A Wolf in Autumn
- October 26, 2015
- David Szymanski
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Get on itch.io Store"A Wolf in Autumn" is a psychological horror game with a focus on narrative and atmosphere over jump scares. Players control a young girl lost in an autumn forest, trying to escape sinister forces while solving puzzles using real-world logic. The game features voice acting by Julie Hoverson and draws inspiration from works like 'The Sound and The Fury' and 'Silent Hill 2.'
Reviews
- The game features an interesting and unsettling story that explores themes of family and trauma.
- The visuals are striking and create a haunting atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
- Puzzles are logical and provide multiple solutions, encouraging exploration and critical thinking.
- The game is very short, typically taking only about 30 to 60 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
- The lack of an inventory system, allowing only one item to be carried at a time, can lead to frustrating gameplay.
- The narrative can be vague and confusing, leaving some players unsure about the story's deeper meanings.
- story205 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "A Wolf in Autumn" is a brief yet impactful exploration of dark themes, particularly focusing on the troubled relationship between a mother and daughter, often leaving players with a sense of unease and introspection. While some find the narrative compelling and rich in metaphor, others criticize it for being vague, poorly written, or lacking depth, leading to mixed feelings about its overall effectiveness. Despite its brevity and simplicity, the game manages to evoke strong emotions and provoke thought, making it a noteworthy experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
“Another of David Szymanski's works with a great art style, characters, and a very impactful story and message told through your adventure in another of his dark but captivating worlds.”
“The story is told brilliantly through terrifying voice messages left by the mother, and through the daughter's inner monologues.”
“I found myself drawn to this game with its stunning visuals and stayed for the gut-wrenching storyline and intensity that shook me.”
“I was just starting to get invested in the game when it ended and left feeling unsatisfied... so a little thin and confusing on the story.”
“The story really didn’t make too much sense; a lot of games try to use a lack of information to make the game seem deep or dark, and this game just spent a whole lot of time saying nothing.”
“The story consists of events that are entirely possible, and unfortunately do happen, but it feels like the story and game really needed to be fleshed out more to be worth the time.”
- graphics81 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the vibrant colors and unique art style, while others find them harsh and difficult to look at, often causing discomfort. Many agree that the visuals contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere, but the execution can feel cheap or overwhelming, detracting from the overall experience. Despite the graphical shortcomings, the storytelling and sound design are frequently praised, suggesting that the narrative may overshadow the visual flaws for some players.
“Another of David Szymanski's works with a great art style, characters, and a very impactful story told through your adventure in another of his dark but captivating worlds.”
“The visuals were stellar, the setting, and unique story/atmosphere made this indie horror game easily stand out.”
“A really interesting game with stunning visuals that creates a weird environment for the game with such a deep and depressing story, bringing out the contrast of both happy and sad.”
“The graphics hurt my eyes a little.”
“You can do low poly or simple visuals well, and this game just doesn't.”
“The graphics are intentionally bad; it seems to suggest that the little girl (the protagonist) is partially blind.”
- gameplay61 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "A Wolf in Autumn" is primarily puzzle-based, featuring simple mechanics that involve exploring environments and solving straightforward puzzles, though some players found them confusing and poorly explained. While the game offers a unique atmosphere and engaging narrative elements, many reviewers noted that the gameplay is rudimentary and lacks depth, making it less appealing for those prioritizing gameplay over story. Overall, it is characterized as a short experience (around 40 minutes) that may entertain fans of walking simulators but may disappoint those seeking more challenging or intricate gameplay.
“Challenging adventure game mechanics.”
“Wonderful story with engaging environmental interactive gameplay.”
“The gameplay itself is decent; you'll have to explore around to find tools and then use the right one on the right object: sometimes the solution might be less straightforward than it first seems and a couple of objects/levers might require you to think a bit.”
“The gameplay is nothing special; A Wolf in Autumn is mostly a puzzle game where you walk around your environments and solve very simplistic puzzles.”
“Unfortunately, I felt it hurt the gameplay too much, as you could easily miss important stuff, and playing with the flashlight to see things around you wasn't so comfortable.”
“However, a total lack of explanation regarding the game's mechanics and simplistic controls can make for painfully obtuse puzzles, stalling the narrative instead of enhancing it.”
- atmosphere58 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent voice acting and sound design that create a sense of unease. While some players find the art style visually challenging, the overall ambiance is described as beautifully haunting, effectively building tension without relying on jump scares. Despite some gameplay clunkiness, the game's ability to evoke a disturbing and thought-provoking atmosphere stands out, making it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric horror.
