Info about Alfred Hitchcock - Vertigo:

Official game description:
Digital Deluxe Edition
======================
The Digital Deluxe Edition includes:  
*   Digital Artbook  
*   Digital Soundtrack  
*   In-game filters, inspired by the original movie  
*   Ed, Julia & Nick Avatars  
*   Wallpapers
About the Game
==============
Ed Miller, a writer, came out unscathed from his car crash down into Brody Canyon, California.  
Even though no one was found inside the car wreckage, Ed insists that he was traveling with his wife and daughter. Traumatized by the event, he begins to suffer from severe vertigo. As he starts therapy, he will try to uncover what really happened on that tragic day.  
Prepare yourself for a most disturbing investigation inside the human mind: truth is sometimes **worse than madness.**  
**Features:**  
*   An **original story** about obsession, manipulation and madness, inspired by **Alfred Hitchcock’s** masterpiece Vertigo.
*   Live a **powerful narrative experience** paying tribute to the visual and storytelling techniques of the **thriller** genre.
*   **Investigate** through the **vision** of three characters: everyone has a different story to tell.
*   **Explore several timelines** to cross-check the events and **separate reality** from **deceptive memories.**
*   Developed by the award-winning adventure game studio **Pendulo Studios.**

Release date: Dec 16, 2021

Categories: Psychological Horror, Narrative Adventure, Point-and-Click Adventure, Interactive Fiction, Choice-based Narrative, Mystery, Story-driven Gameplay, Dialogue-based Gameplay

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 40; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game has notable issues with text size and readability on the Steam Deck, which can make it difficult or unplayable for some users. Additionally, there are reports of control and bug issues that affect gameplay. However, the game generally performs well with stable frame rates and good audiovisual quality.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that the game is not considered worth its full price of $19.99. Multiple reviews recommend purchasing the game only when it is on sale, typically around 10-15€. This indicates that the community perceives the fair price to be significantly lower than the current base price. The repeated mentions of waiting for sales and not paying full price strongly support a lower price range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 11.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the total playtime required to complete the game, with several users mentioning around 10 to 12 hours of gameplay. This consistent feedback across different reviews helps to establish a reliable estimate for the typical total time to finish the game. However, there is limited specific evidence regarding the typical time to finish the main story, single-session length, and endgame hours, leading to null values for those metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and tedious start but becomes engaging after about an hour of gameplay due to striking storytelling and character development.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Story progression and character development
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Slow pacing; Repetitive tasks; Unskippable dialogues
  - Unlock drivers: Striking storytelling; Character development
  - Conditions: Good storyline; Character development
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging and unique storytelling
    - Playstyle: Focused on narrative and choices, less concerned with gameplay mechanics.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: mystery fans; psychological thriller fans
    - Reference games: Life is Strange; Heavy Rain; Telltale games
  - Value-Conscious Gamer (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting good value for money
    - Playstyle: Casual, enjoys games that offer a good narrative but is conscious of spending.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: bargain hunter; sale shopper
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Leisurely Player (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and a movie-like experience
    - Playstyle: Casual, enjoys slower-paced games with a strong narrative.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: relaxed gamer; casual player
    - 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:
- Engaging and well-developed story (weight 0.97): The game features an engaging and well-developed story that captivates players with its originality and depth. The narrative is praised for being detailed, unpredictable, and gripping, keeping players hooked throughout.
- Surprising plot twists (weight 0.57): The game is noted for its numerous and unexpected plot twists, which keep players in suspense and add to the overall excitement and surprise of the story.
- Good graphics and visuals (weight 0.32): The game is noted for its good graphics and visual design, which are visually appealing and contribute to the atmospheric experience.
- Well-developed characters (weight 0.3): The game features well-written and charismatic characters with depth and motivation, making them relatable and interesting to players.
- Interesting detective and psychological elements (weight 0.29): The game features an interesting detective plot with psychological thriller elements, adding depth and intrigue to the storyline.
- Enjoyable gameplay experience (weight 0.25): The game offers an enjoyable and solid gameplay experience with good mechanics and duration, making it a pleasant experience overall.
- High-quality voice acting (weight 0.18): The game features excellent voice acting, particularly in English, which enhances the overall storytelling and character development.
- Excellent musical score (weight 0.18): The game's music is highly praised for being first-class and competently made, contributing to the atmosphere and overall enjoyment of the game.
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.11): The game is considered worth the price, particularly when purchased on sale, offering good value for the experience it provides.

