Ad Infinitum
- September 14, 2023
- Hekate
- 7h median play time
Ad Infinitum tells an engaging and unique story in a great way. To really enjoy it, though, you’d have to be willing to play with the voice setting set to German.
In Ad Infinitum, play as a German soldier torn between the trenches of WWI and his childhood home, haunted by war horrors and supernatural creatures. Traverse through a dreamlike world, uncovering memories and seeking inner peace. With a blend of narrative management and psychological thriller, this game explores the enduring impact of war on the human psyche, challenging you to break the cycle and confront your past.
Reviews
- The game features a stunning atmosphere and beautiful graphics that enhance the psychological horror experience.
- Ad Infinitum offers a deep and engaging story that explores the trauma of war, particularly focusing on the psychological effects of WW1 on soldiers and their families.
- The game is well-crafted for an indie title, with immersive sound design and unique monster designs that contribute to its eerie ambiance.
- Gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, often resembling a walking simulator with minimal action and overly simplistic puzzles.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and glitches that can disrupt the experience and hinder progression.
- Some players may find the pacing slow and the horror elements lacking, as the game relies more on atmosphere and narrative than traditional jump scares.
- story106 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, effectively exploring the horrors of World War I and the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers and their families. While some players found the narrative occasionally confusing or disjointed, the immersive storytelling and stunning visuals kept many engaged throughout. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate a rich, story-driven experience over traditional gameplay mechanics.
“With its unsettling atmosphere and immersive storytelling, it pulls you into a tense narrative that keeps you on edge.”
“Ad infinitum is a deep war story that shows the different aspects and consequences of war.”
“The story is wonderfully done.”
“The story is full of the same old tropes of modern horror walking sim games: mental illness, abuse, and exaggerated depth.”
“What ruins the story for me is the binary nature of the choices, where one choice is good (green) and one is bad (red). It does not fit a story with such heavy themes.”
“The story and setting have potential but nothing to draw you in!”
- graphics38 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game have received high praise for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers noting stunning visuals and immersive environments that enhance the storytelling experience. While some players experienced performance issues and clunky mechanics, the artistic design and atmosphere were frequently highlighted as standout features, contributing to a rich and engaging gameplay experience. Despite a few mixed opinions on graphical optimization, the consensus leans towards the visuals being a strong point of the game.
“Amazing story graphics and gameplay, especially considering the fact that it's an indie developer.”
“Stunning graphics, atmospheric and immersive.”
“The graphics are actually very nice, lots of detail with good lighting and it doesn't run too poorly.”
“Everything else - graphics and gameplay - is just overall meh.”
“Which sounds playable, but remember, the graphical options are all on 'low'.”
“Visuals are middling.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and repetitiveness, often likening it to a walking simulator with basic puzzle mechanics. While some appreciate the atmospheric visuals and story elements, others criticize the clunky mechanics and lack of depth, suggesting that the gameplay can feel tedious and uninspired. Overall, it seems to cater more to fans of the genre rather than offering a compelling experience for a broader audience.
“Ad infinitum balances engaging gameplay with a deep, dark, and fascinating story that tells a tale of a family torn apart by war.”
“The puzzles and mechanics get more interesting the longer you play.”
“The set pieces look very nice and each have their unique gameplay elements; it never feels like you are always doing the same thing for the 5 or so hours the game lasts.”
“Gameplay: 1/10, 99% bad puzzles, walking simulator between; a pure walking simulator would have been better.”
“The gameplay is boring, at the best of times, and tedious at the worst.”
“Not worth the price; pretty game and good story but boring as hell with repetitive gameplay.”
- atmosphere27 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, effectively drawing players into a tense narrative filled with suspense. While it leans more towards an atmospheric walking simulator than traditional horror, the combination of stunning visuals, sound design, and storytelling creates a memorable experience that resonates deeply with players. Many reviews highlight its ability to evoke strong emotions and provoke thought, particularly through its surreal representations of war trauma.
“With its unsettling atmosphere and immersive storytelling, it pulls you into a tense narrative that keeps you on edge.”
“Ad infinitum is a very atmospheric horror walking sim that intelligently deals with the trauma suffered by the soldiers of the Great War; the game feels like Otto Dix's paintings come to life.”
“Not at all a masterpiece like 'Edith Finch' or 'Firewatch'; however, the experience does not leave you indifferent. Some surreal representations of the horrors of war are very effective, and some scenes have the right atmosphere. They remain imprinted in your memory, touch you deeply, and make you think.”
