A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead
- October 17, 2024
- Stormind Games
- 10h median play time
It’s terrifically tense, but A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead doesn’t quite have the story surprises or enough substantial changes to its simplistic stealth-based gameplay to allow it to completely go the distance.
"A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead" is a horror adventure game based on the movie franchise, where you play as a young survivor in a post-apocalyptic world filled with sound-sensitive creatures. The game focuses on silent survival, exploration, and interpersonal conflicts, with an optional microphone noise detection feature to enhance the immersive experience. Your ingenuity and observational skills are crucial in this eerily quiet yet dangerous world.
Reviews
- The game captures the tense atmosphere of the A Quiet Place films, immersing players in a world where silence is crucial for survival.
- The stealth mechanics are engaging and challenging, requiring careful planning and execution to avoid detection by the Death Angels.
- The visuals and sound design are impressive, enhancing the overall experience and making encounters with the creatures feel intense.
- The game suffers from performance issues, including stuttering and low frame rates, which can detract from the gameplay experience.
- The pacing can feel slow and repetitive, with some players finding the gameplay loop tedious after a while.
- The AI behavior of the Death Angels can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where players are killed despite being quiet.
- gameplay161 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the tension and unique mechanics, such as the asthma and sound-based elements, which enhance the stealth experience reminiscent of titles like "Alien: Isolation." However, many critics point out issues with repetitive mechanics, janky AI, and frustrating gameplay elements that detract from immersion and enjoyment, leading to a slower and at times tedious experience. Overall, while the game introduces interesting mechanics, the execution leaves room for improvement, particularly in pacing and engagement.
“The gameplay immerses you in the franchise's tense atmosphere, making every moment feel suspenseful.”
“I really enjoyed that more and more mechanics were introduced all along the way up until the end, kept the game fresh enough to keep playing.”
“The stealth-based gameplay is reminiscent of Alien: Isolation, keeping you constantly alert and tense.”
“This concept had so much potential but it feels ruined by janky creature AI, tedious missions, and repetitive mechanics.”
“However, after about 25% of the way in, the gameplay becomes very repetitive and loses its excitement.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, and it holds your hand the entire time.”
- story133 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it predictable, lacking depth, and suffering from poor character development. While some appreciated the initial setup and emotional moments, others criticized the repetitive missions and abrupt shifts in focus that detracted from the narrative. Overall, the game offers a serviceable storyline that ties into the "A Quiet Place" universe, but it often fails to engage players fully due to its inconsistencies and pacing issues.
“Great story, really good characters, and character building.”
“The story is a well-written one about tragedy and loss and doing whatever it takes to survive, just like the movies.”
“The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging.”
“The story is unoriginal, lackluster, and disappointing.”
“The game really hasn't got much for the player to get invested in for a story game and the gameplay itself is quite infuriating at times.”
“Unfortunately, the story kinda falls off halfway through the game and doesn't really wrap itself up very well, which is a shame.”
- graphics58 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the beautiful visuals, atmospheric detail, and immersive environments. However, some users reported graphical bugs, particularly in bright areas, and optimization issues that affected performance. Overall, while the graphics are not flawless, they are considered solid and contribute significantly to the game's tension and immersion.
“Very well detailed graphics, very atmospheric game.”
“The graphics are beautiful, and I have a 3060 which is what most people use, so I recommend buying the game.”
“The game’s visuals are simply outstanding, excellent detail and lighting that perfectly recreate the eerie atmosphere of the A Quiet Place films.”
“First started the game and was having huge graphical errors (the center of the screen would shoot up to the corner and then everything would be stretched out). The starting story is stupid and predictable, and the fact that her asthma is so bad that you're having to pop pills or slog through slow walking... it's not fun and ended up giving me a headache.”
“The graphics are quite buggy, especially in areas with sunlight. Luckily, most of the game is at night or in dark spaces, but otherwise, the sun made everything look fuzzy.”
“I think the only graphical issue I had were the trees having triangular leaves due to wrong textures being used and flying objects here and there, moving back to their correct position once I got close enough.”
- optimization43 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and low FPS, particularly on high-end hardware like the RTX 4070 and 4090. However, others report smooth performance after recent hotfixes, suggesting that while the game has potential, it still requires further optimization and patches to address the existing bugs and performance inconsistencies. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely among players, indicating a need for ongoing improvements.
“The game's performance was surprisingly good on my PC.”
“It's a surprisingly well-optimized title, which unfortunately requires a degree of recognition nowadays.”
“Plus, the game runs very smoothly and has great optimization options.”
“Some of the complaints about performance are pretty valid, as I had a lot of issues before I forced DX11.”
“However, this game is still poorly optimized and I hope it gets a little more TLC.”
“Performance is terrible even on a powerful machine; the game might be good, but I can hardly play it to find out until they fix this.”
- atmosphere31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and tense qualities, effectively capturing the eerie essence of the "A Quiet Place" films through detailed graphics and sound design. Players appreciate the attention to detail that enhances the suspenseful experience, although some note that certain gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall tension. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that keeps players engaged and on edge throughout their experience.
“I love the movies, and this game captures the atmosphere perfectly.”
“The game’s visuals are simply outstanding, excellent detail and lighting that perfectly recreate the eerie atmosphere of the A Quiet Place films.”
“The gameplay immerses you in the franchise's tense atmosphere, making every moment feel suspenseful.”
“Asthma as a mechanic isn't a bad idea, but when your idea is that the person is meant to be terrified about a monster but you have to stay far away because of asthma, it takes away the feeling of fear and replaces it with annoyance of having to focus on a mechanic versus being absorbed in the atmosphere.”
