Alisa
- October 22, 2021
- Casper Croes
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Alisa" is a single-player Horror Action game with an intriguing story, set in a 1920s-Armageddon-inspired universe. As Elite Royal Agent Alisa, you navigate an old Victorian mansion, battling mechanized doll-like humanoids while searching for escape. Despite some bugs and grinding, the game boasts masterful visuals, soundtrack, and sensational replayability. Available on itch.io and Steam, it runs smoothly on most hardware.
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Reviews
- Authentic PS1-style graphics and atmosphere, capturing the essence of classic survival horror games.
- Engaging puzzles and a variety of unique enemies, providing a nostalgic yet fresh gameplay experience.
- Creative use of a currency system that rewards combat and exploration, allowing players to purchase weapons, upgrades, and costumes.
- Combat can be frustrating due to lack of auto-aim and clunky controls, making it difficult to hit fast-moving enemies.
- Limited save system that can lead to soft-lock situations, requiring players to restart the game if they run out of resources.
- Some puzzles are poorly telegraphed or overly difficult, leading to potential frustration and confusion.
- graphics286 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their authentic recreation of the PS1-era aesthetic, effectively capturing the nostalgic charm of classic survival horror titles like Resident Evil. Reviewers commend the low-poly and pre-rendered visuals, which contribute to a haunting atmosphere, although some note that the dated graphics may not appeal to newer gamers. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a standout feature, successfully blending retro style with engaging design elements that enhance the horror experience.
“The retro horror aesthetic is gorgeous and truly adds to the uneasiness of each environment.”
“The graphics and presentation were so authentic that I could have been convinced it was actually a PSX game.”
“The visuals are also spectacular: the game uses its aesthetic masterfully, crafting thrilling locations with distinct color palettes, memorable room designs, and brilliantly chosen camera shots.”
“The visuals look dated, the voice acting is bad, and the gameplay is clunky, all on purpose!”
“There are also a few issues I have with the visuals of the game.”
“I don't mind the graphics as it's the vibe they are going for, but when things are so far away that you can't figure out what's going on, it isn't fun.”
- gameplay272 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Alisa" is a nostalgic homage to classic survival horror titles, particularly reminiscent of early Resident Evil games, featuring fixed camera angles, tank controls, and a challenging combat system. While it incorporates modern elements like a dodge mechanic and a shop system, many players find the controls clunky and the difficulty punishing, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite its flaws, the game offers a rich variety of environments, puzzles, and replayability through unlockable content, appealing primarily to fans of the genre.
“Alisa has an extremely unique setting and satisfying gameplay loop, which reminds you why that particular generation is widely considered to be the golden age of survival horror.”
“The gameplay, atmosphere, and commitment to replicating the PS1 survival horror style are amazing.”
“Classic, stylish, and nostalgic, survival horror at its best with challenging but fair combat and boss battles, with high replayability due to different weapons and modifications that change the gameplay.”
“While this is a faithful recreation of both that atmosphere and gameplay, all of this game's problems are created by copying these extremely outdated gameplay mechanics.”
“Now, it's 202x outside, we no longer need this mess with its nonsensical control scheme, its ever frustratingly confusing camera angles, and its antiquated gameplay.”
“Put simply this might be the worst survival horror gameplay I have ever experienced.”
- story212 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing premise and world-building, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped and confusing. Many appreciate the unique atmosphere and character design, but note that the narrative lacks clarity and depth, leaving several plot points unresolved. Overall, while the story has potential and engages players, it often feels simplistic and fragmented, leading to a desire for more substantial storytelling in future updates or sequels.
“The world building is super interesting and left me theorizing throughout the story.”
“The story overall is very immersive, with just the right amount of reading to give you clues on how the setting played out, yet leaving some mysteries ambiguous to be thought-provoking.”
“The pacing is great and the way the story unravels kept me guessing the entire time, and even when the game ended, I wanted to jump back in right away to try and find more clues as to the game's lore.”
“The plot is almost non-existent and the setting is noticeably more surreal with a circus area, gothic horror, elements of Greek mythology, and more.”
“Overall, the story remains largely non-existent.”
“My only two complaints are that the story is basically nonexistent, but the atmosphere and design of everything more than makes up for it.”
- music186 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and nostalgic PS1-era style that enhances the overall experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be excellent and fitting for the game's themes, others described it as hit or miss, with a few noting specific tracks that felt out of place. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and ambiance, making it a notable aspect for fans of survival horror.
“The atmosphere is amazing, the music is glorious, and the enemy variety is absolutely stellar.”
“The music was eerie, atmospheric, and moody.”
“The art style, creative choices, and music come together so well.”
“The music in Alisa is even more atrocious than its horrible voice acting, by the way.”
“Music was underwhelming.”
“Didn't much care for the music; would have preferred ambient sounds over some of the songs.”
- atmosphere156 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to classic survival horror, effectively capturing the eerie and tense vibes reminiscent of 90s titles like Resident Evil. Reviewers highlight the impressive music, unique enemy designs, and the use of fixed camera angles that enhance the overall experience, although some note that outdated gameplay mechanics can detract from the enjoyment. Overall, the game's aesthetic and atmospheric elements are considered its strongest features, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
“Excellent throwback to classic survival horror with its own unique setting and atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is amazing, the music is glorious, and the enemy variety is absolutely stellar.”
“Honestly though, in a modern landscape that's finally picking up the survival horror slack after all the issues we got in the late 2000s/early 2010s, Alisa really does stand out in my head for its amazing presentation, wonderfully surreal and creepy atmosphere, and providing a well thought out and interesting world that I genuinely want to learn more about.”
