Info about Detention:

Official game description:
  
Greenwood high school, located in a remote mountainous area, two students found themselves trapped and vulnerable. The place they once knew has changed in unsettling ways, haunted by evil creatures. To escape, they must explore the mysterious campus filled with ominous objects and puzzles. How will they survive in this ever threatening environment? Could they return to safety in one piece?  
Set in a fictitious world in the 1960s Taiwan under martial law, Detention, the story-driven atmospheric horror incorporated East Asian elements rarely used in games. Taoism, Buddhism, Chinese mythology, the game draws on local Taiwanese cultural references to tell an unique and terrifying story.  
In this 2D atmospheric horror side-scroller, players navigate the main characters in a classic point and click fashion to explore a high school where evil encroaches. While hiding from the rampaging monsters, you are to find items to interact with in the otherworldly rooms. And as more mysteries unveiled, the dark past of a cursed school will finally surface.  
*   2D atmospheric horror with spine-chilling atmosphere.  
*   Immersive gameplay and puzzle solving experience  
*   Unique Taiwanese/Eastern cultural references.  
*   Original sound tracks, fusing Electronic, Lo-Fi, and Rock with traditional Asian instruments.  
*   Unique and appealing graphics.  
*   Multiple language support. (Including English, Chinese and Japanese)  
*   Mac, Windows and Linux support

Release date: Jan 12, 2017

Categories: Point-and-click, Atmospheric Horror, Psychological Horror, Story-driven Gameplay, Side-scrolling, Puzzle Solving, Stealth Gameplay, Multiple Endings

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: The Student; summary: The primary user feedback revolves around the need to consult external sources (especially Wikipedia) to understand the historical backdrop and, to a lesser extent, to solve puzzles. This is a classic 'Wiki Tax' scenario where the game’s context or complexity is not fully explained in-game, forcing players to seek external instructional data.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: Reviews show a split: some find the full price (likely $12–$15) too high and only recommend it on sale, while others consider the current price already low. One player explicitly felt $12 was a slight loss for the content. The frequent praise for sale pricing and the statement that the price is “already very low” suggest a fair base price near typical sale values. Combining this, the community consensus for a fair base-game price range falls between $5 (common sale discount) and $10 (upper limit before some feel it's overpriced).
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 4.0h
  - Story completion: 3.5h
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews agree the game is short, with explicit playtimes ranging from 3.4 to 5 hours. The most common reported total time for a full playthrough (including both endings) is around 4 hours, which matches the typical quoted range. The main story/campaign is essentially the entire game; a single playthrough focused on the narrative takes roughly 3.5 hours (e.g., 3.4 hours reported). Session length is effectively the entire game, as several reviews note the game can be completed in one sitting, implying a typical session equals the full game length. There is no credible evidence for endgame content beyond optional achievements, so that metric is left null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow, unsettling start that can frustrate players, but rewards those who persist with decent storytelling and puzzles; however, fun diminishes in the second half as horror elements vanish and gameplay becomes monotonous.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: unsettling atmosphere; slow progression; unrewarding early gameplay; tedious movement; complex narrative
  - Unlock drivers: acclimation to horror atmosphere; appreciation of story and puzzles; cultural/artistic appeal (e.g., Chinese mythology, handcrafted environments)
  - Conditions: player tolerance for slow early pacing; interest in psychological horror and supernatural themes; enjoyment of story-driven puzzle games; solo single-player experience; mindset valuing atmosphere over action
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Historian (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience a poignant, historically grounded narrative that provokes emotional and intellectual reflection.
    - Playstyle: Slow, exploratory, reading all notes and examining environments to absorb the story; does not mind minimal gameplay or lack of action.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: history buff; story connoisseur; player who values narrative over mechanics
    - Reference games: Silent Hill; The Cat Lady
  - Horror Atmosphere Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: To feel immersed in a chilling, psychological horror atmosphere with tense stealth encounters.
    - Playstyle: Stealthy, cautious, using hiding and distraction mechanics; values surprise and unease.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: horror fan; psychological horror enthusiast; player who enjoys dread over jump scares
    - Reference games: Mad Father; Silent Hill; Clock Tower; The Cat Lady
  - Point-and-Click Purist (sale)
    - Motivation: To engage with classic point-and-click puzzle design and exploration within a horror narrative.
    - Playstyle: Methodical, clicking on everything, combining items, and solving logic-based puzzles; appreciates old-school mechanics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: point-and-click lover; old-school adventure gamer; puzzle enthusiast
    - Reference games: The Cat Lady; The Coma; Mad Father


