.redruM
- October 17, 2024
- Paul Alex M Samaniego
!!!WARNING TO USERS!!! .redruM was born as a work of art before being a walking sim game, which aims to communicate a message. The game is deliberately slow, this is precisely to stimulate the user to look for this message within themselves and do it with calm and patience. The .redruM Experience: A Psychological and Cinematic Horror .redruM is a psychological and cinematic horror experience…
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and a beautiful color combination that enhances the immersive experience.
- It effectively captures the feeling of liminal spaces, creating a unique and unsettling atmosphere that engages players.
- The gameplay encourages introspection and reflection, making it a thought-provoking journey into the human psyche.
- The gameplay can feel slow and tedious, with long stretches of walking that detract from the overall experience.
- There is a lack of coherent storytelling, making it difficult for players to connect with the narrative.
- Some players found the use of loud sounds for scares to be less effective than building a gradual atmosphere of horror.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story attempts to convey themes of trauma through environmental storytelling, but many players find it disjointed and difficult to follow. While the absence of dialogue and text is appreciated for its artistic intent, the lack of coherence and engaging exploration detracts from the overall narrative experience. Players suggest that more structured storytelling at the beginning of levels and smoother gameplay could enhance understanding and enjoyment of the story.
“I liked the use of environments instead of dialogue/text to tell a story.”
“The dev reached out to me via email to explain the ending of the game and to also explain their intention with telling a story through this form of art.”
“While I do see video games as a form of art, I can only imagine the difficulty it takes to not only develop the game, but to also tell the story you want to tell in a fluid way.”
“The locations change but... there's nothing connecting a coherent story here.”
“Unfortunately, I felt your game's story was a difficult one to process and understand for myself in the way it was told.”
“I did appreciate the stylized choice of not including any text or voice overs to tell a story, and to rely solely on environments and gameplay to tell it instead, but when this happens it forces the player to interpret for themselves whatever it is they are experiencing.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around the liminal space concept, guiding players through levels with bright lights while encouraging reflection on limited actions. While the absence of text and voiceovers enhances immersion, some players feel that the long walking sequences lack substance and that additional storytelling could improve the experience. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its chill exploration and realistic graphics, though some frustrations may arise from the mechanics and pacing.
“The whole gameplay is based on the liminal space concept, so in most of the levels you are somehow guided by brighter lights.”
“Searching for answers in these desolate landscapes and wondering which mechanics to expect only makes you sink in further into the world the developers wished to create, helping you learn how to become part of it, and your discoveries unravel later on.”
“10/10 chill liminal space exploration photo game with realistic graphics and extremely fun gameplay.”
“What little substance I did get to experience in between these long moments of walking simply wasn't enough for me to justify the gameplay choice of endless walking.”
“Personally, I think that the possibility to stop the gameplay and resume it later would be nice to have, and maybe a little more storytelling at the beginning of each level would also be great.”
“I did appreciate the stylized choice of not including any text or voice overs to tell a story, and to rely solely on environments and gameplay to tell it instead, but when this happens it forces the player to interpret for themselves whatever it is they are experiencing.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of Redrum are widely praised for their stunning aesthetics and immersive color combinations, effectively capturing the essence of liminal spaces and unsettling environments. Players appreciate the unique adaptation of these themes, although some find the abrupt transitions to backroom-style settings can detract from the narrative experience. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
“Stunning graphics, truly impeccable color combination that makes the gaming experience even more immersive.”
“10/10 chill liminal space exploration photo game with realistic graphics and extremely fun gameplay.”
“Redrum lies in its aesthetics of liminal spaces and unsettling environments.”
“While the themes of backrooms and liminal spaces are present, they are not taken literally; instead, the developer has skillfully adapted this aesthetic to create something unique and original.”
“The graphics and the approach of the game had me intrigued.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as meticulously crafted, creating a dreamlike experience that distorts the familiar into the strange and disturbing. However, some reviewers criticize the reliance on loud sounds for scares rather than developing a genuinely unsettling atmosphere, which detracts from the horror experience.
“The meticulously crafted atmospheres transform the journey into an almost dreamlike experience, where the familiar becomes strange and the mundane turns disturbing.”
“The game also uses loud sounds to scare instead of building up atmosphere to something actually scary, which is not a great way to do horror.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that using a good pair of headsets enhances the emotional experience of the game, particularly by intensifying feelings of fear and immersion.