thousand times this. The amount of times I've seen people refunding a game because they are too stupid to research stuff that's on the store page, or even look at videos and information outside of the steam network.

[Graham]

They must be blind to not like the game!

[Enzi]

Just like Braid and every other good puzzle game, The Witness peels away layer upon layer and getting more complex in the process. Starting with simple panel puzzles it gets more complicated with usage of environment, perspective and machineries.

Oh, and can we say that panel puzzles are only the tip of the iceberg?

I'm looking at you, rainy cloud. I knew you where good for something.

The more you wander around the more you'll find. I'm more than happy with the game and I'm glad that it didn't turn into a Myst clone.

[Phade]

See, after seeing the negative reviews, I realized this game isnt one I want to get. This isnt be saying the game is bad or anything, its just i'm not interested in doing those panel puzzles. ill stuck to talos principle.

[HasarD]

Ariana Grande would never say such a thing.

[Phade]

Originally posted by HasarD:

Ariana Grande would never say such a thing. :llama:

Thats true. she'd say "I HATE AMERICA" (Which I dont)

[Pothocket]

Originally posted by Ariana Grande:

See, after seeing the negative reviews, I realized this game isnt one I want to get. This isnt be saying the game is bad or anything, its just i'm not interested in doing those panel puzzles. ill stuck to talos principle.

Have you considered the possibility that those reviews... simply don't know what they're talking about?

My thoughts first day I played this game: Really? Just panels?

My thoughts second day I played: I was blind but now I see

The refund window is only two hours and you cannot get the full scope what this game really is from just two hours. Impossible.

[Trivvy™]

You only have to read the reviews to understand why they left a bad review... That's kind of the point.

Whether you agree or not with their reasons is up to you.

[Phade]

Originally posted by Pothocket:

Originally posted by Ariana Grande:

See, after seeing the negative reviews, I realized this game isnt one I want to get. This isnt be saying the game is bad or anything, its just i'm not interested in doing those panel puzzles. ill stuck to talos principle.

Have you considered the possibility that those reviews... simply don't know what they're talking about?

My thoughts first day I played this game: Really? Just panels?

My thoughts second day I played: I was blind but now I see

The refund window is only two hours and you cannot get the full scope what this game really is from just two hours. Impossible.

I will watch a playthrgough to see if the puzzles change, and if they do ill definitely give it a try.