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:
- Moving and tragic story (weight 0.96): The story is described as deeply moving, sad, and tragic, with emotional weight that lingers. Players find it beautifully told and thought-provoking.
- Creative and satisfying puzzles (weight 0.63): Players consistently praise the puzzles for being appropriately challenging, creative, and non-tedious. The puzzles strike a balance that makes players feel smart and satisfied without being frustrating.
- Immersive and unsettling atmosphere (weight 0.58): The game's atmosphere is frequently highlighted as deeply unsettling and immersive, enhanced by great visuals and sound design. Players find the eerie environment memorable and effective.
- Beautiful art style (weight 0.52): The art style receives widespread acclaim for its beauty and uniqueness, described as both visually attractive and emotionally resonant. It contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- Excellent sound design (weight 0.44): Sound design and music are praised for their quality, enhancing the horror experience without relying on cheap scares. The soundtrack and ambient sounds are considered masterful.
- No cheap jump scares (weight 0.32): Players appreciate that the game avoids typical jump scares and monster chases, relying instead on atmospheric tension. This sets it apart from other horror games like Outlast.
- Poignant and meaningful endings (weight 0.22): Both endings are noted as poignant and thought-provoking, with the true ending being especially emotionally resonant. The endings contribute to the overall narrative depth.
- Incorporation of Taiwanese folklore (weight 0.18): The game cleverly weaves Taiwanese folklore and cultural elements into its story and gameplay, adding unique depth and authenticity. Players find this integration seamless and enriching.
- Excellent value for price (weight 0.18): Players feel the game offers good value, whether purchased at full price or on sale. The quality of content justifies the cost.

Common complaints:
- Not scary enough (weight 0.35): Players find the game far from frightening, with many stating it is not scary at all. The lack of genuine horror and tension is a major letdown for a game marketed as horror.
- Game is too short (weight 0.33): Multiple reviews highlight the game's extremely short length, typically around 2-3 hours per playthrough. Players consistently express disappointment, wishing the experience were longer.
- Story is confusing (weight 0.25): The narrative is often described as confusing and poorly structured, especially toward the end. Some players also find the story uninteresting, which diminishes overall engagement.
- Puzzles decline in quality (weight 0.2): While puzzles start promising, they degrade in the second half of the game. Some puzzles are also described as confusing or hard to figure out, creating inconsistency.
- Lack of enemies in act 3 (weight 0.11): Reviews note that monsters and enemies disappear entirely in the third act, leaving areas empty and reducing tension. This is a specific complaint about late-game pacing.
- Poor character animations (weight 0.1): Character animations, especially for the player, are described as stiff and tedious. Walking feels poorly executed, affecting immersion.
- Not original or groundbreaking (weight 0.09): Players feel the game lacks originality and does not stand out in the genre. It is described as not outstanding, which may disappoint those seeking unique experiences.
- Not enough enemy variety (weight 0.09): There are too few enemy types, making encounters repetitive and reducing the overall challenge.
- Excessive backtracking (weight 0.09): The game requires a lot of backtracking, which becomes annoying. However, the short length somewhat mitigates this frustration.
- Inconvenient controls (weight 0.09): Controls are not convenient, and the game would benefit from controller support. This hampers the gameplay experience, especially for PC players.
- Language barrier for non-Chinese speakers (weight 0.09): Players report that understanding notes and details requires fluency in Chinese/Mandarin, creating a language barrier that limits enjoyment for international players.
- No official Spanish or Russian translation (weight 0.08): The game lacks official translations for Spanish and Russian, with unofficial Russian translations of uncertain quality. This limits accessibility.

