Info about Loco Parentis / 孤女咒怨:

Official game description:
Just a usual day. You're heading out for a walk just like you do it every day. You're stepping out of your apartment when all of a sudden, you see a little girl who looks frightened. She asks to help her find her mother...  
From now on everything goes beyond normal. You are trapped in a nightmare that is taking place in this dwelling. But don't even try to escape - you have to help this girl.  
In this game, you will face paranormal creepy things that you need to defeat on your way to freedom. Meet terrifying tenants of your house... Are they friends or foes? Are you brave enough to find out the little girl's story and find her mother? Hardcore gameplay, challenging puzzles, ominous atmosphere and constant sense of foreboding are waiting for you.  
Solve all the mysteries, reveal all the stories playing as a single player, or with your friend in co-op.  
Our other projects: P R O T O C O L and Startup Valley Adventure - Episode 1

Release date: Sep 19, 2019

Categories: Cooperative Multiplayer, Puzzle Solving, Atmospheric Horror, VR Gameplay, First-Person Perspective, Exploration, Resource Management


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 7.0h
  - Story completion: 6.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The game completion metric is set to 7 hours based on a direct player report of a full co-op playthrough. For story completion, the 6-hour newbie estimate is used as a representative time to reach one ending, as the 3-hour veteran estimate and 12-hour claim suggest variability but the 6-hour figure aligns with typical first-playthrough reports. No clear evidence for typical session length or endgame playtime was found; the 1-hour and 30-minute mentions refer to early dropouts, not a standard session, and endgame content beyond endings is not quantified.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game offers early fun in co-op but suffers from escalating bugs and optimization problems that make it unplayable later, especially in the 'Medic' chapter.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: N/A
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: bugs; poor optimization; co-op connectivity issues; repetitive level layouts; no autosave; co-op item restrictions
  - Unlock drivers: N/A
  - Conditions: playing in co-op; tolerating early bugs; before chapter Medic
- Player Archetypes:
  - Cooperative Social Player (sale)
    - Motivation: To enjoy a unique co-op horror experience with friends, valuing shared moments over technical polish.
    - Playstyle: Plays exclusively in co-op, tolerates bugs and cheap scares for shared laughter and social bonding; uses flashlight/gun split with a friend.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: has silly friends (有沙雕朋友的玩家)
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Technical Quality Critic (no buy)
    - Motivation: Expects a polished, functional co-op experience; frustration with major bugs drives negative feedback.
    - Playstyle: Attempts co-op but is blocked by crashes, connection issues, and progression bugs; likely plays a variety of games and compares technical quality.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Horror Atmosphere Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a linear, atmospheric horror story with engaging puzzles and tense moments.
    - Playstyle: Engages with the story, puzzles, and atmosphere, playing either solo or co-op; tolerates minor bugs for the horror narrative.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: horror game fan (恐怖游戏爱好者)
    - 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:
- Co-op multiplayer praised highly (weight 0.38): Players consistently highlight the co-op mode as a major strength, describing it as tense, exciting, and fresh when played with friends or a team. It adds significant value to the overall experience especially in the horror genre.
- Engaging and well-thought-out story (weight 0.24): The narrative is described as interesting, well-constructed, and surprisingly good, with some noting it is non-trivial for an ordinary apartment setting. A detailed script and solid voice acting enhance the story experience.
- Scary atmosphere and sound design (weight 0.24): The game's atmosphere is repeatedly praised for being frightening and immersive, often enhanced by excellent sound design that includes whispers, darkness, and position-dependent audio. This creates genuine scares and tension.
- Fun and never boring (weight 0.22): Players find the game entertaining throughout, with varied mechanics and a balance of horror and fun elements. The game remains engaging even with occasional faults.
- Quality visuals and environments (weight 0.18): The graphics are praised as excellent for an indie title, with great visual design, detailed environments, and even a creative main menu. The world is immersive with high interactivity.
- Creative and innovative game design (weight 0.17): The game is recognized for its ingenious concepts like the infinite staircase, bottle-throwing mechanics, and flashlight-required reading. These unique elements set it apart from typical horror titles.
