- Classic survival horror homage with engaging gameplay
- Compelling story, characters, and strong atmosphere
- Outstanding music and well-designed puzzles
- Low overall game difficulty noted by players
- Flexible camera and control options available
- Highly recommended for survival horror fans
Emotions
Players felt satisfied by the game's successful homage to classic survival horror, its well-executed atmosphere, soundtrack, and art style, and the overall quality of its various elements like controls, puzzles, and combat. The game's ability to meet or exceed expectations, offer replayability, and provide customization options also contributed to this positive emotion.
Excitement stemmed from the game delivering a classic survival horror experience, the engaging combat, and the anticipation of playing more of the game to uncover secrets and explore different endings. The overall quality and replayability further fueled this desire for continued engagement.
Love for the game was driven by its retro aesthetic, engaging puzzles, and atmospheric music. Players also appreciated the developer's thoughtful inclusion of options to toggle 'OG Silent Hill jank,' demonstrating a deep understanding and respect for the genre's roots.
Enjoyment was primarily derived from the game's captivating story, memorable characters, and effective environmental storytelling. The atmospheric music, engaging puzzles, and the thrill of discovering easter eggs and references also significantly contributed to a positive overall experience.
Players felt engaged by the game's compelling world, intriguing plot, and overarching mystery. The handcrafted feel of the game, combined with its nostalgic essence, music, puzzles, and secrets, effectively kept players hooked and invested in the experience.
Verdict
Mostly positive
Summary
Positive 98% · Negative 2%. Score: 2 / 100
Positives:
- Players consistently praise the game as a heartfelt homage to classic PS1/PS2 era survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. It successfully captures the nostalgic essence while still establishing its own unique identity and story.
- The game is widely enjoyed for its engaging gameplay, solid design, and overall fun factor. Players appreciate the active combat, well-crafted details, and the compelling nature that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- The story is a significant highlight, described as great, intriguing, and compelling. Players are hooked by the narrative, which masterfully explores deep themes like grief and loss through the main character, Sam, whose journey resonates strongly.
- The music and soundtrack are frequently highlighted as exceptional, stellar, and perfectly fitting. They are praised for enhancing the ambiance, immersing players, and being enjoyable even outside the game.
- The game's aesthetic, atmosphere, and overall vibe are consistently lauded. The retro graphics, unique style, and immersive ambiance create a captivating and often surreal experience that stands out.
Negatives:
- Many players found the game's overall difficulty to be too low, citing easy combat, plentiful resources, and level design that allows for easy enemy evasion. This reduces the sense of challenge and survival horror.
- Players reported issues with level design, including overly long hallways, excessive backtracking, and unrewarding exploration in certain areas. Specific sections like the wilderness and snowy street were highlighted as problematic.
- Some players experienced significant dread and a feeling of being overwhelmed by the game's atmosphere and slow pace. This indicates effective horror elements for a segment of the audience.
- Players expressed dissatisfaction with the game's use of notes and exposition books, finding them to be overly long, lacking substance, and generally unengaging unless exceptionally well-written.
- Feedback suggests that certain boss encounters, particularly the spider and final boss, suffer from extended fight durations due to high health pools and periods of inactivity, making them feel drawn out.
Gameplay:
- The game offers both classic fixed camera angles and modern over-the-shoulder aiming, along with options for tank controls or modernized movement. Players appreciate the flexibility to choose their preferred control scheme and visual style, allowing for a tailored experience.
- Enemies in the game are noted for their interesting and creative designs, with the spider boss being a particular highlight. This enhances the game's horror atmosphere and visual appeal.
- The game includes multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration of different choices or paths. This adds depth and value to the overall experience.
- Using the camera to flash enemies often results in them being temporarily stunned. This mechanic provides a tactical advantage in combat encounters.
- The in-game map is highly useful for navigation and progression. Its effectiveness significantly aids players in traversing the game world.
Performance:
- Players report that the game generally performs well across different platforms, including the Steam Deck. There are minor, infrequent performance dips, particularly during cutscenes, but these are not widespread issues.
Recommendations:
- Players overwhelmingly recommend this game, especially to fans of classic survival horror titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Its retro aesthetic and challenging puzzles are frequently highlighted as strong selling points.
- Players encourage supporting the small development team behind the game, indicating appreciation for their work and the quality of the product.
Miscellaneous:
- Players are noting that the game's length is quite short, typically ranging from 5 to 7 hours. This might be a concern for players expecting a longer experience.