Gameplay feedback:
- Point-and-click horror adventure (weight 0.94): The game is consistently described as a point-and-click horror adventure, blending puzzle-solving with survival horror elements and stealth mechanics.
- Puzzles integrated with narrative (weight 0.52): Puzzles are a core gameplay element, integrated into the story progression. They vary in difficulty, from simple and straightforward to more challenging puzzles that require thinking.
- Historical real-world setting (weight 0.34): The horror game is based on real historical events, specifically the White Terror period in Taiwan, requiring historical context for full understanding.
- Jumpscares and subtle horror (weight 0.34): The horror experience includes jumpscares with ghosts and monsters, alongside subtle spooks and monster encounters, but some players note the absence of jumpscares or supernatural creatures.
- Atmospheric and story-driven (weight 0.29): The game is highly atmospheric, with a strong focus on story that drives the gameplay, including backtracking and exploration.
- Two distinct endings (weight 0.28): Players can achieve two different endings (bad and true) based on their choices and actions, requiring specific triggers or correct decisions for the true ending.
- Stealth mechanic: hold breath (weight 0.26): The game features a unique stealth mechanic where players must hold their breath to avoid spirits or monsters like the 'Lingered', with a time limit adding tension.
- Side-scrolling exploration (weight 0.24): Exploration is presented in a 2D side-scrolling format, with point-and-click movement and interaction using the mouse.
- Short playtime of 3-5 hours (weight 0.18): The game has a relatively short playtime, typically around 3 to 5 hours, making it a concise experience.
- City God temple divination (weight 0.13): The game includes cultural elements such as prayers and divination at a City God temple, adding depth to the setting.

Performance notes:
- Optimization works fine (weight 0.14): The game seems to run well overall, with no critical bugs reported. However, there is a mention of late stuttering scenes on high-end PCs, which could indicate that while general optimization is good, some high-intensity areas may still have performance issues.

Recommendations:
- Strong general recommendation (weight 0.65): Many reviewers explicitly recommend the game, praising it as a good game that they would suggest to others.
- Recommended for horror fans (weight 0.55): The game is highly recommended for fans of horror games, especially those who enjoy psychological horror and atmospheric narratives.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.32): Several reviewers suggest the game is worth the purchase, especially if bought at a discount, offering good value for the price.
- Accessible for non-horror players (weight 0.29): The game is recommended for players new to horror who prioritize story, as it is not too scary.
- Ideal for mild horror seekers (weight 0.25): Reviewers recommend the game for players who are easily scared or want a less intense horror experience, noting it is accessible and story-focused.
- Perfect score endorsement (weight 0.21): Some reviewers give the game a perfect 10/10 rating, calling it a must-play title.
- Recommended for Silent Hill fans (weight 0.17): Reviewers specifically recommend the game for fans of Silent Hill and similar character-driven emotional horror games.
- Great value for price (weight 0.11): Reviewers note the game has a good combination of low price and high quality, making it strongly recommended.
- Not for point-and-click haters (weight 0.09): A minority of feedback indicates the game is not recommended for those who dislike point-and-click gameplay mechanics.

Other player notes:
- Misleading genre expectations (weight 0.06): Players expecting Asian folklore horror were disappointed to find the game a different experience, indicating a mismatch between marketing and actual content.
- Regional game accessibility issues (weight 0.05): A player expressed desire to play Devotion but noted legal barriers, highlighting frustration with regional restrictions on game availability.

