At Home Alone II
- August 9, 2019
- 阿正不经
"At Home Alone II" is a survival horror game where you play as a young boy, A Ten, left home alone once again. As you navigate through your house, you encounter supernatural events and scary creatures. The game emphasizes stealth and resource management as you try to survive until your parents come back. It features a unique Chinese cultural context and a chilling atmosphere to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Reviews
- The game expands on the original with a unique and memorable story, providing more depth and twists.
- It has a charming aesthetic and atmosphere that keeps players engaged, especially if they enjoy dark narratives.
- Many players appreciate the replayability and the hidden secrets that connect the story, making it a worthwhile experience.
- The English translation is poor, filled with typos and awkward phrasing, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious, with long cutscenes and certain tasks overstaying their welcome.
- Some players feel that the game doesn't add enough new content compared to the free version, making it feel redundant.
- story24 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and complex, with many twists and a bittersweet ending that keeps players entertained for about two hours. However, the English translation is criticized for being poor, which can detract from the overall experience and understanding of the plot. Despite these translation issues, many players still recommend the game for its intriguing narrative and atmosphere.
“Bittersweet ending, complex storyline = great game.”
“Overall, I loved the story.”
“There is a lot of content and the story has so many twists and fun scares!”
“It's basically a paid version of the original game but with a not-so-good English translation, and I think it doesn't add much more to the already existing story.”
“The English is broken in translation, but it didn't deter the story or gameplay heavily.”
“But even after everything ended, I still don't understand the full story.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is marred by issues such as broken English, poor punctuation, and visual errors, which detract from the overall experience. While there is a more cohesive story compared to previous versions, the translation problems significantly impact the intended ambiance. Some players noted a shift in atmosphere reminiscent of "Doki Doki Literature Club," particularly in the game's second half.
“The vibes felt while playing this game were similar to that of Doki Doki Literature Club, where the atmosphere of the game changes completely in the second half.”
“This game, as mentioned in my previous review, has a very similar gameplay and atmosphere.”
“I will say that this version does have a bit more of a cohesive story, though the translation affected the atmosphere.”
“Just walking and talking, which is fine, but any atmosphere is ruined by broken English, poor punctuation, typos, and boxes that look like errors.”
“I will say that this version does have a bit more of a cohesive story, though the translation broke the atmosphere.”
“The vibes felt while playing this game were similar to that of Doki Doki Literature Club when the atmosphere of the game changes completely in the second half.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric vibe and ability to enhance the experience, evoking a sense of nostalgia similar to Undertale. However, some users criticize the soundtrack itself, describing it as subpar and not worth purchasing.
“I personally love the vibe, the music, the ominous twists, and finding out about the real deep hidden secrets.”
“However, don't buy the soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack is kinda doodoo and a scam.”
“The art, soundtrack, and overall feel of the game was strangely nostalgic to me, even though Undertale is the only game that I can compare it to.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics received mixed reviews, with some users rating them a 6/10, while others praised the visuals as stunning and superior to previous iterations. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, though opinions on their quality vary.
“Stunning graphics”
“Visuals 6/10”
“This has better graphics.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its lack of depth, with some users noting it feels simplistic and similar to previous titles. However, others highlight that as players engage more deeply, they may discover a surprisingly intricate and convoluted plot that adds complexity to the experience.
“This game, as from my previous review, has very similar gameplay and atmosphere.”
“The plot of this game (which in full is ~ 90 minutes), just like its entire foundation, seems simple in the beginning, but as the player delves deeper into its gameplay, they'll find that it likely consists of a plot sequence that's more convoluted than any story-driven game they've ever played before.”
“There is no gameplay.”
“This game, as mentioned in my previous review, has very similar gameplay and atmosphere.”
“The plot of this game (which is approximately 90 minutes long), just like its entire foundation, seems simple at first, but as the player delves deeper into its gameplay, they'll find that it likely consists of a plot sequence that's more convoluted than any story-driven game they've ever played before.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly in the second half, which players must endure multiple times. The pacing issues and drawn-out sections detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging gameplay element.
“I thought this might improve on the original 'At Home Alone', and it does... in no meaningful way—still an incoherent mess, but now with a price tag, and an incredibly tedious second half you have to play through not just once, but twice, including a drawing section that, while initially clever, overstays its welcome long before the second time around, never mind having to sit through the dinner section.”
“On top of that, there are some portions in the second half that are pretty tedious when it comes to the pacing.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's replayability, noting its unique gimmick that keeps each playthrough feeling distinct despite the game's shorter length. This aspect contributes to a refreshing experience compared to other indie RPGs.
“I love this game; it felt unique compared to other indie RPGs. It was nice and short, yet had a lot of replayability due to the gimmick, and each replay seemed unique from the next.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a charming retro experience that not only addresses previous questions but also introduces new twists and emotionally impactful moments, enhancing the overall narrative depth.
“Other than what I have stated above, it still is such a cute little retro gem that may have the answers to your questions from the first... and maybe even provide you with more twists and emotional events.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, including minor bugs and subpar translation quality, but overall, it remains enjoyable, particularly due to its appealing pixel art style.
“The game has a lot of bugs that disrupt the experience, making it hard to enjoy.”
“There are frequent crashes that make it nearly impossible to progress.”
“The translation is poor, and the game feels unstable with numerous glitches.”