The Invincible

The Invincible might have a strong inspiration in the 1964 novel, but every time it attempts to make it more interesting as an interactive experience it ends up doing the opposite.

The Invincible is a spectacular adaptation of Stanisław Lem's book, but it's limited in terms of what you can do in it, and the impact on the story you have.

An admirable adaptation of a classic sci-fi story, despite a few stumbles.

The Invincible is an engaging sci-fi adventure that can leave you cold and confused the moment it stops holding your hand.

The Invincible has a wondrous story to tell and dazzling graphics to match, but it's held back from greatness by gameplay that struggles to ever break away from the genre structure of old. Mostly walking and talking, it never feels anything more than serviceable. Still, there's an interesting narrative to experience, and with your own decisions changing events, The Invincible should still be played by sci-fi fanatics.

Annoyances and bugs aside, The Invincible is as bold and smart as its protagonist, and I can only hope it starts a trend of equally thoughtful takes on big ideas from history and literature.

In short, The Invincible is a relatively comfortable experience that I could recommend to fans of thrillers and science fiction. I don't think it could be scratching an itch for horror fans specifically because it certainly doesn't have much going for it when it comes to cosmic horror. Still, its twists and turns can leave an impact on those seeking a psychological thriller, especially with the kind of questions it poses at the end.

But even with a few technical hiccups, checkpoint woes, and a sense that maybe going this big with such an intimate game wasn’t the best choice, The Invincible is an enjoyable experience. The Invincible is a '60s sci-fi novel brought to life that is best suited for those who love to get nerdy about hard science and love that retro sci-fi aesthetic. More casual fans will likely find plenty to enjoy with the game, but they should know that this a game about getting immersed in a world that wants to tell a story instead of the usual space-faring adventure shtick. When The Invincible gets its hooks in players, it can be a narrative experience that is thrilling, thought-provoking, and worth the ride.

I desperately wanted to enjoy The Invincible more than I did. Unfortunately, it never grabbed me the way I expected. Yes, it is beautiful, and the audio was fantastic. Furthermore, I adore the protagonist and her plight. However, its gameplay is distinctly mixed and this was unfortunate. Yet, despite my disappointment, it is unique and unusual, and I recommend giving it a chance by buying it here! Can you piece together the mystery? Explore your surroundings, solve the puzzles, and discover a strange alien world.

The evocative setting and chunky Soviet hardware feel lifted from the page, but everything else is, unfortunately, worsened for making the journey from literature to game.