Emotions:
- Appreciation (weight 0.07): Players highly value the game's story, atmosphere, art style, sound design, and cultural/historical depth. The strong narrative, beautiful visuals and music, and respectful integration of Taiwanese culture and history are frequently praised.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.06): Players find satisfaction in the game's well-balanced puzzle difficulty, engaging atmosphere, and rewarding story, which often exceed expectations given the low price. The overall experience is described as impactful, worthwhile, and of good value.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment arises from a perceived structural imbalance between the first and second halves, with the latter suffering from reduced horror elements, simpler puzzles, and fewer enemies. Additionally, weak storytelling, short length, and gameplay that fails to deliver on its initial promise contribute to negative feelings.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Admiration focuses on the game's artistic quality, which includes superb writing, a haunting atmosphere, excellent sound and visual design, and a narrative that blends historical references and cultural depth. The developers' dedication and skill in crafting a meaningful, polished experience are consistently recognized.
- Frustration (weight 0.04): Frustration stems from awkward controls (especially mouse), difficult or poorly-clued puzzles, excessive backtracking, and a perceived lack of engaging gameplay in the second half. Other issues include slow progression, underutilized horror mechanics, and abstract content requiring outside help.
- Sadness (weight 0.04): Sadness is driven by the game's tragic story centered on historical oppression, the protagonists' heart-wrenching fates, and themes of loss and regret. The emotional weight of the real-world historical inspiration and poignant endings evoke a strong empathetic response from players.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Enjoyment is derived from a rich combination of engaging atmosphere, compelling narrative, and enjoyable puzzles. Players consistently praise the effective horror, immersive sound design, and the overall experience despite any minor shortcomings.
- Fear (weight 0.03): Fear is primarily generated by the game's oppressive atmosphere, effective jumpscares, and psychological horror elements, which incorporate traditional Chinese taboos and religious themes. Many players report being genuinely scared despite experience in the genre.
- Engagement (weight 0.02): Engagement is driven by a compelling story and historical context that encourages players to explore and piece together the narrative. The atmosphere, creative puzzles, and the desire to uncover the plot keep players invested, often leading to single-sitting playthroughs.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise results from the game exceeding low initial expectations, particularly regarding its depth, quality, and emotional impact. Players often did not anticipate such a profound narrative or the shift from simple horror to a tragic, meaningful story.
- Interest (weight 0.02): Interest is sparked by the game's unique historical setting during Taiwan's White Terror period and its authentic cultural elements, including Chinese mythology. This encourages players to research the real-world context and learn more about Taiwan's history.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement arises from discovering a well-crafted horror game with captivating storytelling, engaging puzzles, and unique Chinese mythological elements. The gradual reveal of the plot and the transition from supernatural to realistic horror are particularly praised.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game stems from its refined atmosphere, art style, and sound design, combined with a story-first approach that avoids cheap jump scares. Players appreciate the thought-provoking content and the developer's distinctive horror and writing style.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Awe is inspired by the game's haunting beauty, powerful integration of personal and political themes, and overall artistic quality. Players are struck by the emotional depth and meticulous craftsmanship, which create a memorable and immersive experience.
- Reflection (weight 0.01): Reflection is prompted by the game's themes of historical oppression, human evil, and regret, which encourage players to contemplate similar real-world situations. The narrative's focus on historical tragedy and political themes fosters deeper thought.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from unclear narrative direction, ambiguous story explanations, and difficulty understanding the plot's intended meaning. Some players find the overall message or connection between gameplay and story disjointed, especially after certain endings.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope is generated by the game's ending, which provides a sense of inspiration and a desire for societal healing from historical darkness. Players also express hope for more content from the developer, additional translations, or similar cultural games.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the deep historical context, meaningful plot, and masterful integration of Taoist culture and folk customs. The careful storytelling, poetic localization, and overall design that evokes emotional investment are highly appreciated.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is felt by players who fondly remember their first playthrough, childhood memories of watching others play, or are reminded of personal past experiences by the game's environment and themes. Long-term engagement and replaying amplify this sentiment.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance stems from specific design choices such as restrictive movement controls, inconvenient subtitle display, immersion-breaking elements like graffiti, and a perceived pretentious or unclear narrative that includes personal agendas.}