1000 Heads Among the Trees
- December 10, 2015
- Aaron Oldenburg
"1000 Heads Among the Trees" is a first-person exploration game set in a 3D Peruvian desert town at night. Players use a camera to converse with locals by taking photos, revealing their thoughts and impressions. The game explores themes of tourism, cultural clashes, and the power of observation, all while immersing the player in a richly detailed and atmospheric environment.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and eerie atmosphere that immerses players in the strange town of Cachiche, Peru, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate exploration.
- The photography mechanic allows players to uncover the story by interacting with townsfolk, creating a sense of discovery and engagement.
- Despite its flaws, the game has an interesting concept and can be enjoyable for players who appreciate unconventional narratives and artistic expression.
- The graphics and sound design are poorly executed, with repetitive character models and unoptimized performance that detracts from the overall experience.
- The story is often nonsensical and lacks clear direction, leaving players confused about objectives and the game's purpose.
- Many players found the gameplay boring and lacking in traditional game mechanics, making it feel more like an unfinished art project than a cohesive game.
- story16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring an intriguing premise and unique mechanics, such as uncovering the narrative through photography, but suffers from poor execution and inconsistency. While some players appreciate its atmospheric approach and the subtlety of the storytelling, others criticize the lack of clear objectives and coherence, leading to a fragmented experience. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy exploration-driven narratives but may disappoint players seeking a more structured storyline.
“The story somehow has the paradoxical ability to be both subtle and specific at the same time.”
“But if you can appreciate something for atmosphere, and if you are willing to compromise having any linear, cut and dry story in favor of a narrative shaped by exploration and personal perspective, then you should be able to enjoy this game.”
“I definitely recommend this game for those who like out of the box games which are creative and follow an intriguing story line.”
“The story makes no sense.”
“In its current state, however, I cannot recommend '1,000 Heads' as its unfinished story and barebone graphics all act as deterrent factors.”
“There are no quest elements (despite some optional 'quests' from the journal where the game asks you to make photos of specific objects - they affect nothing but Steam achievements), no other goals, no challenge, and no 'real' gameplay in '1,000 Heads.'”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a first-person walking simulator focused on photography, where players explore a small South American village, interact with townsfolk, and uncover the story through the pictures they take. While the photography mechanic is intriguing, the game lacks traditional quest elements, challenges, and depth, resulting in a straightforward and somewhat janky experience. Overall, it caters more to those interested in narrative exploration rather than action-oriented gameplay.
“Short, janky story game with an interesting photography mechanic.”
“The interesting thing about the gameplay is that you uncover the story by showing the pictures you've taken to random people that you meet.”
“There are no quest elements (despite some optional 'quests' from the journal where the game asks you to make photos of specific objects - they affect nothing but the Steam achievements section), no other goals, no challenge, and no 'real' gameplay in 1,000 heads.”
“In terms of gameplay, it's pretty straightforward - it's a first-person walking simulator where you take pictures of interesting people and things.”
“It ran very poorly considering there were little to no textures or mechanics.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, with many players praising its ability to evoke chills and immerse them in a creepy, mysterious world. While some reviews highlight the game's strong sound design and mood, others criticize technical flaws that detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, it appeals to those who appreciate atmospheric exploration over linear storytelling.
“This game does more with atmosphere than the last dozen horror games I've played, and it's worth buying while it's on sale, to at least experience what some really good sound design and a vaguely stitched together story can do.”
“I actually got chills playing this game, due to its creepy atmosphere.”
“I'd recommend it for people that are like me; people that enjoy games that bleed atmosphere and make you not only want, but need to solve the mysteries of the world that has been created for you.”
“Alas, they are buried underneath clunky graphics, slipshod sound design, and severe game design flaws that completely ruin all the atmosphere of the project.”
“: as you could already guess, it's not a 'horror game': the atmosphere is completely broken.”
“The atmosphere of the town and its creepy residents reminded me of an old cyberflix classic, Dust: A Tale of the Wired West, though it doesn't have nearly as much content.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users describing them as "awful" and "horrible," often likening them to low-budget indie projects. While some appreciate that the visuals align with the game's narrative, the overall consensus is that the clunky graphics and poor sound design detract significantly from the experience, making it difficult to recommend the game in its current state.
“If you've ever happened to go on an ethnographic expedition to a remote village or small town (no matter what country), you will recognize everything immediately.”
“The visuals are not good, but it's fair for this price tag and an indie game. Yet, there are other issues like the wind and the wind sound effect going through the buildings, and the character dialogues are random when you show them your pictures, making it feel kind of irrelevant.”
“Alas, they are buried underneath clunky graphics, slipshod sound design, and severe game design flaws that completely ruin all the atmosphere of the project.”
“In its current state, however, I cannot recommend '1,000 Heads' as its unfinished story and barebone graphics all act as deterrent factors.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while some players report smooth performance without issues, others highlight significant optimization problems that can lead to poor frame rates, even on capable hardware. Overall, the game's performance appears to vary widely among users.
“I had no issues with gameplay, no stuttering, no walking through walls, sound works perfectly, no problems, nada.”
“The game runs smoothly.”
“It's a Unity game, and if not optimized well, those games will run at single-digit frame rates, even if your rig can handle it.”
“- Abysmal optimization.”
“The only drawback is the unoptimized performance.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate mixed feelings about the game's stability, with some users reporting bugs and glitches, while others argue that certain issues are overstated and not true glitches. Overall, the perception of stability seems to vary significantly among players.
“I've seen people complain the game is buggy, that it has 'Jim Sterling written all over it'.”
“Glitches?”
“Unless you count post-processing in tense moments as glitches, which entirely misses the point.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for being forgettable and resembling generic royalty-free tracks, with some users noting the absence of any notable musical elements.
“The music is also not good and sounds like the most forgettable royalty-free music.”
“There's no music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is perceived as lacking, with players suggesting that while it may be enjoyable to share laughs with friends, the game's design fails to effectively incorporate humor, detracting from the overall experience. The attempt at a documentary realism further undermines any comedic elements, leaving players feeling that the humor is overshadowed by the game's shortcomings.
“Playing with a group of friends while commenting on everything you see and laughing at every silly thing you encounter makes the experience incredibly fun.”
“The humor in this game shines through in unexpected moments, making even the most serious situations light-hearted and enjoyable.”
“The witty dialogue and clever puns throughout the game keep players engaged and entertained, adding a delightful layer of humor to the experience.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally recommend grinding for game farming, indicating that it can be an effective and rewarding strategy for resource accumulation and character progression.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, but the rewards just aren't worth the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