“By the time I made it to the second boss and saw how long it was gonna take to drop it, I realized how much time I had spent in this game hating every second of it, and how I'd completely fallen out of love with the atmosphere before I had even really started.”
“The item management is really well done, and the atmosphere is very creepy, but those can't save it when you constantly lose progress over cheap deaths.”
“Sadly, while Alisa drips in charm and atmosphere, this is no substitute for fun gameplay.”
- replayability62 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with multiple endings, unlockable costumes, and a variety of weapons and upgrades that encourage players to explore different playthroughs. While the initial run takes about 8-10 hours, subsequent playthroughs can be completed in 3-4 hours, and the addition of new game+ features further enhances replay value. Overall, players appreciate the nostalgic elements and challenges that make revisiting the game enjoyable.
“Amazing game for survival horror fans with great replayability.”
“It takes about 8 hours to beat on your first playthrough, but there are 3 endings to unlock and new game+ has additional features, so there's good replay value with bonus costumes and the like.”
“Now with the director's cut update out, the replay value is greatly expanded, try out different approaches in each new run and discover how the new endings play out, which are now tied to how you use those precious toothwheels!”
“There is no real replayability.”
“Worth the price, not much replayability though.”
“It is a flawed survival horror game and some of the backtracking and controls are tedious, but it also offers plenty of replayability and with four endings, you will likely run through the game about a few times before you get 100%.”
- stability44 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The game has faced significant stability issues, particularly at launch, with numerous bugs affecting puzzles, combat, and character movement. While many of these glitches have been addressed through patches, players still report occasional freezing, soft-locks, and other minor bugs that can disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game is considered fun and improved, but potential players should be aware of its lingering stability concerns.
“Most of the bugs, both major and minor, since the release based on several additional playthroughs done since the release of the developer's cut update seem to have been ironed out, which is amazing. The game feels almost completely bug-free now!”
“The game is a bit buggy; I unfortunately had to put it down because of a specific puzzle, where the code for the pulse meter puzzle would not work no matter what combination I tried, as well as reloading my save multiple times.”
“I have yet to finish the title, but what I've seen so far has eased most of my worries. However, the game suffers from various glitches; in my case, the clock puzzle glitched out twice, making me restart from my last save. Sometimes Alisa would stop moving when entering another room, and some glitches within the combat kept me from truly enjoying it as it became rather tedious.”
“I played the demo multiple times throughout the past year and had a great time, zero glitches in any of those playthroughs, but in the final release, it's a buggy mess.”
- grinding40 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the backtracking and resource management tedious and frustrating, particularly after dying and having to retrace steps to bosses. While some appreciate the nostalgic challenge reminiscent of older games, others criticize the cumbersome mechanics and slow character movement, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers replayability with multiple endings, though the grind for upgrades and items can feel unnecessary and monotonous.
“The concept is refreshing and the implementation of the game systems isn't tedious at all.”
“Alisa actually manages to avoid most of the flaws that are specific for old PS1 games - backtracking is really not that tedious in comparison with Resident Evil, ammo is plentiful, you can buy medkits, and you can save for really cheap.”
“There is a NG+ but it's just grinding gears to unlock stuff you don't need, or to get alternate ending movies.”
“This game clearly wants to imitate the style of old games, but it also recreates the cumbersome nature of those games, making many sections tedious and boring.”
“The exploration is tedious; there's a lot of ground to cover in this game, and a lot of backtracking, naturally. Alisa moves far too slow; even while sprinting, most enemies move just as fast as she does. All of her animations are ponderous, from climbing stairs to aiming her weapons, to (especially) reloading.”
- humor30 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with intentional and unintentional funny moments that evoke nostalgia for classic survival horror titles. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue, amusing enemy designs, and the overall comedic execution, which often lightens the tense atmosphere. Many reviewers noted that the humor enhances the experience, making them laugh and feel engaged throughout their gameplay.
“This may be the only game inspired by this era that really made me feel exactly what I felt like playing Silent Hill 1 as a child — from its obnoxious controls to the rich and sometimes even humorous interactions.”
“Cool presentation, and funny uncanny dialogue.”
“The blend of horror and humor is done exceptionally well, and for once one of these survival horror throwback games has good fixed camera angles.”
- character development10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and innovative design, with characters and monsters featuring a charming, old-timey toy aesthetic that adds depth to the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the variety and creativity in character designs, particularly noting memorable encounters like the Isabella Flora boss fight, which showcases the game's strong artistic vision and engaging storytelling. Overall, the character development is complemented by a rich narrative and diverse gameplay elements that keep players intrigued.
“The metal garden was one of the best environments I've had the pleasure of playing through, with the Isabella Flora boss fight (and astoundingly added alternate fight), as well as her character/design in general being one of my boyfriend's and my favorite character designs.”
“Monster and character design are likewise great; the monsters all use that creepy old-timey toy-based aesthetic very well, and the enemies are varied enough that you're never quite sure what you're going to come up against next.”
“The world/character design is super cool and innovative; there's a surprise behind every corner.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, likening it to their nostalgic experiences with classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill 1. The game's controls and interactions evoke a sense of authenticity reminiscent of the PSX era, enhancing the overall emotional impact and engagement.
“This may be the only game inspired by this era that really made me feel exactly what I felt like playing Silent Hill 1 as a child — from its obnoxious controls to the rich and sometimes even humorous interactions.”
“This genuinely made me feel like playing a survival horror on the PSX.”
“One other thing that made me feel like I was playing AITD was the lack of auto-aiming.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game initially faced optimization challenges, but subsequent updates from the developers have significantly improved performance, resulting in a smooth experience without bugs or issues for players.
“It got off to a rocky start, but thanks to the hard work from the dev, I had a smooth experience and didn't run into any bugs or performance issues.”