- Positive overall impression (weight 0.15): Many players simply express that the game is very good, magnificent, and satisfying to play, despite some occasional bugs. It is recommended for its cooperative experience and horror elements.
- VR experience adds immersion (weight 0.14): Playing in VR is described as better than without, with realistic graphics and sound that contribute to an immersive horror experience. It enhances the tension and engagement.
- Puzzles challenge and vary (weight 0.13): Puzzles are described as requiring thought, with a fun variety and complex challenges that add depth to gameplay. This contributes to the engaging nature of the game.
- Co-op logic and teamwork (weight 0.13): The game encourages teamwork, requiring players to work together and rely on each other, especially in darkness. This cooperative element is seen as a positive, making the game enjoyable with friends.
- Good pacing and difficulty balance (weight 0.13): The game offers a smooth difficulty curve and balanced challenge, with horror pacing well-arranged. Developer updates have improved difficulty and fixed bugs quickly.
- Surprising scares and tension (weight 0.13): The game delivers genuine scares with unexpected jumpscares and cool sounds, maintaining tension throughout. This makes it a satisfying horror experience.
- Good gameplay mechanics (weight 0.12): The mechanics are described as interesting and well-implemented, with adjustable controls and smooth difficulty curve. Some players find no bugs and solid performance.
- Monster design Lovecraftian (weight 0.11): The enemies are unique and have a typical Cthulhu style that is well-received, adding to the horror experience. They are both fun and frightening.
- Excellent visual and audio design (weight 0.1): The combination of realistic graphics and sound for VR creates a creepy atmosphere, with high-quality models and environments. The attention to detail is remarkable.
- Strong audio and music (weight 0.08): The music and sound effects are well-crafted, enhancing the creepy atmosphere and scares. The BGM effectively changes with player position, adding to immersion.
- High replayability and variety (weight 0.08): Each chapter has its own story, monsters, and music, and random elements add replay value. This keeps the experience fresh even on repeated plays.
- Immersive and interactive world (weight 0.08): The game is immersive with all its elements, allowing players to interact with many objects, open boxes, and turn off lights. This detailed world enhances engagement.
- Developer support and communication (weight 0.07): The developer is praised for being conscientious, promising Chinese language support and quickly fixing bugs within the first two weeks. This responsive approach is appreciated by players.

Common complaints:
- Frequent crashes and instability (weight 0.3): Players report the game is very buggy, frequently crashes shortly after starting, and remains broken even after patches. These issues affect both single-player and the general experience, making the game feel unfinished.
- Co-op has many bugs (weight 0.25): The second player in co-op experiences numerous bugs like screen issues, inability to walk, walking through walls, falling off the map, black screens, and getting stuck on death screens. Each death can force a restart from the menu, making co-op nearly unplayable.
- Poor optimization and FPS (weight 0.22): The game is poorly optimized, with horrid performance and frequent frame drops from 60 to 2 FPS at unpredictable times. Some players report the game runs at 20 FPS or less, making it hard to enjoy.
- Co-op connectivity issues (weight 0.2): Online co-op suffers from connection problems, making it difficult to team up with friends and wasting time trying to connect. Invites are unreliable and the game must be restarted if a partner disconnects.
- Story is unclear and weak (weight 0.17): The story is considered unclear, mediocre, and weak, with predictable twists that fail to engage players. This contributes to a lower overall impression of the game.
- Clunky controls (weight 0.13): Controls feel clunky and unresponsive, especially when picking up items or navigating the environment. This affects gameplay fluidity and usability.
- Game is unplayable (weight 0.12): Some players report the game is literally unplayable due to critical bugs and performance issues, making it impossible to progress or enjoy the experience.
- Gameplay is repetitive (weight 0.11): Gameplay is monotonous, focusing mainly on searching for items like balloons, marked doors, opening shelves, and picking up items. This repetitive loop detracts from overall enjoyment.
- Stiff character animations (weight 0.11): Character animations are stiff and feel unpolished, detracting from immersion and visual appeal. This is a common complaint among players.
