Info about Tormented Souls: Official game description: **Something Evil Lurks at Winterlake** -------------------------------------- While investigating the disappearance of twin girls at Winterlake, something terrible happens to Caroline Walker. Waking in the dead of night, naked and hooked up to some kind of outdated medical equipment in a bathtub, Caroline must fight for her life as she explores the halls of the abandoned mansion. A Nod to the Classics --------------------- Tormented Souls draws inspiration from classic survival horror like From Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Alone in the Dark. A modern take on the fixed-perspective action-adventure game, Tormented Souls offers a modernised control scheme and dynamic camera combined with classic gameplay. Deadly Combat ------------- Dark forces and unspeakable horrors will do everything in their power to stop Caroline getting to the truth. Use anything and everything that you can find to fight back against evils lurking in the darkness. **Keep Your Wits About You** ---------------------------- You'll need much more than a steady aim and sharp reflexes to make it out alive. Search the environment for anything you can use to your advantage. Combine items to solve twisted puzzles and use every resource available to explore the secrets of the mansion and its grounds. Fiendish Puzzles ---------------- Scavenge essential resources and tools, decipher clues from long-forgotten journals, and combine it all to solve fiendish puzzles and get to the bottom of the mansion's sordid history. **Another Dimension** --------------------- Nothing is quite as it seems at Winterlake. Mirrors provide a path to an alternate reality and another place in time. By crossing these shimmering gateways, Caroline can manipulate the very fabric of reality in surprising ways. **You Are Not Alone In the Dark** --------------------------------- The mansion may seem abandoned, but as Caroline investigates its secrets, dark forces and unspeakable horrors will do everything in their power to stop her getting to the truth. Be sure to be alert at all times, and use anything you can find to fight off the encroaching terrors of Winterlake. Just remember: gaze into the darkness, and it also gazes into you... Can Caroline Walker discover the truth and escape with her life? Release date: Aug 26, 2021 Categories: Action Horror, Puzzle Solving, Fixed-Camera Perspective, Survival Horror, Inventory Management, Exploration, Story-driven Gameplay, Atmospheric Horror Feature scans: - Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with navigation, puzzle difficulty, and game progression. Many users reported needing to rely on external guides or walkthroughs due to the lack of an interactive map, overly complex puzzles, and unclear progression cues. These issues severely impact the user experience, leading to frustration and a diminished sense of accomplishment. - Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals several key issues. Performance problems, including frame rate drops and difficulties achieving stable 60 FPS, are frequently mentioned. Stability issues, such as game freezing and crashes, particularly when encountering enemies or saving the game, are also significant concerns. Control issues, especially with the tank controls, are noted to be challenging and not customizable, leading to frustration. Additionally, users have pointed out the need for better optimization to enhance the game's performance on the Steam Deck. - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00 - Reasoning: The evidence shows a mix of opinions on the game's value. Some users feel the game is worth around $2, while others believe it offers good value at $20. There are also mentions of the game being worth full price, which is currently $20, and suggestions that $10 might be a more appropriate price point for the content provided. Considering these varied perspectives, the fair price range can be inferred to be between $10 and $20. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 15.0h - Story completion: 10.0h - Session length: 1.0h - Endgame: 2.0h - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes direct mentions of playtime and gameplay experiences. The first quote mentions a total playtime of approximately 15 hours to complete the game thoroughly. The second quote indicates a session length of at least an hour due to the lack of checkpoints and save options. The third quote suggests a significant gap between initial interest and actual playtime, implying a lengthy game. The fourth quote hints at the game's replayability and the time investment required for multiple endings. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game has a steep initial learning curve with complex puzzles and mechanics, but once players become familiar with the gameplay after a few hours, it becomes highly enjoyable. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Understanding and familiarity with the game's mechanics and flow. - Time to anchor: 2h 0m - Friction: Steep learning curve; Complex puzzles; Initial difficulty in understanding mechanics - Unlock drivers: Getting used to the game's flow; Familiarity with mechanics - Conditions: Appreciation for classic survival horror games; Willingness to persist through initial learning curve - Player Archetypes: - Nostalgic Puzzle Solver (buy) - Motivation: Nostalgia and challenge - Playstyle: Strategic and exploratory - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Old-school player; Survival horror fan - Reference games: Resident Evil; Silent Hill - Genre Explorer (sale) - Motivation: Exploration and learning - Playstyle: Guided and experimental - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Newcomer; Genre enthusiast - Reference games: Resident Evil 1 HD remaster; Crow Country; Signalis - Critical Analyst (deep sale) - Motivation: Fair and polished gameplay - Playstyle: Analytical and critical - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: deep sale - Labels: Critical player; Genre critic - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Challenging and well-designed puzzles (weight 0.55): The game features a variety of puzzles that are creative, logical, and satisfying. These puzzles range from simple to complex, requiring imagination and strategic thinking. - Homage to classic survival horror (weight 0.45): The game pays tribute to classic survival horror games, capturing the