Alisa

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 698 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Alisa Game Cover
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"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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 698 reviews
graphics52 positive mentions
stability21 negative mentions
  • Authentic throwback to 90s survival horror games, particularly reminiscent of Resident Evil.
  • Beautifully crafted environments with a unique aesthetic and a variety of enemy designs.
  • Engaging gameplay with challenging puzzles and a rewarding currency system that encourages combat.
  • Combat can be frustrating due to clunky controls, lack of auto-aim, and fast-moving enemies that can stun-lock players.
  • Limited save system that can lead to soft-lock situations and requires careful resource management.
  • Some puzzles are poorly designed or bugged, leading to confusion and potential game-breaking scenarios.
  • graphics143 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 and Silent Hill. Reviewers commend the low-poly, pre-rendered visuals and unique enemy designs, which contribute to a haunting atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. While some players note that the retro graphics may not appeal to everyone, particularly newer gamers, the overall consensus is that the visuals successfully evoke a sense of nostalgia and fit well within the game's horror theme.

    • “The retro horror aesthetic is gorgeous and truly adds to the uneasiness of each environment.”
    • “The visuals and audio perfectly capture the PS1 era to a fault.”
    • “The graphics, music, and the overall atmosphere definitely feel like they were ripped right from the PS1 era of games; it's all extremely well done and also extremely creepy and downright unnerving at times.”
    • “The graphics look dated, the voice acting is bad, and the gameplay is clunky, all on purpose!”
    • “The graphic elements don't even have an alpha channel, instead using checkerboard transparency for the objects that are meant to be translucent.”
    • “There are also a few issues I have with the visuals of the game.”
  • gameplay136 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 shop mechanic and a streamlined inventory, many players find the clunky controls and outdated mechanics frustrating, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution. Despite its charm and engaging puzzles, the game struggles with balance in combat and resource management, making it a title best suited for fans of retro survival horror.

    • “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 survival horror gameplay embellished with Alice in Wonderland bizarreness.”
    • “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.”
    • “Unfortunately, I can't say the same about the gameplay and puzzles.”
    • “Put simply, this might be the worst survival horror gameplay I have ever experienced.”
  • story106 mentions

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing characters and unique premise, while others criticize it for being underdeveloped and confusing. Many appreciate the atmosphere and world-building, but feel that the narrative lacks clarity and depth, leaving several plot points unresolved. Overall, while the story has potential and charm, it often feels simplistic or incomplete, leading to a desire for more content and clearer storytelling in future updates or sequels.

    • “Casper is a genius in writing and storytelling, and the game is so much fun to play!”
    • “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 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.”
    • “I think that this game will appeal to all fans of the story of Alice and its unusual interpretation.”
  • music93 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 tracks being less enjoyable. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and ambiance, making it a notable aspect for fans of retro survival horror.

    • “The atmosphere is amazing, the music is glorious, and the enemy variety is absolutely stellar.”
    • “The music was eerie, atmospheric, and moody.”
    • “A very unique setting, gorgeous pre-rendered areas, a huge variety of enemies and a well-fitting soundtrack makes this game an unforgettable experience.”
    • “The music in Alisa is even more atrocious than its horrible voice acting, by the way.”
    • “Didn't much care for the music; would have preferred ambient sounds over some of the songs.”
    • “Despite the smaller bugs still present (e.g. enemies that can spam you with attacks or the music disappearing for no reason after a sound played), I felt like playing through the old Alone in the Dark titles (mixed with a little Resident Evil).”
  • atmosphere78 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic homage to classic survival horror, featuring excellent music, eerie sound design, and a unique aesthetic that captures the essence of PS1-era games. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension and immersion through its visuals and level design, although some note that outdated gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as rich, creepy, and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “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.”
    • “The game is incredibly atmospheric and tense while keeping a lot of the over-the-top aspects of the original Resident Evil games.”
    • “By the time I made it to the second boss and saw how long it was going to take to defeat 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.”
    • “Sadly, while Alisa drips in charm and atmosphere, this is no substitute for fun gameplay.”
    • “I've yet to discover any jump scares, but the non-stop creepy atmosphere is quite enough for the setting.”
  • replayability31 mentions

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its multiple endings, unlockable costumes, and a variety of weapons and upgrades, encouraging players to explore different playstyles and strategies. While some reviews note that the game can be completed in a single sitting, many highlight the value of new game+ features and secrets that enhance replay potential. Despite some criticisms regarding controls and story, the consensus is that the game provides a nostalgic survival horror experience with ample replay value.

    • “Alisa is short at about 8-10 hours for a first run and 3-4 for subsequent runs, but a large arsenal of weapons, character upgrades, unique endings, and dozens of unlockable costumes, each with unique stats and mechanical quirks, ensures the game retains a high degree of replayability well into new game plus.”
    • “It takes about 8 hours to beat on your first playthrough, but there are 3 endings to unlock and new game plus has additional features, so there's good replay value with bonus costumes and the like.”
    • “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.”
    • “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%.”
  • stability22 mentions

    The game's stability has been a significant concern, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly with puzzles and combat mechanics. While the game was notably buggy at launch, subsequent patches have improved its stability, leading to a more enjoyable experience for some players. However, issues like screen freezes, soft locks, and erratic AI behavior still persist, indicating that while progress has been made, the game remains somewhat unstable.

    • “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 stability of the game has significantly improved after the latest updates, making for a smoother and more enjoyable experience.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or major glitches since the last patch, which really enhances my overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “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.”
    • “Glitches are still a big part, both for the player and, to my surprise, the enemies' disadvantage: more than once an enemy got stuck in a wall, unable to get out and attack me, and I was unable to attack them.”
    • “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, and sometimes Alisa would stop moving when entering another room.”
  • grinding20 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 their steps. While some appreciate the nostalgic challenge reminiscent of old survival horror games, others criticize the cumbersome controls and slow character movement, which exacerbate the feeling of monotony. Overall, the game offers replayability with multiple endings, but the grind can detract from the overall enjoyment due to its punishing difficulty and tedious mechanics.

    • “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 to 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.”
    • “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 slowly; 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.”
    • “Constantly being told to go all the way down somewhere to get an item needed was tedious.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is a notable highlight, blending dark comedy with intentional and unintentional funny moments that resonate with players. Many reviewers appreciate the quirky dialogue, amusing enemy designs, and the nostalgic nods to classic horror games, which often elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the game successfully balances its horror elements with a lighthearted tone, making for an entertaining experience.

    • “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 development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by unique and cute character designs, particularly the memorable boss character Isabella, whose design and fight mechanics stand out. The variety in enemy designs and the innovative world-building contribute to an engaging narrative experience, keeping players intrigued with surprises throughout the gameplay. Overall, the character and monster designs enhance the game's aesthetic and storytelling.

    • “The map design is good, the art and character design is really unique and cute, and the story is very interesting.”
    • “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 and my boyfriend's favorite character designs.”
    • “The world and character design is super cool and innovative; there's a surprise behind every corner.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story.”
    • “There is little to no growth for the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, likening its experience to the nostalgia of playing classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill 1 and Alone in the Dark. The game's controls and interactions evoke a sense of authenticity that resonates deeply, enhancing the overall emotional impact.

    • “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.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Initially, the game faced optimization challenges, but subsequent updates from the developers have significantly improved performance, resulting in a smooth experience without bugs or issues.

    • “It got off to a rocky start, but thanks to the hard work from the developers, I had a smooth experience and didn't run into any bugs or performance issues.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
2-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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