- Excessive darkness (weight 0.08): The game is extremely dark, making it hard to see your partner, find batteries, or quest items even under lamps. This hampers gameplay and adds frustration.
- Player disappears during loading (weight 0.08): Players reported disappearing while loading the game, losing connection with friends. This causes co-op sessions to break.
- Getting stuck and unable to move (weight 0.08): Players can get stuck in spots and be unable to move, preventing progress. This is a frustrating bug that requires restarting the game.
- VR mode non-functional (weight 0.07): VR mode is unplayable due to no sound, making it non-functional. Players cannot use VR as intended.
- Camera causes motion sickness (weight 0.07): Camera control can cause motion sickness in players, which is a significant issue for those sensitive to motion in games.

Gameplay feedback:
- Co-op gameplay is core (weight 0.46): Many reviews highlight that the game features cooperative multiplayer, often for two players, and it is a key design element. Some reviewers note that co-op is the primary mode, with one player using the flashlight and the other the gun.
- Horror with puzzles (weight 0.28): Reviews describe the game as a horror title with puzzle-solving elements, ranging from simple to more intensive puzzles. The puzzles are part of the progression, requiring hints and clues to advance.
- Loop-based level design (weight 0.24): The game features a loop-based design, with an infinite stairwell or three-floor loop that can feel repetitive. Some reviews mention playing in circles, and the setting is often confined to stairwells and halls.
- VR designed but optional (weight 0.22): The game is designed for VR, and while it can be played without VR, the controls seem optimized for VR. Some reviewers feel it's better with VR, and one notes it's remapped for non-VR, indicating VR is a core part of the experience.
- Doctor chapter distinctive (weight 0.18): A specific doctor chapter is frequently mentioned, involving collecting severed limbs and placing them on an altar, and assembling a mannequin. This chapter appears memorable and unique, with some mentioning a surgery knife and throwing items to distract enemies.
- Exploration encouraged (weight 0.17): The game includes exploration as a key component, with players locating items and interacting with objects. The environment is often a stairwell or apartment setting, encouraging thorough searching.
- Resource management essential (weight 0.17): Players must manage limited resources like flashlight batteries and pistol ammo. Ammo and batteries appear more frequently when supplies decrease, and ammo scarcity limits combat options.
- Narrative-driven story (weight 0.16): The game is described as story-based, with chapter-specific narratives and a linear path that prevents getting lost. Some reviewers note a rich story, while others mention the story is not yet understood.
- Unique enemy designs (weight 0.14): Enemies are diverse and creative, including creatures similar to SCP-173, a Voldemort-like being with excellent hearing, semi-transparent Cthulhu monsters, and soul eaters. These designs contribute to the horror atmosphere.
- Single-player available (weight 0.13): The game offers a single-player mode in addition to co-op, and some reviewers mention it can be played solo or with a friend. However, one notes that single-player is harder than co-op.
- Chapter-based structure (weight 0.12): The game is divided into chapters, each with its own narrative and sometimes unique mechanics. Chapters include the doctor, photographer, and repairman, and some are harder than others.
- Quest objectives with shared items (weight 0.1): Progress is task-based, and quest objectives can involve shared items. The notebook tracks quests through picked notes, and reading texts is essential for progression.
- AI and sound dynamics (weight 0.1): Monster sounds and NPC voices change with the player's position, and the game includes unexpected scares and jump scares. This enhances immersion and tension.
- Item interaction and containers (weight 0.09): Players can open shelves and containers, and interact with many objects, including picking up and throwing bottles. This interactivity supports exploration and puzzle-solving.
- Enemies require cooperation (weight 0.09): Some enemies require cooperative strategies, such as one player sacrificing to allow the other to kill enemies, or one player shooting while the other lights up the target. This reinforces the co-op design.
- Low difficulty with challenge (weight 0.08): The game has low difficulty with a slight challenge, and puzzles are generally not too difficult. This makes it accessible, though some might find it less demanding.
