The Scourge | Tai Ương Review Summary

Improved and beautiful graphics: The graphics in the game are noted for their detail and beauty. Players appreciate the improved and smoother gameplay experience.

Effective horror atmosphere: The game's horror and atmosphere are well-received, with players noting the dark and haunting environment. The immersive horror atmosphere is highlighted as a strong point.

Compelling storytelling: The game's storytelling is appreciated for its depth and engagement. Players find the narrative to be well-crafted and promising.

High-quality Vietnamese horror game: The game is recognized as a high-quality Vietnamese horror game, with players praising its unique atmosphere and eerie religious rituals. It is considered a gem in the Vietnamese horror game scene.

Authentic Vietnamese cultural setting: The game is praised for its detailed and authentic representation of Vietnamese culture, customs, and folklore, set in the 1990s. Players appreciate the unique atmosphere and the inclusion of Vietnamese cultural elements.

Game is unfinished: The game is currently incomplete with only two chapters available, and many players feel it is overpriced for the content provided. The game remains about 40% unfinished as of December 2, 2024.

Poor optimization: The game suffers from bad optimization, leading to issues like lag, crashes, and significant FPS drops during certain actions or in specific areas.

Difficult chase sequences: Chase sequences in the game are noted to be extremely difficult and can become repetitive and time-consuming, which some players find frustrating.

Confusing plot: The plot of the game is confusing and slightly weak, with unclear mechanics and storytelling that can be difficult to follow.

Translation issues: The game has translation errors, with some parts being machine-translated, leading to inaccurate translations.

Puzzle-solving and exploration mechanics: The gameplay focuses on puzzle-solving and exploration. Players need to solve puzzles and explore the environment to progress.

Horror elements and atmosphere: The game incorporates various horror elements to create a creepy and impressive horror atmosphere. It includes jump scares and environmental sound effects.

Character-driven narrative: The game features a deep and structured narrative that is driven by its characters. The story is a central element of the gameplay experience.

Storytelling through radio broadcasts: The game uses radios extensively to convey story elements and enhance the atmosphere. Plot unfolds through radio broadcasts and features radio programs that tell horror stories.

Authentic Vietnamese cultural elements: The game is set in an authentic urban Vietnamese environment and incorporates various Vietnamese cultural elements. It includes cultural details in architecture, objects, and uses the Vietnamese language.

Frame rate drops: Players frequently encounter FPS drops during gameplay and cutscenes, which affect the overall gaming experience.

Performance optimization issues: The game has various performance optimization issues, with some players reporting good optimization while others experience problems.

Game crashing: Some players report that the game crashes on certain computers, impacting playability.

Steam Deck optimization: The game is well optimized for Steam Deck, but there are also reports of performance issues specific to this hardware.

High GPU usage: The game has high GPU usage, which can lead to performance issues on some systems.

Appeals to horror fans: The game is considered a must-play for horror fans, particularly those interested in Vietnamese culture and folklore horror.

Recommended by players: Several players have recommended the game, indicating a positive reception.

Wait for full release: Some players suggest waiting until the game is fully released before purchasing or trying it out.

Anticipation for future releases: Players are looking forward to future releases or sequels, showing interest and expectation.

Game completion: 3.5h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

The game initially presents friction through repetitive tasks but becomes more enjoyable in the second half after overcoming these early blockers.

Reported time to anchor: 1h 30m.

Friction: Repetitive stealth sections; Tedious collection of hidden items; Repetitive tasks as core progression mechanics.

Unlock drivers: Story progression; Narrative development.

Artistic Narrative Enthusiast: Explores and appreciates the game's artistic and narrative elements. Motivation: Engaging storytelling and visual artistry. Stance: buy.

Polish-Conscious Gamer: Prefers games that are technically sound and complete. Motivation: Seeking a polished and complete gaming experience. Stance: deep sale.

Cultural Realism Seeker: Seeks out and appreciates culturally rich and realistic games. Motivation: Authentic cultural experiences and realism. Stance: buy.

Steam Deck: The game on Steam Deck faces notable stability issues, including persistent bugs and frame drops. Additionally, while the game is playable with Proton, it encounters several bugs that affect the user experience, such as graphical glitches. These issues suggest that the game requires significant tinkering to achieve a smoother experience.

Linux and Proton: The game is generally playable on Proton and Steam Deck with some minor graphical bugs reported. The overall performance on Steam Deck is praised for its optimization.