Common complaints:
- Slow pacing issues (weight 0.37): The game suffers from a very slow pace, particularly at the beginning and throughout the story. This slow pacing includes slow camera movements and a drawn-out final conclusion, which may not appeal to all players.
- Choices lack impact (weight 0.36): Player choices have minimal to no impact on the story or outcomes. Dialogue choices and decisions do not significantly affect the narrative, making the game feel less interactive.
- Unsatisfying and confusing ending (weight 0.24): The game's ending is often described as unsatisfying, confusing, and controversial. Players find the conclusion to be unimpactful and disappointing.
- Excessive and unnecessary QTEs (weight 0.19): The game is filled with an overabundance of quick-time events (QTEs) that are often unnecessary and unexpected. These QTEs can feel excessive and do not add significant value to the gameplay.
- Limited interactivity (weight 0.19): The game offers minimal interactivity, with limited actions and gameplay elements. This lack of active gameplay can make the experience feel less engaging.
- Very linear gameplay (weight 0.19): The gameplay is strictly linear, lacking puzzles or freedom of action. This linear structure can make the game feel dull and repetitive.
- Awkward animations and voice acting (weight 0.18): The game's animations and voice acting are often criticized for being awkward and sometimes laughably bad. Facial animations can be off-putting, and voice acting may sound unnatural.
- Lack of variability and engagement (weight 0.16): The game lacks structure, optimization, and major choices, leading to low replayability and engagement. This can make the game feel monotonous.
- Unlikable main character (weight 0.13): The main character is often described as unlikable and annoying. This can make it difficult for players to connect with or root for the protagonist.
- Confusing plot points and holes (weight 0.13): The game's plot is criticized for being confusing and convoluted, with several plot holes and absurd resolutions. This can make the story difficult to follow.
- Frequent loading screens (weight 0.12): The game has frequent and long loading times between scenes, which can disrupt the gameplay experience and make it feel less fluid.
- Clunky controls (weight 0.07): The game's controls can feel clunky and odd, making actions and movements less smooth and more difficult to execute.
- PC optimization issues (weight 0.07): The game has optimization issues on PC, leading to performance problems and technical issues. This can affect the overall gameplay experience on PC.

Gameplay feedback:
- Narrative-driven and story-focused (weight 0.56): The game is heavily focused on its narrative, providing a cinematic and linear storytelling experience similar to Telltale games. Players emphasize the depth and complexity of the story, which is the central element of the gameplay.
- Quick-time events and exploration (weight 0.46): The gameplay includes quick-time events (QTEs) and light exploration segments. These elements are integrated into the interactive movie style, providing some player engagement beyond just watching the story unfold.
- Psychological thriller elements (weight 0.41): The game incorporates elements of a psychological thriller, creating a suspenseful and engaging atmosphere. This includes mystery and thriller aspects that contribute to the overall narrative experience.
- Interactive fiction with limited interactivity (weight 0.4): The game is described as interactive fiction, but with limited interactivity where player choices have minimal impact on the story. This includes point-and-click mechanics and dialogue choices that do not significantly alter the narrative.
- Detective and mystery elements (weight 0.16): The game includes detective-like scenes and mystery elements, where players can interact with relevant objects and explore the environment to uncover clues.
- Hypnosis scenes and unique mechanics (weight 0.09): The game features unique scenes involving hypnosis, which are used to reconstruct parts of the story. These scenes add a distinctive element to the gameplay and narrative.

Performance notes:
- Unoptimized graphics and performance (weight 0.48): The game suffers from unoptimized graphics, leading to dated visuals and performance issues, including frame rate drops and poor overall performance.
- Animation and lip sync bugs (weight 0.27): There are notable issues with animations and lip syncing, including voice acting not matching the animation and various animation bugs.
- Frequent and long loading times (weight 0.21): Players report frequent and long loading screens between scenes, which disrupts the gaming experience.
- Technical issues with controls and audio (weight 0.17): There are technical problems reported with controls and audio, including clunky controls and audio issues.
- Minor bugs and glitches (weight 0.14): Players encounter minor bugs and visual glitches, which, while not game-breaking, are noticeable and can be annoying.
- Resolution and frame generation issues (weight 0.12): The game has issues with screen resolution and frame generation, including blurry screen edges and problems with maintaining stable FPS.
- Sound and music problems (weight 0.12): There are problems with sound and music, including poorly implemented sound, music playing randomly over dialogue, and sound dying in menus.
- Frequent crashes (weight 0.1): The game experiences frequent crashes, which can occur occasionally and disrupt gameplay.
- Mixed experiences on Steam Deck (weight 0.09): Players have mixed experiences with the game on Steam Deck, ranging from it working well to being unplayable.
- Menu interaction issues (weight 0.07): Players report issues with menu interactions, including weird pauses after making decisions and sound issues in menus.