“The horror elements from this game come from the atmosphere and stories themselves; the monsters are simply the icing on top and provide for some memorable scenes and encounters.”
“The atmosphere is either cold or disgusting, while the characters are representations of ideology or trauma.”
- music27 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as "incredible" and "amazing." However, some players noted issues with volume levels and occasional mismatches between the music and the game's tension, leading to mixed feelings about its appropriateness in certain contexts. Overall, the sound design and music significantly contribute to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature for many players.
“The soundtrack is absolutely incredible, and the sound design is wonderful.”
“The music also does a terrific job of enforcing the environment and maintaining the creepy vibes without sounding out of place.”
“The soundtrack is incredible; especially for an indie title.”
“The music is just...wrong.”
“The music at certain parts is inappropriate and ruins all tension if there ever was any.”
“I would also add that I didn’t like the music much at first, not because it was bad, but because it felt quite out of place to me, especially at the beginning.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly during puzzles. While some players experienced smooth play without major issues, others noted significant problems that required checkpoint reloads to resolve. Overall, the game is described as clunky and reminiscent of older titles, with both gameplay and audio glitches detracting from the experience.
“I will say that this game can be pretty buggy sometimes.”
“My only issue was the glitches that occurred during puzzles for some reason; they made completing puzzles impossible, and keys seemed to never get used even though I had them. A few checkpoint reloads seemed to get things back on track, but a fix would've been better.”
“It is riddled with glitches, big and small.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The optimization of "ad infinitum" has been criticized for its lack of polish, with users reporting stutters and random performance issues despite appealing graphics. While there have been attempts to improve performance through patches, many players have noted minimal improvements, leading to concerns that reliance on technologies like DLSS may be masking deeper optimization problems.
“The story is intended to be gritty, and I'm sure the monsters were supposed to be spooky, but the performance and animations were lacking.”
“This one feels a bit more empty than the other two, but the graphics look great, albeit the stutters and random performance issues.”
“Other than that, 'Ad Infinitum' is let down by its lack of polish and optimization.”
“I know they've been patching it, so I started it up for a few minutes a few days ago, and I didn't see significant improvements to performance.”
“Some people say that DLSS and similar measures are crutches for terrible performance and nonexistent graphical optimizations.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and boring, with players expressing frustration over the linear yet convoluted pathways that lead to repetitive gameplay. While some appreciate the balance of story, puzzles, and manageable combat, many feel that the overall experience lacks engagement and excitement, making the $35 price tag seem unjustifiable.
“A well-blended mix of story-driven walkthrough, puzzles (not punishing), and enemy/boss moments that are challenging enough without feeling grindy.”
“The game strikes a perfect balance between engaging gameplay and rewarding progression, making the grinding feel meaningful rather than tedious.”
“I appreciate how the grinding elements are integrated seamlessly into the story, allowing for a rewarding experience without excessive repetition.”
“The gameplay is boring, at the best of times, and tedious at the worst.”
“This game... I really wanted to like it, I gave it enough chances but it's just boring... nothing happens. You walk to a place, read a ton of stuff with mediocre acting, and then walk some more. An enemy comes at you and it's super easy to deal with them. It's just tedious. The whole game is a bore and them charging $35 for this is criminal.”
“Tedious walking sim like Layers of Fear that tries to pass itself off as Amnesia: The Bunker or something like that.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling and emotionally touching story that keeps players engaged and eager to discover the outcome, with a satisfying and impactful ending. Despite simple boss fights and gimmicky enemies, the narrative stands out as a highlight of the experience.
“The boss fights were simple, the enemies were all gimmicky, but the story was amazing. The ending I got was very pleasing and emotionally compelling.”
“As for the story, I will simply say that it is touching; you'll consistently find yourself wanting to know what happens next.”
Critic Reviews
Ad Infinitum Review
Ad Infinitum deals in many types of horror, often skewering expectations. Though rough around the edges and packing unremarkable puzzles, the terrifying truths of its real-world scares offer more captivating chills than its monster-focused moments.
78%Ad Infinitum review
Ad Infinitum balances engaging gameplay with a deep, dark, and fascinating story that tells a tale of a family torn apart by war.
75%Ad Infinitum Review - A Mixed Bag That Doesn't Quite Deliver
While there are some impressive elements to like about Ad Infinitum it ultimately lacks a lot of polish and some more compelling gameplay. It's excellent score and use of audio is the stand out in this psychological horror.
65%