nostalgic feel of early 2000s titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. It is designed for fans of old-school survival horror. - Similar to Resident Evil (weight 0.29): The game is reminiscent of the original Resident Evil games, capturing their vibe and gameplay style. It is recommended for fans of classic Resident Evil. - Good story and narrative (weight 0.23): The game features a well-thought-out and well-paced story with good character design and voice acting. The narrative is engaging and mysterious. - Decent graphics and visual design (weight 0.17): The game features decent graphics and visual design, with beautiful graphics and detailed environments. The visuals are stunning and immersive. - Excellent atmosphere (weight 0.17): The game boasts a fantastic and scary atmosphere, enhanced by an excellent soundtrack and visuals. The ambiance is classically atmospheric and horrifying. - Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.15): The game is described as very fun with enjoyable gameplay. Players find the game extremely good and mad enjoyable overall. - Tense survival horror experience (weight 0.15): The game captures the sense of dread and tension characteristic of survival horror games. It features constant suspense and spine-chilling terror. - Effective fixed camera mechanics (weight 0.07): The game implements a fixed camera system effectively, using fixed camera angles to enhance the gameplay experience. - Memorable enemy design (weight 0.07): The game features memorable and unique enemy designs with a variety of haunting enemies. - Enjoyable exploration (weight 0.07): The game offers enjoyable exploration with intuitive backtracking. Players find joy in exploring the game's environments. Common complaints: - Overly difficult puzzles (weight 0.65): Many players found the puzzles to be extremely difficult, often requiring external guides to solve. The puzzles were described as illogical, poorly guided, and sometimes unsolvable, leading to significant frustration. - Poor voice acting (weight 0.25): The voice acting in the game was widely criticized for being poor, lacking emotion, and sometimes even described as awful. This issue particularly affected the main character, detracting from the overall experience. - Difficult controls (weight 0.2): The controls were found to be difficult and cumbersome, particularly for keyboard and mouse users. The tank controls and unresponsive controls added to the frustration. - Lack of enemy variety (weight 0.13): Players noted a lack of variety in enemies, with some enemies being either too easy or overpowered. The enemy AI also had issues, contributing to a less engaging combat experience. - Janky combat (weight 0.12): The combat was described as janky and clunky. Players found the combat mechanics to be simple and not the focus of the game, which was disappointing. - Disorienting camera angles (weight 0.12): The camera angles were problematic and disorienting, making it difficult for players to navigate and enjoy the game. This issue was particularly frustrating during combat and puzzle-solving. - Scarce resources (weight 0.11): Players found the scarcity of resources, such as ammunition and healing items, to be excessive. This made the game more difficult and less enjoyable. - No difficulty options (weight 0.07): The lack of difficulty options was a common complaint. Players wanted more control over the game's difficulty to tailor the experience to their preferences. - Frustrating inventory system (weight 0.06): The inventory system was criticized for being inconvenient and poorly designed. Players found it difficult to manage their inventory, which added to the overall frustration. - Useless map (weight 0.06): The map was criticized for being poorly implemented and not very useful. Players found the map colors and design to be confusing and unhelpful. - Game crashes (weight 0.06): Frequent game crashes were reported, which significantly impacted the gaming experience. Players found these crashes to be frustrating and disruptive. - Poorly designed bosses (weight 0.05): The boss design was criticized for being poor and uninspired. Players found the bosses to be bad and lacking in challenge and creativity. - Lack of bonus modes (weight 0.05): The game was criticized for lacking bonus modes, such as New Game+. Players wanted more content and replayability options. Gameplay feedback: - Old-school survival horror gameplay (weight 0.38): The gameplay is inspired by classic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. It includes fixed camera angles, tank controls, and a retro gameplay style. - Complex and challenging puzzles (weight 0.37): The game features a variety of complex and challenging puzzles that require significant thought and attention to detail. These puzzles range from tricky to very challenging and are a core aspect of the gameplay. - Survival horror elements (weight 0.27): The game includes classic survival horror elements, similar to Resident Evil and Silent Hill. It features dangerous enemies, scarce resources, and a focus on survival mechanics. - Story-driven gameplay (weight 0.14): The game is heavily story-driven, with a strong focus on puzzles and story development. The storytelling is enhanced through collected diary notes and documents. - Fixed camera system (weight 0.12): The game uses a fixed camera system, which can be challenging and sometimes uncomfortable. This camera perspective is a nod to classic survival horror games. - Tank controls (weight 0.09): The game features tank controls, which are a classic control scheme in survival horror games. These controls can be challenging for new players but are optional. - Limited resources (weight 0.08): Resources such as ammunition are limited, adding to the challenge and survival aspects of the game. Players need to manage their resources carefully. - Simple combat mechanics (weight 0.07): Combat in the game is relatively simple but requires strategic thinking. It is not the main focus of the gameplay. - Linear and retro gameplay (weight 0.07): The gameplay is linear and retro, focusing on puzzle-solving and exploration. It offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic survival horror games. - Inventory and resource management (weight 0.05): Players need to manage their inventory and resources carefully. There is no inventory limit, but resources are scarce. - Map navigation (weight 0.05): Navigation in the game