Proteus

 PlayStation 3
Proteus Image
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 53 Ratings

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  • Summary: Proteus is a minimalist game of pure exploration and sublime discovery in a musical wilderness environment. There are no challenges and no goals other than those set by the player. A reactive audio mixing system allows the player to explore the environment as music.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 13
  3. Negative: 2 out of 13
  1. Atomix
    Feb 8, 2015
    85
    Proteus gives a very particular sensory experience. Even if it's virtual, it won't be hard to forget it. After turning on the screen we won't be able to feel nothing but melancholy.
  2. 4Players.de
    Nov 4, 2013
    85
    If Dear Esther is a dark audiobook, Proteus is an interactive painting. Small things combine to build a living world.
  3. GameCritics
    Nov 26, 2014
    80
    It becomes like a dream, and when it concludes, players will wake up refreshed. They will not be able to perfectly describe what they've just experienced, but the feeling and memories will linger.
  4. PlaySense
    Nov 27, 2013
    75
    Proteus is a game without a clear goal. In fact, we're not sure whether there is a purpose to it at all. You're just wandering around a deserted island, that is generated at random for every new playthrough. Still, in a strange way, Proteus is very satisfying and not just because there are Trophies to earn. It's a bizarre, relaxed experience, though it definitely isn't for everyone.
  5. XGN
    Jan 3, 2014
    75
    Proteus is a magnificent experience. Side note is that only a select group of people will enjoy playing this strange, interactive title.
  6. Vandal
    Nov 4, 2013
    70
    It is something focused on the audience that wants to try something different. It's unique, and that means not everyone will like it. If you like what you see, probably it deserves a try.
  7. The Digital Fix
    Nov 27, 2013
    30
    Proteus is an example of a point somewhere on the outskirts of creativity, towards the backend of an ever larger golden spiral. Unfortunately, this bright spark of difference, the uniqueness and the distance from the middle doesn’t guarantee success. In this case what we have here is failure.

See all 13 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 10 out of 16
  1. Antiquecardboar
    May 18, 2016
    10
    A transfixing game. The aesthetic ambiance is beautiful and meaningful. No stress. Just the wonder of exploring and feeling the seasons changeA transfixing game. The aesthetic ambiance is beautiful and meaningful. No stress. Just the wonder of exploring and feeling the seasons change around you. The theme of this game is "time". I wish more people could appreciate this game. Video games are a lot of things: entertainment, puzzles, challenges, etc... This game is medicine. It calms your soul. People who hate on this game are like bullies who pick on the quiet, sensitive kid in the back...not realizing the he is one of the few that truly "gets it". Genius game. Please enjoy it for what it is: a masterpiece. I applaud the creators.… Expand
  2. Kinnyth
    Aug 22, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As most have said this is a bizarre game, but to me in a good way. What most don't understand though is its mysterious. Like when you climb a mountain and find the demonic-like statues in a circle or the awesome rune stone circle at night that speeds up the timeframe and transports you to another world. If you stand still long enough you can start to float all the way up into the sky. I want to know if there's more here, I get a strange sense of wonder and adventure. Sometimes I even get that spooky child-like feeling of "is there something behind me?" or when my controller vibrates for some unknown reason even when I never bump into anything. I loved it, its great for those who want to just let go for a minute.… Expand
  4. Linus117
    Nov 9, 2013
    7
    Proteus offers a unique experience. The lack of conventional 'gameplay' or objectives was a bit hard to get used to, but obviously that's aProteus offers a unique experience. The lack of conventional 'gameplay' or objectives was a bit hard to get used to, but obviously that's a very subjective experience. I would definitely recommend checking this out if you're into artistic indie games that are not necessarily all about the gameplay.… Expand
  5. Tokyochuchu
    Aug 16, 2014
    4
    Proteus is fun for fifteen minutes and has a few cool graphical moments... But ultimately there is nothing to actually do in the game. NoProteus is fun for fifteen minutes and has a few cool graphical moments... But ultimately there is nothing to actually do in the game. No problem for a game priced at 3 bucks, but Proteus goes for 14. It simply is not worth the money it asks for.… Expand
  6. BaronMonaco
    Oct 20, 2014
    2
    I apologize for any mistakes, I'm french and my English is far from perfect.

    I played this game thanks to the PS+ subscription but I'll be    I apologize for any mistakes, I'm french and my English is far from perfect.

    I played this game thanks to the PS+ subscription but I'll be reviewing it like if i paid its full price as it is no longer free to download. I would also like to add that i like indies ovni (like Doki Doki Universe or Flower for examples) and if i didn't like Proteus it is not because "you can't shoot anyone and its bad graphics".
    I personally didn't understand on myself the point of this "game" and that's basically the whole reason this doesn't feel as a game but more as an experience in psychology school : "Here you have that, now what will you do ? We'll monitoring your actions from the other room" should be the only use of Proteus. And finally i hated almost everything in its artistic direction, except the colours, specially the musics that are awful, i was expecting something relaxing and almost poetic but instead it's like a 6 years old child playing with a very old musical software (my girlfriend actually made me cut the sound, that's how annoying it was).
    To conclude i think Proteus has been a very bad publicity for the indie games, a genre that has a lot more to offer than this "almost nothing" of game that will be boring after 15 minutes (personally i deleted the game after 50 minutes "playing"). Not worth the time nor the money.    … Expand
  7. VonSeux
    Dec 10, 2014
    2
    A visual experience that will last for 15... 20 minutes. After that there's nothing to see, unless you're on some psychology test. It'sA visual experience that will last for 15... 20 minutes. After that there's nothing to see, unless you're on some psychology test. It's interesting, but it's only value is FREE.… Expand
  8. Budomen
    Mar 7, 2018
    0
    This is not a game. It is some kind of interactive picture. I don't like it.

See all 16 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

78
#78 Best PS3 Game of 2013
79
#79 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2013