''Storm'' is a

puzzle A puzzle is a game, problem, or toy that tests a person's ingenuity or knowledge. In a puzzle, the solver is expected to put pieces together ( or take them apart) in a logical way, in order to find the solution of the puzzle. There are differe ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed by

Eko Software Eko Software is a French video game developer A video game developer is a software developer specializing in video game development – the process and related disciplines of creating video games. A game developer can range from one person who ...

and published by

Neko Entertainment Neko Entertainment was a French video game developer and video game publisher, publisher located in a suburb of Paris, France. It was founded in 1999. Neko's productions are based on an evolutionary development platform for 3D consoles called th ...

for the

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

version, and

IndiePub indiePub Entertainment, Inc. (formerly Zoo Entertainment, Inc.) was a publisher of video games based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. History Zoo Games was a wholly owned subsidiary of Zoo Entertainment originally known as DFTW Merger Sub, I ...

for the console versions. The game was released on June 14, 2013, for the

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

, June 18, 2013, for the

PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...

, and June 27, 2013, for Microsoft Windows.

Gameplay

In the game, players control a small seed-like character as they navigate through levels set in a world of

wind Wind is the natural movement of atmosphere of Earth, air or other gases relative to a planetary surface, planet's surface. Winds occur on a range of scales, from thunderstorm flows lasting tens of minutes, to local breezes generated by heatin ...

rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...

, and other natural elements. The primary objective of ''Storm'' is to manipulate the environment to guide the seed to its destination, often requiring players to solve intricate puzzles and overcome obstacles along the way. The gameplay mechanics of ''Storm'' revolve around the manipulation of weather elements such as

lightning Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...

and

snow Snow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water througho ...

. Players can alter the direction and strength of the wind, create rain clouds to water plants and grow vegetation, and harness lightning to activate certain mechanisms. ''Storm'' offers a non-linear approach to progression, allowing players to tackle levels in any order they choose. Players can discover new ways to interact with the environment and solve puzzles.

Reception

The Xbox 360 and PC versions of ''Storm'' received "mixed or average" reviews, whereas the PlayStation 3 version of the game received "generally unfavorable" reviews according to

review aggregator A review aggregator is a system that collects reviews and ratings of products and services, such as films, books, video games, music, software, hardware, or cars. This system then stores the reviews to be used for supporting a website where user ...

Metacritic Metacritic is an American website that aggregates reviews of films, television shows, music albums, video games, and formerly books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted average). Metacritic was created ...

. Benjamin Schmädig for ''

4Players ''4P'', formerly known as ''4Players'', is a German online magazine that provides news and reviews of video games and related content. Established in August 2000, ''4Players'' is owned by the Hamburg-based company 4Players GmbH, an indirect subs ...

'' rated the game 73%, stating that "although I now find independent games based on physics puzzles to be a tiring trend, I really enjoyed experimenting with the elements of nature!" Both ''

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

'' ''Italy'' and ''Germany'' rated the game 7/10. the Italian version stated that "''Storm'' is an interesting puzzler suitable for gamers in search of a relaxing, “new age” experience." The German version stated that "the first two thirds are a contemplative puzzler with dreamy art direction, beguiling music and sound effects you can turn off, should you so desire. It's a small idea, but one worth playing. Had the developers withstood the urge to go a bit overboard with the action in the last bits, this would have been a really great brain-teaser." Pard Madrid for '' Gamereactor Sweden'' rated the game 6/10, stating that ''Storm'' is "not the perfect mixture between Braid and Flower we were hoping for." Kevin Schaller for ''

GameRevolution Mandatory (formerly CraveOnline Media) is a lifestyle website based in Los Angeles with sales offices in New York City, Chicago and San Francisco. The site is owned by media company Evolve Media, LLC. Mandatory focuses its contents into the male ...

'' rated the game 4/10, stating that "this concept behind ''Storm'' does have potential, but until it feels more controlled and less like an irritating crapshoot, I'm going to have to pass." Matthew Sielaff for ''

IGN ''IGN'' is an American video gaming and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa district and is headed by its former e ...

'' rated the game 4/10, stating that "unfortunately, the frustrating aspects of ''Storm'' outweigh the enjoyable ones, and while it brings some interesting features to the table, there’s not enough going on here to make me ever want to play this game again, or recommend it."

References

{{reflist

External links

''Storm''
at

MobyGames MobyGames is a commercial website that catalogs information on video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controlle ...

2013 video games Eko Software games Neko Entertainment games PlayStation 3 games PlayStation Network games Puzzle video games Video games developed in France Windows games Xbox 360 games Xbox 360 Live Arcade games Single-player video games