3AM CORP: The Balbazar Resort
- June 5, 2024
- AlienBigCat
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "3AM CORP: The Balbazar Resort," a free-to-play episodic horror/psychological thriller game, you must evade the enigmatic Balbazar, use your homemade sleuth kit to capture proof of the supernatural, and survive the night at an abandoned resort. Some say Balbazar is deranged, while others believe he's protecting his life's work. With Phanto's Polaroid Camera and Night Vision technology, unravel the mystery and escape before it's too late.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a unique aesthetic that creates a surreal atmosphere, making it visually appealing.
- As a first game from the developer, it shows great potential and has received praise for its sound design and ambiance.
- Despite some gameplay issues, many players found the exploration and atmosphere enjoyable, with a good mix of humor and scares.
- Players frequently encountered bugs and issues, such as being unable to use the elevator or interact with certain items, which hindered progression.
- The game lacks clear instructions and guidance, leading to confusion about objectives and what constitutes 'evidence' to progress.
- Some found the level design and optimization lacking, with repetitive visuals and performance issues that detracted from the overall experience.
- graphics16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a unique and vibrant aesthetic, featuring glossy pink textures and colorful neon visuals that create a fun and immersive atmosphere. While many players appreciate the artistic design and 80s vibe, some note that the glossy textures can detract from realism and may impact performance on higher settings. Overall, the graphics are praised for their creativity and execution, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
“Graphics were fantastic, music and audio were great, ambiance was creepy, and my god... it was so pink!”
“The colors and aesthetic are so unique and fun to play in.”
“Fun mall game with very colorful neon ultra-realistic shiny graphics and fun levels.”
- music10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with players praising its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and vibe, contributing to a unique and engaging experience. The main menu music, in particular, stands out as a highlight, evoking a sense of enjoyment and nostalgia. Overall, the audio complements the game's graphics and ambiance, making it a memorable aspect for many players.
“The music and audio were great, creating a fantastic atmosphere that kept me engaged throughout the game.”
“I actually had quite a lot of fun playing this little game; I thought I'd just give it a shot because I liked the music and the style.”
“That main menu music is something else; it had me vibing as the young ones would say.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, blending unsettling elements with a distinct visual style, often described as "disgustingly pink." Players appreciate the focus on exploration and the effort put into storytelling, with the music and environmental design contributing to a creeping horror that enhances the overall experience. Despite some technical issues, the atmosphere is compelling enough to keep players engaged.
“Usually with so many issues I'd delete the game, but this game was interesting enough—the atmosphere, the music, the uniqueness despite it being disgustingly pink everywhere—to make me want to keep trying.”
“If you take the time to explore the environments and take in the atmosphere, you start to see the effort the developer has put in to build a story.”
“I like that it's more based on exploration and atmosphere than fast-paced survival.”
- story6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story is intentionally designed to feel surface-level, encouraging players to explore the environments and immerse themselves in the atmosphere to uncover deeper narrative elements. This approach to contextual storytelling is praised for its rewarding nature, highlighting the developer's effort in crafting a rich backdrop.
“And I can't even complain that the story felt like it barely scratched the surface because I think that's the point.”
“If you take the time to explore the environments and take in the atmosphere, you start to see the effort the developer has put in to build a story.”
“Contextual storytelling is always so rewarding in games like this.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with numerous bugs and poorly placed items contributing to a frustrating experience. Players report that the game is almost unplayable, requiring frequent refreshes, and criticize the use of cheap assets and confusing design choices. Despite its potential, significant improvements are needed to enhance gameplay and overall performance.
“There's real potential here, but it needs some optimization and improvements.”
“Bad optimization, no clue on what to do, items scattered in places that make no sense at all, cheap assets being used as items, many bugs that make the game almost unplayable. I pressed F9 to refresh every 10 minutes, nothing is scary, a bad copy of the backrooms with a homopink color and poorly designed map.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a standard walking simulator, but the overall atmosphere and vibes are so engaging that players find it enjoyable regardless of the simplicity.
“While the gameplay is a standard walking sim, the vibes are so good you won't care.”
“While the gameplay is standard walking sim, the vibes are so good you won't care.”
