Close to the Sun

 PlayStation 4
Close to the Sun Image
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

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  • Summary: It’s 1897. Deep in international waters, the Helios stands still. An unbound utopia for scientific research, born of Nikola Tesla’s vision. Journalist Rose Archer steps aboard in search of her sister Ada, quickly to discover not all is as it seems. The stench of rotting flesh lingers in theIt’s 1897. Deep in international waters, the Helios stands still. An unbound utopia for scientific research, born of Nikola Tesla’s vision. Journalist Rose Archer steps aboard in search of her sister Ada, quickly to discover not all is as it seems. The stench of rotting flesh lingers in the air. Silence. A single word is painted across the entrance… QUARANTINE!… Expand
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Close To The Sun - Gamescom 2018 Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Video Chums
    Nov 14, 2019
    80
    If you like first-person adventure games of the horror and mystery variety then you'll definitely enjoy Close to the Sun.
  2. PlaySense
    Nov 14, 2019
    75
    Combining BioShock's focus on exploration with the tense chases of Outlast, Close to the Sun delivers an intriguing alternate history in a detailed, believable setting. It's not perfect though: puzzles are often way too easy and the game at times refuses to register your button inputs.
  3. PSX Extreme
    Dec 5, 2019
    75
    Close to the Sun is an experience that I enjoyed but I also found myself wanting a bit more out of. The environments look fantastic and presentation was on point. Despite a few technical glitches. And while interesting, the story did fall a bit flat at times and seemed a bit rushed at others. I did enjoy my time with it though and especially enjoyed seeing what could have been possible if history had taken a different route. If you’re into the genre, like alternate history, or appreciate a well done style and tone, then I say go for it. It was a cool trip.
  4. God is a Geek
    Oct 29, 2019
    70
    Close to the Sun is a smart narrative adventure, but some of its elements ruin the tension of its well-crafted world.
  5. PlayStation Country
    Nov 3, 2019
    70
    Close to the Sun is a well-made narrative experience that's saddled slightly by inconsistent pacing. The acting is spot on but some of the earlier sub-plots tend to quietly slip away in favour of something games have readily explored. It's a very guided effort but there's a level of polish and artwork that helps make the Helios a believable venue for disaster.
  6. Push Square
    Oct 29, 2019
    60
    With plenty of comparisons to BioShock just screaming to be made, Close to the Sun has some massive expectations to hurdle right from the outset. While it can’t quite avoid feeling like a tribute act at times, it does seem to be making all the right moves in its opening chapters, tantalising you with an effective blend of atmosphere and mystery. But when it comes time to make good on that promise and seal the deal, it misses the mark with frustrating frequency. While some nicely designed environments, and a scattering of enjoyable puzzles stop this ship from sinking without a trace, Close to the Sun doesn’t manage to reach the lofty heights of ambition it’s clearly aiming for.
  7. PlayStation Universe
    Oct 29, 2019
    55
    A frequently beautiful and atmospheric horror effort boasting an evocative setting, Close to the Sun finds itself almost wholly undone by plodding exploration, eye-rolling puzzles and detestably sloppy chase sections that utterly fail to exploit the game's strengths.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 5
  3. Negative: 2 out of 5
  1. rickdonnie
    Jun 26, 2020
    6
    The gameplay is not great and finally, the game lacks of real gameplay. Puzzles, well, the same here. Graphics are good, the game looks great.The gameplay is not great and finally, the game lacks of real gameplay. Puzzles, well, the same here. Graphics are good, the game looks great. The set and everything looks a lot like Bioshock, and it was clear from the start. Is it a rip off? No, it tells its own story, and that's good. The story and by extension, of course, the game, are pretty short. Nothing impressive by any mean, but it can keeps you entertained during your playthrough, and maybe after that you'll want to play Bioshock 1 and 2 again.… Expand
  2. angelknives
    Jan 14, 2021
    6
    This looked like it'd be right up my ally, the design, the concept, it's nothing new, but it is exactly what I enjoy. But Close to the SunThis looked like it'd be right up my ally, the design, the concept, it's nothing new, but it is exactly what I enjoy. But Close to the Sun just didn't scratch that itch for me. The story is incredibly predictable, and never lives up to its promising premise. The environments are gorgeous (though on the ps4 the graphics have this strange blurriness to them), and look enticing to explore, but exploration is almost never rewarded.
    This game completely restricts your movements, meaning you never feel like you're exploring the place, just being shown around by the game. That makes you feel completely disconnected from the main character. Besides exploration, the game has a few action moments, but they all fall flat. The mechanics are janky and the enemies ridiculous. And speaking of ridiculous, the game manages to boil down an interesting mystery about time bleeding throughout the ship to a fight against boring enemies.
    I think the game would have done better to stay a mystery about time experiments, with no enemies running after you and more to explore.    … Expand
  4. inmh
    Sep 5, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not the worst game I've ever played, but certainly not the best.

    The running/chasing function is screwed (in particular, the chase in Flowers of Persephone is damn near game-breaking), the story and characters are thin, and the voice-acting for Rose in particular was... Not great. I also cringed at how a lot of Rose and Ada's dialogue came off as weirdly modern for 1897, very little attempt to write/portray the characters as speaking the way people would have at the turn of the last century. It was even worse in contrast to Tesla and Aubrey, who speak at least in a way that wouldn't be totally out of place.

    And I'm sorry, but I'm gonna be That Gal and say it: They ripped a LOT off from Bioshock, from the font they used for the title to the use of Greek Gods in the names of the levels, to the fact that Helios is supposed to be a refuge for scientists/actors/what have you to be uninhibited by society, to the fact that the Voice Over the Radio double-crosses you...

    They COULD have had all of these things and had it be similar to Bioshock, while being its own game. They COULD have. But as I said before, the story and characters are far too weak and underdeveloped to stand on their own, which makes the Bioshock references and aesthetic stick out even more.

    The best I can say for this game is that it had a decently creepy atmosphere and was not totally boring.    … Expand
  5. Liamcorotted
    Jan 2, 2021
    4
    Close to the sun is a survival horror game that lacks in all areas, borderline walking simulator. Cool idea for great atmosphere. Just anotherClose to the sun is a survival horror game that lacks in all areas, borderline walking simulator. Cool idea for great atmosphere. Just another failed horror game.… Expand
  6. Nobilis1984
    Nov 2, 2019
    1
    A nice walking simulator that is very boring. The horror elements are out of place and disturb the fun. The animation is also ridiculous.
    Why    A nice walking simulator that is very boring. The horror elements are out of place and disturb the fun. The animation is also ridiculous.
    Why does the beautiful game have to break so bad?    … Expand

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