- Stamina and movement (weight 0.07): The game includes a stamina bar for running, which is part of the survival mechanics. This adds a layer of resource management beyond items.
- Randomization and replay value (weight 0.07): The apartment layout is randomized on each load or death, and puzzles are random on replays. This adds replayability and variety to the gameplay.
- First-person perspective (weight 0.06): The game is played from a first-person perspective, which enhances immersion in the horror setting. This is a common feature noted in reviews.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.04): The game features three endings with a branching choice at the end, adding narrative depth and replay incentive.

Performance notes:
- Poor optimization causes lag (weight 0.38): Multiple clusters report that the game is poorly optimized, leading to lag, frame drops, and stuttering even at low settings or on high-end hardware. This is the most common issue, affecting overall gameplay experience.
- Frequent crashes and freezes (weight 0.27): Crashes occur frequently, sometimes shortly after starting, after trigger completion, or during normal play, causing the game to become unresponsive or freeze. Some crashes lead to a black screen or require force quitting.
- Unstable framerate and jitter (weight 0.14): The framerate is inconsistent, with drops as severe as 60 to 2 FPS even in simple scenes, and cursor movement can be jittery even when FPS is high. This affects aiming and overall feel.
- Co-op mode has severe lag (weight 0.13): In co-op play, the host experiences severe lag, and there are frame drops and black screens on death, which hampers the multiplayer experience significantly.
- Black screen issues in gameplay (weight 0.13): Players encounter random black screens and black screens on death or in co-op, which can lead to freezes or require restarts. This is a disruptive visual bug that affects visibility.
- Limited graphics settings (weight 0.13): The game lacks graphic settings to adjust resolution, detail level, or overall performance, and FPS is locked without optional ini editing. This prevents players from tuning the game for their hardware.
- Fullscreen causes crashes and errors (weight 0.11): Switching to fullscreen triggers crashes or errors, including UE4 and D3D errors, preventing players from using this mode. This is a specific and reproducible issue that disrupts gameplay.
- Camera issues cause motion sickness (weight 0.07): The camera movement causes motion sickness, and the inverted camera can get stuck, making controls feel unresponsive or confusing. This can lead to discomfort or frustration.
- Graphics drivers crash (weight 0.05): The game can crash graphics drivers, leading to system instability. This is a severe issue that can affect the entire PC, not just the game.
- Long loading times (weight 0.04): Loading times are excessively long, and frequent black screens during transitions further extend wait times. This disrupts the flow of the game.

Recommendations:
- Co-op recommended for fun (weight 0.22): Multiple players find the game more enjoyable and manageable in co-op, especially with friends. They highlight that the game is harder alone and that co-op adds laughs and fun.
- Not recommended to buy (weight 0.17): Several players strongly advise against purchasing the game, calling it a waste of time and money. They suggest saving money for better alternatives.
- Co-op has connectivity issues (weight 0.14): Some players advise against co-op due to poorly made multiplayer and connectivity problems. They recommend avoiding co-op mode until the developer fixes these issues.
- Highly recommend for co-op horror (weight 0.13): Players who enjoy co-op horror games highly recommend this title for its co-op mode. It delivers a unique co-op horror experience that stands out.
- Consider sale price (weight 0.11): Some players suggest buying the game only on sale or at a low price, as it may not be worth full price. They mention a sale price around 1700 yen as acceptable.
- Recommended for horror fans (weight 0.1): Fans of survival horror and the horror genre will likely enjoy this game. It provides a scary experience that fits the genre.
- Prefer solo play (weight 0.1): A few players recommend playing solo to avoid co-op problems and to better appreciate the horror atmosphere. They note that single-player can be acceptable.
- VR recommended experience (weight 0.08): A player recommends the game specifically for VR, suggesting the developer market it as a VR game with optional non-VR. They find VR jumpscares to be a highlight.
- Avoid playing this game (weight 0.08): Some reviewers explicitly state to avoid the game entirely and to choose a better game instead. They express strong negative sentiment.
- Recommended with caveats (weight 0.07): A few players recommend the game under certain conditions, such as having friends to play with or being a fan of the genre. They suggest playing with friends if you are afraid alone.