involves reading documents and using maps. This adds to the exploration and puzzle-solving aspects of the gameplay. Performance notes: - FPS drops in certain areas (weight 0.06): There are noticeable FPS drops in specific areas of the game, affecting the smoothness of gameplay. - Optimization issues (weight 0.06): Players have reported various optimization issues, leading to a less smooth gaming experience. - Gameplay-affecting bugs (weight 0.06): Various bugs, including levitation and time slowdown issues, significantly affect gameplay. - Sound and music bugs (weight 0.06): There are bugs related to sound and music, such as music stopping in some rooms and general sound issues. - Game crashes frequently (weight 0.04): Several players have reported that the game crashes often, which significantly impacts the gaming experience. - Good performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.04): The game runs well and performs perfectly on Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for this platform. - High system requirements (weight 0.04): The game requires a high-mid level gaming rig from 2018, which might be a barrier for players with lower-end systems. - Character movement issues (weight 0.02): There are specific issues related to character movement, which can affect gameplay negatively. - Unplayable with keyboard (weight 0.02): The game is reported to be unplayable when using a keyboard, which limits accessibility for some players. - Outdated animations (weight 0.02): The animations in the game are considered outdated, reminiscent of those from the 2000s. Recommendations: - Highly recommended by players (weight 0.11): Many players strongly recommend this game, highlighting its quality and appeal. It is described as a must-play for enthusiasts of the genre. - Recommended for old-school gamers (weight 0.09): The game is particularly recommended for veterans of old Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. It appeals to those who enjoy the classic style and mechanics of older horror games. - Anticipation for the sequel (weight 0.07): Players are looking forward to the sequel and have plans to buy it. This indicates a strong interest and satisfaction with the current game. - Worth buying, especially on sale (weight 0.07): The game is considered worth buying, particularly when it is on sale. Some players suggest getting it only during significant discounts. - Try the demo before purchasing (weight 0.02): Players recommend trying the game’s demo before making a purchase to ensure it meets expectations. - Recommended for light horror fans (weight 0.02): The game is recommended for those looking for a light horror experience, making it accessible to a broader audience. - Best Resident Evil 1 clone (weight 0.02): The game is praised as the best clone of Resident Evil 1 for its price, appealing to fans of the original game. - Avoid buying on Steam (weight 0.02): Players strongly advise against buying the game on Steam, suggesting potential issues with the platform. - Indie game success example (weight 0.02): The game is recommended as an example of an indie game accomplishing what AAA titles have failed to do, highlighting its unique achievements. Other player notes: - Gamepad recommended for camera control (weight 0.02): Players suggest using a gamepad for improved camera control, indicating that the default control scheme may be lacking. - Uncensored nudity present (weight 0.02): The game features fully naked characters without any censorship, which could be a consideration for potential players. Emotions: - Frustration (weight 0.25): Players are frustrated primarily due to the game's challenging puzzles, which are often exacerbated by poor translations, lack of hints, and illogical design. Additional frustrations stem from the cumbersome save system, leading to progress loss, and various bugs and gameplay mechanics issues, including controls, combat, and camera angles. - Enjoyment (weight 0.17): Players enjoy the game's challenging puzzles, atmospheric setting, and engaging storyline. The classic survival horror elements, nostalgic vibe, and overall gameplay experience contribute significantly to their enjoyment. - Nostalgia (weight 0.15): The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Players appreciate the old-school gameplay mechanics, fixed camera angles, and the overall feel of early 2000s survival horror games. - Excitement (weight 0.1): Players are excited about the game's atmospheric setting, challenging puzzles, and engaging storyline. The anticipation for the sequel and the return of classic gameplay elements also contribute to their excitement. - Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players feel satisfied with the game's complex puzzles, classic survival horror elements, and overall high-quality mechanics. The mix of Resident Evil and Silent Hill elements, along with the game's atmosphere and story, adds to their satisfaction. - Disappointment (weight 0.05): Players express disappointment due to various flaws, including a dull and linear second half of the game, poor execution of game elements, and lack of emotional engagement. Predictable plot, poor voice acting, and weak story and character interactions also contribute to their disappointment. - Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's good atmosphere, character design, and adherence to classic survival horror mechanics. The detailed locations, good sound design, and overall narrative and setting are also highly appreciated. - Fear (weight 0.02): Players experience fear due to the game's scary atmosphere, effective jumpscares, and tense narrative. The camera angles and darkness, along with the fear of encountering monsters, contribute to the overall frightening experience. - Admiration (weight 0.01): Players admire the impressive work done by the small development team, the unique and creative visual design, and the horrifying atmosphere. The macabre soundtrack and level design also contribute to their admiration. - Challenge (weight 0.01): Players find the game challenging due to its difficult tasks, many puzzles, and rare save points. The difficult enemies and overall high difficulty level add to the challenging experience. - Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game due to its positive experience, homage to classic horror games, and engaging gameplay. The nostalgic elements and overall enjoyment contribute to their love for the game.}