“Beautiful and terrifying atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere here is chilling and deeply saddening at the same time.”
“This game nails the creepy atmosphere, and doesn't require jump scares or blood and gore to do so.”
“Note though that the interfaces/hit boxes for interactions can be more than a little finicky, which absolutely detracts from the atmosphere, jolting you out of the narrative flow as you try to adjust the camera angle to allow you to successfully interact with an object to solve a puzzle/further the plot.”
“All oppressive atmosphere and nothing else.”
“The game is grim, the atmosphere is dark.”
- music53 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in "A Wolf in Autumn" is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, enhancing the game's eerie and unsettling ambiance. While some reviewers noted that it may not be as prominent or impactful as the soundtracks of the developer's previous titles, such as "The Music Machine," the overall sound design, including voice acting and ambient effects, is considered well-executed and contributes significantly to the game's emotional and horror elements.
“I especially really liked the soundtrack; it's beautiful and helps elevate certain sequences of the game, especially the more emotional beats.”
“The music is equally well-made and punctuates the game with well-placed menacing tracks.”
“The overall art design of the game is stunning and really adds to the haunting atmosphere David Szymanski was trying to create; however, what really makes the atmosphere, in my opinion, is the music and subtle sound effects that make you doubt yourself and have a quick look around your area to make sure you are still alone.”
“Sound track: 2/10”
“The music machine had this problem as well, but it was redeemed by its great visual direction and stylish flair; A Wolf in Autumn doesn't have this.”
“The music in this game is less present than in the music machine, but it does sound good, and the ambient sounds are well placed.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players reporting strong reactions ranging from tears to a deep sense of discomfort and protectiveness. The soundtrack and exceptional voice acting, particularly by Julie Hoverson, enhance the emotional depth, making the experience feel more like a poignant narrative exploration than traditional gameplay. Overall, it is described as a short yet impactful journey that effectively addresses difficult themes, leaving a lasting emotional impression.
“Made me cry and want to hug my mother. 11/10”
“It's a short horror puzzler, and I won't spoil what it's actually about, but it touches on an emotionally difficult topic that it uses successfully to make the player feel increasingly uncomfortable and protective as the nature of the threat to the little girl you play as becomes more and more apparent.”
“The voice of the mother is done phenomenally by Julie Hoverson, who presents every frustration, every emotional high or low with a stellar performance.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is inconsistent, with some players experiencing significant glitches that hinder progression, while others report a smooth experience. Overall, while the graphics and aesthetics are appreciated, the presence of frequent glitches detracts from the overall enjoyment for many users.
“No glitches, good progression, somewhat confusing (thought-provoking) ending; I enjoyed it.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to focus on the story without interruptions.”
“Six minutes in, and my eyes are nearly bleeding from the head-bob, and then, near the end of the game (the basement), there were two different glitches that prevented progression.”
“Not gonna start a third game to see if it glitches again, so I have no idea how the game ends, and I am refunding it.”
“However, the game glitches a decent amount.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that it offers no alternative paths or choices to explore after the initial playthrough. While some find it enjoyable and worth the price, the consensus is that it is a short experience, typically completed in about 45 minutes, with little incentive to replay.
“It has zero replay value; there are no 'what if I chose differently' paths.”
“It's fun and quite interesting, but it has no replay value, which is a bit disappointing.”
“It's quite simple, short as the store page says (beaten in 45 minutes), basically no replay value.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, with some expressing frustration over mechanics that limit multitasking, such as only being able to use one hand. This has led to a sense of monotony that detracts from the overall experience.
“Life is a grinding machine indeed.”
“I feel like playing the music machine for the third time just to rinse this tedious experience from my brain.”
“The gimmick of only having one hand so you can't even hold a flashlight and open a door at the same time got kind of tedious.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has seen notable improvements, particularly in graphics, which run smoothly and enhance the visual experience. Additionally, the voice acting, especially by Julie Hoverson, adds a compelling emotional depth without feeling excessive.
“Graphics have improved since last time, although I'm not very picky with these things as long as it looks nice and runs smoothly.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever literary devices that elicit laughter, often through absurd or unexpected moments, such as comical scares and intentionally misleading visuals. Players find amusement in both the game's shortcomings and its playful design choices, leading to a mix of genuine humor and self-deprecating laughter.
“Common literary devices had me laughing while reading sentence-long paragraphs.”
“I find it hilarious when I get spooked by something I shouldn't have in the game. It was really embarrassing when I got scared by the lights seemingly lining up to look like eyes in the bush. I have an odd feeling those were placed like that on purpose. Coincidence? I think not.”