- Price value debated (weight 0.06): Opinions are split on the price: some find it acceptable for the content, while others say it is not worth the cost. The game's value seems questionable to many.
- Co-op fun over horror (weight 0.04): One player notes that co-op mode is more about fun than horror, indicating a different tone in multiplayer. This could appeal to players seeking laughs.
- Performance tips for low-end (weight 0.03): A player advises lowering resolution on low-end PCs to improve performance. This indicates potential optimization issues.
- Not for walking simulator fans (weight 0.03): A player warns that the game may not suit those who dislike walking simulators. This suggests a slow-paced gameplay style.
- Frustration with Outlast (weight 0.03): A player suggests the game is not suitable for those who get frustrated by Outlast, implying similar frustrating mechanics. This is a niche warning.
- Acceptable with issues (weight 0.03): A player finds the game acceptable despite its flaws, possibly referring to the price point. This indicates a mixed but not wholly negative view.
- Recommendation after fixes (weight 0.03): A player suggests the game could be worth its price if multiplayer bugs are fixed. This implies current issues detract from the experience.

Other player notes:
- Missing language support (weight 0.18): The game lacks Spanish and Chinese localization, and English translations are poor. Reviewers specifically ask for Chinese support and better translations.
- VR design praised but limiting (weight 0.17): Multiple reviewers note that the game is designed for VR and works well on Oculus without lag. However, this VR focus may explain the lack of graphic settings, which causes issues for non-standard monitors.
- Short gameplay length (weight 0.17): The game is described as short, with playthrough times ranging from 3 to 7 hours depending on the player and mode. This is a common criticism among reviewers.
- Atmosphere praised despite graphics (weight 0.16): Despite rough graphics and low-quality assets, the atmosphere is well-crafted and reminiscent of horror classics like Silent Hill and Outlast. Some reviewers recommend it for horror fans.
- Co-op mode is peer-to-peer (weight 0.14): Reviewers report that the co-op mode uses P2P connections, making it difficult to match with random players. The mode is best enjoyed with friends, and it is a core part of the experience.
- Price considered too high (weight 0.11): Several reviewers feel the game is overpriced compared to similar titles, with some mentioning a low price point as a positive. The price is a common point of contention among users.
- Technical issues and bugs (weight 0.11): Reviewers report technical flaws, including bugs like the mannequin assembly issue and a lack of QA. Some note that a recent update cleaned up many bugs, but others still experience problems.
- Main menu doubles as start (weight 0.11): The main menu is a room that also serves as the starting scene, which several reviewers found innovative. This design choice was noted as a unique aspect of the game.
- Three endings available (weight 0.11): The game features multiple endings, with reviewers specifically mentioning three. This adds replayability, though some note the game has no replay value overall.
- Story driven by tragic events (weight 0.11): The story involves a girl searching for her mother, who dies in a bathtub, and includes cult-like elements towards the ending. The narrative logic is not perfectly delivered.
- Unreal Engine limitations noticed (weight 0.1): The game is built on Unreal Engine 4, with a low object and character count. Some suspect it uses a free version of the engine, contributing to its technical limitations.
- Developer responsiveness mixed (weight 0.1): The developer is sometimes dismissive, but also responsive and committed to making improvements. This mixed feedback may influence player sentiment.
- Compared to developer's previous game (weight 0.08): Reviewers compare the game to the developer's previous title, Protocol, which seemed like a proof-of-concept. This comparison helps contextualize the game's development and quality.
- Refund policy issues (weight 0.08): Reviewers mention that Steam's refund policy prevents refunds, and the game may be designed to prevent timely refunds. This is a significant concern for some players.
- Three-floor exploration loop (weight 0.08): The game has only three floors to explore, with a loop that requires picking up notes to progress. This structure is noted as repetitive by some reviewers.
- Good for streaming and co-op (weight 0.05): The game is good for streaming or messing around with a friend due to many talking points. This makes it appealing for social play.
