A Hand With Many Fingers
- January 28, 2020
- Colestia
- 3h median play time
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Get on itch.io Store"A Hand with Many Fingers" is a puzzle-adventure game set in a surrealist universe. Players must manipulate a mysterious hand with many fingers to solve increasingly complex puzzles, while uncovering the story of the bizarre world they find themselves in. With its unique art style and intriguing gameplay mechanics, this game offers a fresh and engaging experience for puzzle enthusiasts.
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Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that allows players to piece together a real-world conspiracy using archival research.
- Atmospheric design that effectively creates a sense of paranoia and tension throughout the game.
- Unique mechanic of using a corkboard to connect clues, enhancing the investigative experience.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- The ending feels abrupt and lacks a satisfying resolution, leaving many questions unanswered.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the corkboard and document retrieval, can be clunky and frustrating at times.
- story142 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a real-life conspiracy, engaging players in a detective-like experience where they piece together information from various documents. While many players found the narrative intriguing and enjoyed the investigative mechanics, some criticized the story for being superficial, lacking depth, and ending abruptly without a satisfying resolution. Overall, it appeals to fans of non-linear storytelling and those who appreciate uncovering mysteries, though it may leave some feeling unsatisfied due to its reliance on real events and the absence of a clear conclusion.
“This game will definitely stay with me, both because of its high entertaining value and well-crafted world, but also for telling a story of lies, cover-ups, and the danger of uncovering the truth.”
“The story was interesting, and it was really fun trying to connect everything together and running around to find boxes of evidence to continue digging deeper into the story.”
“In a hand with many fingers, you act as an investigator, gathering information and searching archives, to unravel the true story of a cold war mystery.”
“The story is practically nonexistent since it leaves it up to you, the player, to figure absolutely everything out and come up with your own conclusion about what happened...”
“The game doesn't offer any denouement, so it is up to you the player to make sense of the clues/story on your own.”
“My biggest issue with the game itself was the lack of any real gravity to the story.”
- gameplay140 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around a unique detective mechanic that involves reading and organizing documents on a corkboard to uncover clues, creating an engaging yet simple loop that some players find rewarding. However, many reviewers note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with a desire for more complex puzzles and a broader narrative. Overall, while the core mechanics are intriguing and well-implemented, there is a consensus that the game would benefit from additional content and variety to enhance the experience.
“The actual gameplay involves reading newspaper clippings, bank records, and CIA communiques, organizing this information on a cork board, and finding new boxes by combining these clues.”
“It is brilliantly simple in its mechanics and flow, and as a mystery-solving game it is both intriguing and challenging.”
“Excellent gameplay loop of putting together clues and searching the archive armed with that evidence.”
“I would have even forgiven a bland storyline if the puzzle mechanic had been a puzzle and not just a 'find file x, open file x, find file y' loop that required absolutely no thought whatsoever.”
“The gameplay loop involves looking at some of the highlighted terms on a newspaper clipping, business card, receipt — that kind of thing — finding a name, year, geographical location, and walking out into a hallway, finding a drawer with a specific year that belongs to that geographical area, and then flicking through the cards in what should really be a smoother and more satisfying experience before walking down to the basement, picking up a box, taking it back to your 'office,' opening it, getting another thing with another name, year, and location, and doing all that over again until the 'game' ends...”
“The game is another one of those where the gameplay loop is based on the procedures of a bureaucrat.”
- atmosphere64 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and unsettling qualities, effectively inducing feelings of paranoia and tension without relying on cheap scares. Players appreciate the haunting sound design and lighting that enhance the immersive experience, making the atmosphere a standout feature that elevates the overall gameplay. Despite some critiques regarding the game's length and resolution, the atmospheric elements are consistently highlighted as exceptional and integral to the game's impact.
“I’d most like to compliment the game for its stellar employment of oppressive atmosphere, how well it builds a sense of paranoia without cheap tricks.”
“The atmosphere and tone are pitch perfect, the music dropping off as you enter the archives giving it a deeply unsettling feeling.”
“The general atmosphere is eerie and you always feel like you're being watched/followed and feel generally unsafe.”
“The game carries a real haunting atmosphere that manages to induce minor bouts of paranoia in its albeit short playtime.”
“But while I wanted to delve deeper and deeper into the archive, the atmosphere becomes … unsettling.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally described as simple and low quality, yet they effectively contribute to the overall atmosphere with strong art direction and good lighting. While some players find the minimalist style appealing, others note technical issues, such as resolution bugs that hinder readability. Overall, the graphics are not a major drawback, as they complement the straightforward gameplay and immersive experience.
“The game is fantastically subdued; simple graphics but great lighting and sound design provide a really nice atmosphere.”
“The graphics are very basic, but the art direction is strong.”
“Simple mechanics, lovely minimalist graphics, and brilliantly judged balance of hand-holding and free research.”
“The graphics are very low quality, the gameplay is very linear, and the story is mostly just facts.”
“A bug reduces the resolution on restart about half of the time and makes the graphics and text completely illegible.”
“I had to fiddle with the graphical settings to 'fix' the problem each time.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that it can be completed in about two hours, making it feel like a one-time experience. Reviewers express disappointment over the short length and suggest that the game could benefit from additional content and gameplay mechanics to enhance its value. Overall, it is deemed unsatisfying and not worth the investment for those seeking a game with lasting appeal.
“My only complaint is that it was too short, and there is absolutely no replayability, so you're getting about a 2-hour experience here.”
“It's boring, unsatisfying, and has zero replayability based on what I've read in other reviews — which I really should have paid more attention to before buying this on sale, not playing it for months, finishing it in about two hours, and not being able to refund the nothing-sandwich that it is.”
“Please note that if you need a game that is bang for your buck, this is not it; it offers no replayability (understandably), and is rather a one-and-done experience.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for enhancing the atmosphere, with a mix of great compositions and effective use of silence to create tension. However, some players find the looping classical music sample repetitive and annoying, leading them to turn it off, which highlights the unsettling quiet of certain areas. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's tone and emotional impact.
“The atmosphere and tone are pitch perfect, the music dropping off as you enter the archives, giving it a deeply unsettling feeling.”
“Great music, simple straightforward graphics, and the gameplay loop, while also simple, is rewarding.”
“The looping classical music sample on the radio becomes annoying, so I turn it off, only to realize that the sheer quiet of the archive is host to a palpable hostility.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game varies significantly among players; some find it deeply engaging, likening it to the emotional experience of reading historical content, while others feel it lacks any emotional resonance, leaving them indifferent.
“So if you have a vivid imagination and get all emotional about reading historical Wikipedia articles, this game is for you.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly the index searching and box retrieval, to be somewhat tedious but ultimately rewarding. The slow-paced gameplay and the anticipation of discovering new information keep the experience engaging, despite the repetitive nature of the tasks involved. Overall, it strikes a balance between being informative and slightly laborious, appealing to fans of investigative gameplay.
“The box retrieval got a bit tedious, and I never liked going into the archive.”
“The gameplay can feel slow-paced and a bit tedious at times.”
“While I enjoy the investigative aspects, the grinding can become repetitive.”
