Abscission
- October 26, 2023
- beyondbooleans
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Abscission" is a single-player Horror Point and Click game, where you play as Detective Will Stanhope, investigating a Lovecraftian story through searching crime scenes, combining clues, and questioning suspects. The game offers multiple solutions to puzzles, and Stanhope's temperament – including melancholic, phlegmatic, sanguine, and choleric – impacts conversations and relationships. Your choices affect how characters respond to Stanhope, shaping his destiny and the game's outcome. A demo is currently available, with a full release planned for late 2022 or early 2023.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and well-written story with a creepy Lovecraftian atmosphere that keeps players intrigued throughout.
- Unique retro pixel art style and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the overall experience, creating a vivid and immersive world.
- Multiple endings and choices add replay value, allowing players to explore different narrative paths and outcomes.
- The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth.
- User interface and inventory management can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Some graphical inconsistencies and bugs can detract from the overall experience, though they are not game-breaking.
- story51 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is a well-crafted blend of Lovecraftian horror and detective thriller elements, featuring intriguing characters and a consistently eerie atmosphere. While the pacing is sometimes too fast, leading to moments that feel rushed, the narrative remains engaging with unexpected twists and multiple endings that encourage replayability. Overall, it offers a unique and disturbing experience that resonates well with fans of the genre, despite some inconsistencies in execution.
“The storytelling is top notch with great pacing, which always has a surprising event when you are not expecting it.”
“Lovecraft-inspired games are a dime a dozen these days, but to find one that is masterfully woven together with curious intrigue, suspenseful storytelling, and believable characters is rare.”
“The writing of the plot and the characters is excellent, doing a fantastic job at shaping the personality of the characters and building up to a conclusion that naturally flows out of it.”
“It is just really, really inconsistent and really, really annoying before even reaching halfway through the story.”
“The plot got a bit over the top and bizarre at times and also hard to follow if you weren't always paying attention.”
“And while the game's length means that it doesn't outstay its welcome, it also leads to the plot moving at a pace that is perhaps a bit too fast.”
- graphics19 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a dark, Lovecraftian aesthetic with a nostalgic 90s pixel art style that enhances its horror elements. While the crude artwork and retro visuals effectively contribute to the atmosphere, some players noted occasional issues with clarity in identifying clues. Overall, the striking art style and detailed environments complement the game's storytelling and immersive experience.
“It's got cool retro graphics, atmospheric music, and it's really playable - with a true horror vibe.”
“An incredibly well-told Lovecraftian body horror adventure with multiple ways to approach problems, excellent pixel artwork, and a cleverly crafted story that takes some dark twists.”
“The game nails the atmosphere and storytelling with its pixel art style.”
“The crude artwork and graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and dark storytelling make for a worthy addition to the horror point-and-click genre.”
“The graphics sometimes mess up, making it difficult to notice some clues.”
“The rugged art style and janky background animations suit the mood of the story, as you follow leads into liquor stores and tattoo shops inhabited by punks and metalheads.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its effective combination of haunting music, retro graphics, and dark storytelling, which collectively create a compelling horror experience. Many players appreciate the Lovecraftian elements that evoke a sense of dread and paranoia, although some feel that certain sections lack depth and could benefit from a slower pacing to enhance immersion. Overall, the game's atmospheric qualities are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its appeal within the horror genre.
“The music is great, it really sets the tone well and underscores the gloomy atmosphere and the horror of the situations.”
“The crude artwork/graphics, atmospheric soundtrack, and dark storytelling make for a worthy addition to the horror point-and-click genre.”
“The pixel art, hand-made backgrounds and music create a vivid atmosphere and the writing is excellent throughout.”
“I feel that the story could've used a slower pace to build up the atmosphere some more and let things breathe a little.”
“Atmosphere was gone, library and tattoo studio sections were done terribly, with some very questionable music for a horror-themed video game. Characters and locations were shallow and did not feel like they were part of the game world; the story was rushed, and it felt like a chore to play the game.”
“The game did very well crafting that classic Lovecraftian atmosphere - bizarre phenomena and a sense of dread and paranoia continued throughout the game.”
- music14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to set a haunting and atmospheric tone, effectively enhancing the overall mood and complementing the dark storytelling. While the soundtrack is noted for being well-chosen and fitting the horror theme, some reviewers mention issues with looping tracks and a lack of variety. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and unique visuals contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The music is great, it really sets the tone well and underscores the gloomy atmosphere and the horror of the situations.”
“A good soundtrack with some haunting and eerie music that fits the atmosphere of the game.”
“The soundtrack underlines the creepy atmosphere.”
“The music and ambient effects are overall quite good, but they are far too short and loop noticeably.”
“Atmosphere was gone, library and tattoo studio sections were done terribly, with some very questionable music for a horror-themed video game. Characters and locations were shallow and did not feel like they were part of the game world; the story was rushed, and it felt like a chore to play the game.”
“The mood is absolutely on point with some neat presentation (occasional narration over photo sequences) and music.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable, featuring interesting mechanics like reaction choices and a branching story, though it suffers from some frustrating issues such as wonky movement and visibility challenges due to pixel art. While the narrative is compelling and well-written, players may find the experience shorter and less complex than expected, with a desire for more advanced puzzles and voice acting. Overall, the game offers a solid adventure horror experience, but gameplay inconsistencies can detract from the overall enjoyment.
“Really enjoyable adventure horror game with some interesting mechanics.”
“The reaction choice mechanic and branching story arc is an excellent addition, something I think more adventure games should do.”
“It's well written, animated, and the gameplay is solid.”
“In any case, prepare for a somewhat frustrating gameplay experience in one or multiple ways, depending on your personal preferences.”
“The gameplay manages to avoid the moon logic of older games in the genre, but I did still manage to get stuck a few times.”
“Movement can be wonky at points and the pixel art can make it hard to see necessary items, but other than that, the simple gameplay serves its purpose.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized as dark and unsettling, lacking traditional comedic elements. While it features some quirky aspects, the focus is more on the impactful story and decision-making related to the four humors, which significantly influence the game's outcomes.
“While the game is short and has some oddities here and there with the sound and controls, it is worth it for the story and the endings, which... well, I'll just say your decisions with the four humors do matter at different points of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players feel that the game's short length hinders emotional attachment to characters, rendering the multiple endings as a superficial feature rather than a meaningful choice.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game's replayability, often referred to as "replay value," is a significant factor, suggesting that players find enough content and variety to warrant multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers incredible replay value, with multiple paths and endings that keep you coming back for more.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh thanks to the diverse character choices and dynamic storylines.”
“I love how the game encourages experimentation; every decision leads to a different outcome, making it hard to put down.”
“In corporate terms, that's replay value.”