Recommendations:
- Worth the price, especially on sale (weight 0.27): The game is considered worth its price, especially when purchased on sale. Some players suggest waiting for a discount to get the best value.
- Psychological thriller with engaging plot (weight 0.23): The game is highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and mysteries. It offers a compelling narrative with emotional depth and engaging twists, making it ideal for those who enjoy exploration and suspense.
- Story-driven and character-focused (weight 0.18): This game is praised for its strong story and character development. It is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven games and movie-like experiences.
- Interactive movie experience (weight 0.12): This game is recommended for fans of interactive movie games and point-and-click adventures. It offers a unique experience similar to watching a movie.
- Recommended for thriller and Hitchcock fans (weight 0.12): Fans of thrillers and Hitchcock-style narratives will find this game particularly enjoyable. It is recommended despite some flaws.
- Mixed reviews on purchase value (weight 0.11): There are mixed opinions on whether the game is worth buying, even at a discount. Some players recommend it while others advise caution.
- Telltale-style mystery adventure (weight 0.1): Fans of Telltale-style games with a focus on adventure, mystery, and detective elements will find this game highly appealing.
- General recommendation for gameplay (weight 0.09): The game is generally recommended for its gameplay. Players find it enjoyable and worth trying out.
- One-time playthrough experience (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for a one-time playthrough. It offers a unique experience that may not require multiple play sessions.
- Enjoyable on Steam Deck (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for its genre and enjoyment on the Steam Deck, making it a good choice for players using this platform.
- Lack of traditional gameplay (weight 0.04): Despite the lack of traditional gameplay elements, the game is still recommended for its narrative and overall experience.

Other player notes:
- Physical edition bonus digital content (weight 0.04): The physical edition of the game includes additional digital content, providing extra value for players who purchase the physical copy.
- Personal experience with in-game book (weight 0.04): Some players have shared personal experiences related to an in-game book, indicating that it has had a significant impact or connection with them.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players are frustrated by the game's slow pacing, repetitive gameplay, and excessive use of Quick Time Events (QTEs) that lack impact. Technical issues such as frequent loading screens, crashes, and poor animations also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, the inability to skip cutscenes and dialogues, along with a lack of meaningful choices, further exacerbates the players' dissatisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.14): Players are excited about the game's engaging and well-crafted story, which features surprising plot twists and intriguing characters. The narrative's depth, suspense, and connection to Hitchcock's works, along with the atmospheric and cinematic techniques used, contribute to this excitement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Players feel disappointed due to the game's unsatisfying ending, lack of meaningful choices, and poor character design. Technical issues such as poor animations, limited interactivity, and repetitive scenes also contribute to this disappointment. Additionally, the game's slow pacing and lack of connection to Hitchcock's work further exacerbate the players' dissatisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the game's engaging and well-crafted story, which features interesting characters and plot twists. The relaxed and enjoyable gameplay experience, along with the dark and intriguing plot, contribute to this enjoyment.
- Engaged (weight 0.06): Players are engaged by the game's intriguing and well-crafted story, which features interesting characters and plot twists. The unpredictable and gripping narrative, along with the unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, contribute to this engagement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players are satisfied with the game's solid gameplay, good voice acting, and overall positive experience. The engaging narrative, sound design, and satisfying ending contribute to this satisfaction.
- Frustrated (weight 0.04): Players are frustrated by technical issues such as bugs, slow pacing, and stiff animations. The overabundance of quick-time events and repetitive gameplay mechanics also contribute to this frustration.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Players experience boredom due to the game's slow and tedious pacing, which includes repetitive scenes and monotonous moments. The lack of meaningful actions and uninteresting content further contribute to this boredom.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's narrative and its ability to evoke the spirit of Hitchcock's filmmaking. The emotional impact, psychological themes, and accurate local personalities contribute to this admiration.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's atmosphere and psychological angle, along with its effective visual style. The connection to Hitchcock's work and mature themes further contribute to this appreciation.
- Bored (weight 0.01): Players are bored due to the game's slow pace and lack of engagement. The repetitive scenes and lack of meaningful choices further contribute to this boredom.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's good graphics, sounds, and story. The interesting story and overall positive experience contribute to this satisfaction.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's unexpected ending and how much they enjoyed the story. The game exceeding expectations further contributes to this surprise.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's psychological depth and adaptation of Hitchcock's film. The engaging story, detailed environments, and high-quality music contribute to this enthusiasm.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's very intense and engaging story. The suspense and connection to Hitchcock's works further contribute to this excitement.}