“The monster always being viable ruined the scary atmosphere for me personally.”
“Issues with the game mechanics, atmosphere, and death animations.”
- stability15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches, particularly with interactions and enemy AI, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users noted minor issues and occasional lag, others found the game nearly unplayable due to severe bugs, especially towards the end. Overall, many reviewers expressed hope for future patches to address these stability concerns.
“I completed the intro part just fine, and that's all I've done so far, but it runs great for me.”
“Due to the repetitive nature of the game and the extremely buggy enemy AI, the game started to feel like more of a chore instead of something fun about halfway through.”
“Game was cool to start up, but then the game started having really bad glitches that made it unplayable. I won't be revisiting this until there's a patch!”
“Potentially great, but a buggy mess.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as effective but often forgettable, serving its purpose in enhancing the atmosphere and tension. However, many players find the frequent and sometimes confusing musical cues—especially during monster encounters—distracting and detrimental to the gameplay experience. Recommendations include turning off the music to avoid annoying sound effects, as the game emphasizes silence and stealth.
“The narrative is probably what you expect but it's delivered well with good music, voice acting, and animations.”
“- The sound design, with its brooding and foreboding music, perfectly supplants the tension.”
“Music/soundtrack: 7/10”
“Constantly, the music that lets you know that you are alerting the monster is playing when it seemingly shouldn't, which will lead to many unnecessary deaths.”
“It played way too often and sometimes left me confused if the monster was actually searching for me or just wanting to play me the song of its people.”
“Recommendation for first play-through: turn off the music to remove the awful stingers that constantly annoy when a creature hears you or jumps into frame.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often feeling bogged down by slow mechanics and janky AI. While the story has potential, the prolonged missions and constant interruptions from scanning mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, the grinding elements are seen as a significant drawback, making it challenging for players to fully enjoy the game.
“This concept had so much potential, but it feels ruined by janky creature AI, tedious missions, and repetitive mechanics.”
“All in all, I would say play it for the story and be prepared to do some tedious things to get toward the end.”
“At times, it's very immersive and creepy, but other times, it's tedious and repetitive.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative and touching poetry, which resonate deeply with players. Despite some technical issues, the immersive experience and emotional moments effectively engage players, evoking strong feelings reminiscent of the original film's impact. The potential for exploring darker themes adds to the emotional depth, making it a compelling experience within the "A Quiet Place" universe.
“Some of the poetry and notes scattered around is really touching and unique to this game.”
“The narrative is also very good; it has some emotional moments, and in general it helps to break the pace when needed without slowing it down; even the side content is quite interesting.”
“A very touching and very immersive game.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that the linear gameplay and minimal content beyond the initial playthrough diminish its long-term appeal. While some find value in the novelty of playing with friends, the lack of depth and meaningful incentives for replaying the game lead to a consensus that it offers limited replay value.
“I don't think there is much replay value in the game.”
“After my first playthrough on easy difficulty, I finally finished the game and it's alright. I'd give it a 6/10, but it's overpriced for the bare-bones amount of gameplay you get (for the first 3 hours). It has almost zero replay value besides collecting toy ships to unlock concept and character art, and the quality of the story, dialogue, and characters ranges from extremely middling to poor.”
“While the initial playthrough is enjoyable, the game's linear nature and lack of significant replay value may limit its longevity.”
- character development3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being stagnant and unengaging, with the main character's asthma serving as an ineffective stress mechanic rather than a meaningful aspect of her growth. Reviewers note that her reckless behavior and lack of regard for others further detract from any potential development, alongside poor character design.
“The story is pretty boring, and the character development doesn't really go anywhere.”
“She constantly puts herself and her loved ones in danger with no regard for them, along with poor character designs.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this game appears to be minimal, as users express surprise at the lack of advertisements, suggesting it may not be a typical cash grab associated with movie tie-ins. However, there is skepticism about the quality of such games, indicating a general wariness among players regarding monetization practices in this genre.
“Most movies that turn into games usually are just trash or cash grabs.”
“Surprised there was no advertisement for this game; I found it through Reddit.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its relatable and lighthearted take on asthma, resonating with players who find it both amusing and engaging. Additionally, some users find humor in the performance issues faced by others, adding a layer of playful schadenfreude to the experience.
“First off, I came here for two reasons: one is that as a fellow loser with asthma, when I saw this game and its asthma-based gameplay, I found it not just funny but also hooked me in. I'll try to keep it simple.”
“I'm laughing at the NVIDIA users having performance issues.”
Critic Reviews
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead Review
It’s terrifically tense, but A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead doesn’t quite have the story surprises or enough substantial changes to its simplistic stealth-based gameplay to allow it to completely go the distance.
70%A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead Review – Say It Quietly
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead doesn't have enough innovation to prevent it from running out of steam in its final hours, though it does a solid job of replicating the franchise's thesis in video game form.
60%A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead Review (Xbox Series X
A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead delivers plenty of spooks throughout its roughly eight-hour adventure, but it does run out of ideas somewhat during the back half of that runtime. When called upon, the cast is well-acted (even if the story is quite threadbare) and the whole thing does enough to cement itself as a worthy entry in the 'A Quiet Place' universe, which is a nice achievement for Stormind Games. Some more late-game variety and additional options for dealing with the enemy could have made this a horror great, but as it stands, The Road Ahead is just a decent romp through what's becoming quite a popular movie universe. Horror game aficionados and A Quiet Place superfans should definitely consider this one, but for those less experienced, there are better options out there on the horror game market.
70%