Resonance – A Stunning Student-Made Unreal Engine 5 Adventure That Feels AAA
Sometimes a student project comes along that looks and feel every bit as ambitious as large publishers, big-budget AAA game – Resonance is such a rare gem. This third-person adventure, designed as a graduation project from LISAA – The Higher Institute of Applied Arts, is sure to lead players through the surreal but affecting world of Vestige.
The Story:
An Alien Explorer and a Sleeping Giant
In Resonance, you are an alien explorer who stumbles upon a strange signal on a hostile planet.
Driven by curiosity, you venture into the signal and find the remains of a highly advanced robotic culture. But there are repercussions to your discovery — your being here rouses a giant robot overlord who is lying dormant in the wreckage.
What ensues is not merely a struggle for survival, but the unlikely friendship of two very different entities together.
Game Details
Game Details
- Platform: PC (Windows)
- Engine: Unreal Engine 5
- Genre: Third-Person Adventure
- Status: Released
- Rating: ⭐ 4.8 / 5 (16 ratings)
- Made With: Unreal Engine 5, ZBrush, 3ds Max, Photoshop, Substance Painter & Designer
The Creative Team
Resonance is a labor of love from a collaborative team of independant artists and game developers:
- Concept Artist: Léa Sandeau
- Character Artist: Louise Lagravère
- Environment Artists: Fanny Cormier, Manon Micouleau, Louise Fretard
- Tech Artist: Damien Richard
- Cinematic Artist: Arthur Cossevin
- Music Composer: Bastien Nectoux
This small team has somehow crafted a product that many players are saying is better than most full-price games available today.
Visuals, Sound & Atmosphere
The game has been acclaimed for its stunning visuals, the immersive world it creates and the movie-like storytelling. Or the cut from the immense outdoor landscapes to entering this trencho wretched old ruin, which is also sometimes cited as one of your favorite moments, like the big dramatic grand hall entrance into a room with that robot in it.
The sound design and music score don’t just enhance the experience; they add a moody, emotional weight to the game — a rarity even in AAA games.
Performance & Technical Notes
As you'd expect from a UE5-powered game, Resonance might require quite a lot of your hardware. Players with RTX 3080s get a snug performance at the 1440p bracket (once they tweak things), while others are running into issues getting the game to boot on less powerful cards.
According to community feedback, the game could add:
- Adjustable graphics settings
- DLSS or FSR upscaling
- Optimization for mid-range GPUs
Community Reactions
Resonance has been very well received by the internet community, with many requests for the game to be expanded:
“This has the POTENTIAL to be a FULL GAME. “We’re students — I can’t even believe this.”
"Everything about this game is top notch, better than 90% of the first-party games you see out there today. I'd happily be paying $70 - $80 for a game of this standard."
“The setting, the artstyle, the cinematography — top tier like in a high dollar AAA game. Incredible work!"
There have also been some constructive criticisms, however:
- Broken controls on QWERTY for some players (Working on AZERTY)
- Fewer download mirrors, harder for access
- No menu in-game or quit button
With all those drawbacks, it’s still managed to touch players around the world.
Final Thoughts
Resonance is more than a student project — it’s a peek at the future of indie game development. The team’s effort is up there with big studio work in terms of visuals and storytelling. Passion and artistry go a long way, if nothing else.
Many players are already hoping the team will get funded or set up a Kickstarter to turn this demo into a full-length commercial release. If this is just the start, these developers have a ton to look forward to.
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