- Full completion time noted (weight 0.04): The game requires about 12 hours to reach the ending, despite being only 2GB in size. This playtime is longer than expected for the game's size.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.27): The overwhelming majority of frustration stems from severe technical issues: frequent crashes, freezes, black screens after death, and game-breaking bugs that prevent progress or force restarts. Poor optimization, co-op connectivity failures, and scarce resources further compound the negative experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Despite a promising concept and atmosphere, players feel let down by technical flaws, weak story payoffs, and poor execution of horror and puzzle mechanics. Bugs that block progression and lack of essential settings turn what could be a good game into a source of regret.
- Frustrated (weight 0.08): This near-identical sentiment is driven by game-breaking bugs, especially in co-op, that hinder progress and require constant restarts. Performance issues, confusing narratives, and an unbalanced flashlight mechanic also contribute to the player's annoyance.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Positive emotions are tied to the engaging co-op horror experience, the game's atmosphere and visual design, and the fun of teamwork. Players enjoy being scared together and appreciate the game's strange but satisfying moments and non-trivial story.
- Annoyance (weight 0.04): Annoyance arises from co-op bugs that crash the game or mishandle items, instant-death enemy spawns, and poorly designed sections with forced repetition. Resource scarcity and jittery controls also frustrate players.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Repetition is the core cause of boredom, with players citing similar levels, monotonous fetch quests, and repetitive item-searching gameplay. The lack of variety in scenery and enemies makes the later hours feel drawn out and uninteresting.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement stems from the anticipation of a horror VR game and the thrill of facing monsters with weapons. The tense, scary moments in co-op that provoke screams are a highlight, and players enjoy the mystery of going in without instructions.
- Amused (weight 0.03): Amusement is derived from the game's flashy co-op gameplay and humorous bugs, like a blind enemy that still detects the player. Players find the chaotic co-op situations and the act of throwing bottles at things to be fun and laugh-inducing.
- Annoyed (weight 0.03): Annoyance here is fueled by persistent bugs, a poor physics engine, and the developer's dismissive attitude towards bug reports. Forced scavenging for scarce resources and overly direct puzzle hints also reduce the game's challenge and fun.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger results from the game being practically unplayable due to constant crashes, lag, and major bugs. The lack of autosave in co-op causing progress loss and unclear tasks that lead to multiple failed attempts heighten the rage.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy is primarily experienced when playing with friends, as the co-op mode is considered very fun. The game's exquisite graphics and overall fun factor contribute to the positive reaction.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the innovative design concepts, such as the infinite staircase and the need for a flashlight to read notes, along with the detailed script and atmospheric presentation. The effective soundtrack and monster designs, plus the developer's promise of language support, also earn praise.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Satisfaction comes from a great VR experience and enjoying the unique co-op horror gameplay with a good story. The teamwork required when navigating in darkness adds to the fulfilling experience.
- Excited (weight 0.02): Excitement is generated by the co-op combat against enemies with weapons and the fun of playing with friends. The game's uniqueness and overall fun factor also spark enthusiasm.
- Disappointed (weight 0.02): Disappointment arises from a poor UI with missing essential options, unacceptable graphics, and a lack of horror atmosphere. The combat system fails to enhance the horror, leaving players expecting more from the title.
- Impressed (weight 0.02): Players are impressed by the well-crafted music and horror pacing, as well as the excellent UI and sound design. The game's uniqueness and great co-op experience also contribute to the positive impression.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion comes from the game's overall lack of clarity and the visibility issue of black characters in dark environments, which makes it hard to tell if a friend is still alive. This leads to misunderstandings during gameplay.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration is earned through the incredible minimal details and overall quality of the game. The ingenious game idea and dark story also receive high praise.
- Disgust (weight 0.01): Disgust is elicited by the numerous co-op bugs and the overall bad experience, including simplistic models, low-end jump scares, and a mediocre story. These elements combine to create a negative view of the game.
- Motion sickness (weight 0.01): Motion sickness is primarily caused by a locked field of view and the game's camera movement. These factors lead to discomfort and physical unease during play.}