Aurora Hills: Chapter 1
- April 20, 2024
- NovaSoft Interactive Ltd.
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamWelcome to Aurora Hills! Nestled deep within the Appalachian Mountains, Aurora Hills was known for its thriving industry and its picturesque landscape. Owing to the region's natural resources, Aurora Hills was looking to become one of the most prosperous towns in the state. All is not how it seems, however. A series of disappearances of residents and tourists alike have plagued the regio…
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Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The puzzles are engaging and provide a good level of challenge, with a helpful hint system for players who may get stuck.
- The storyline is intriguing, leaving players eager to find out what happens next in the upcoming chapters.
- Some puzzles can be overly complex or illogical, leading to frustration for players trying to solve them.
- Navigation can feel clunky at times, making it difficult to explore areas without accidentally retracing steps.
- The game ends on a cliffhanger, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied due to the lack of immediate continuation.
- story193 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its intriguing and engaging narrative, set against a mysterious atmosphere that captivates players. Many reviewers express excitement for future chapters, highlighting the compelling plot surrounding disappearances in a national park and the immersive graphics that enhance the storytelling experience. While some mention minor issues with puzzle integration and pacing, the overall sentiment is that the story effectively draws players in and leaves them eager for more.
“The story is captivating, I found myself sitting through the entire chapter 1 in one afternoon.”
“The story is intriguing and I am curious to see where it goes next.”
“The story kept me waiting for more and the puzzles were also challenging.”
“The plot here is an excuse for the puzzles and has absolutely no value.”
“The awkwardly shoehorned puzzles quickly broke the story immersion which had been being developed.”
“Some of the puzzles I will say didn't have a flow to them and were a little difficult to pick up on where they would be in that they made no sense in the flow of the story.”
- graphics145 mentions
- 76 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the stunning artwork, immersive visuals, and the effective blend of real photos and 3D graphics. Players noted that the graphics create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making it visually appealing and engaging. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its allure and enjoyment.
“This game has some of the most beautiful artwork I've ever seen, which makes for a calming and comfortable experience.”
“The graphics are stunning.”
“The graphics are incredible and lovely, the puzzles are hard and keep you engaged.”
“Very tedious, the graphics are pretty though, also it's free... but yeah, my attention span spazzed out after 18 minutes because I got bored clicking everything & I love clicky puzzle sh#t but this was dull... meh”
“Wouldn't recommend, graphics are meh.”
“The graphics are ok.”
- atmosphere66 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, often described as mysterious, eerie, and beautifully detailed. Players appreciate the combination of stunning graphics, engaging sound design, and a compelling storyline that enhances the overall experience, making it particularly enjoyable during nighttime play. Many reviews highlight the atmosphere as a key element that elevates the gameplay, with some comparing it favorably to classic adventure games.
“The environments are superbly detailed and well thought out in terms of interactivity and atmosphere.”
“The graphics and music are excellent and create an immersive atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is eerie and combined with the first-person perspective, it had me just a little on edge throughout.”
“Though this reminds me of Myst in some ways, I never felt entertained or caught up in the atmosphere of Myst; it just didn't grab my attention for some reason.”
“It's a beautiful, well-made, well-thought-out little puzzle adventure which has an eerie atmosphere at times and at others completely chill.”
- music49 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its soothing, ambient quality that enhances the overall atmosphere, with many players noting its ability to create a relaxing yet eerie mood. The sound design, including sound effects and the soundtrack, is described as immersive and well-suited to the game's visuals and narrative, contributing significantly to the player's experience. While some players felt the background music could have been more prominent, the general consensus is that the music effectively complements the game's aesthetic and storytelling.
“The music is so peaceful with a hint of eeriness to it, can't wait to see the next chapter!”
“The scenes are designed with great attention to detail and the soundtrack is wonderfully atmospheric.”
“I love it, the ambiance, the music, the gameplay/puzzles... it's all great!”
“The background music wasn't enough.”
“Decent background music (when it was there).”
“Well done minimalist soundtrack; could have been smoother with the camera motions and scene transitions.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally entertaining, offering a captivating puzzle-solving experience with a mix of straightforward and challenging mechanics. While the graphics and sound design are praised, some players found the navigation and certain puzzle mechanics frustrating, leading to a reliance on hints. Overall, the game appeals to fans of the genre, though it could benefit from improved mechanics and clearer crafting systems.
“The gameplay is entertaining and provides a straightforward but captivating puzzle-solving experience.”
“The game mechanics (finding hotspots, clicking and dragging, etc.) take a bit of figuring out as you go, but the puzzles are fun, the environments are beautiful, and the story so far is compelling.”
“The puzzles are different levels of difficulty throughout, leading to really fun gameplay.”
“Great graphics and sound, but the gameplay is very bad.”
“A hidden objects game without the hidden objects mechanic.”
“The artwork was very nice, along with the music and effects, but the gameplay and mechanics quickly became tedious.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, often leading to boredom despite appreciating the graphics and music. Navigation issues further exacerbate the grind, as players frequently backtrack without clear direction, diminishing overall enjoyment.
“Very tedious; the graphics are pretty though. It's free, but my attention span spazzed out after 18 minutes because I got bored clicking everything. I love clicky puzzle games, but this was dull... meh.”
“It wasn't clear where you were going as you clicked around the scenes, and your only navigation button is 'back,' which can get a little tedious, particularly in some sections where you're running back and forth between two settings screens multiple times.”
“The artwork was very nice, along with the music and effects, but the gameplay and mechanics quickly became tedious.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the contrasting opinions on its difficulty, which adds a layer of amusement for players. Additionally, the nostalgic inclusion of outdated technology, like a fax machine, contributes to the overall comedic experience, despite some limitations in controls and puzzle logic.
“But in general, it is funny to read other reviews about the difficulty, where some say how difficult everything is, and others say it's easy.”
“Had a lot of fun; the only downside is that the controls are very limited and sometimes the puzzles can make the story/logic a bit 'funny'.”
“This was before mobile phones came in, and it was so funny to see a fax machine in the office.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's emotional potential, noting that while the music effectively creates an eerie atmosphere, its inconsistent activation can detract from immersion and engagement. There is a desire for deeper emotional investment and a more cohesive use of sound to enhance the overall experience.
“Overall, it was a good game, but they could have done more to keep the viewer engaged and emotionally/mentally invested.”
“The music was really good, but the creepier tones felt like they activated at random times, making me feel a little creeped out. I think having the eerie music when you're outside might work well to instill fear, as if there is something out there.”
“Made me feel a good amount of a little stupid.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable gaming experience with smooth performance and minimal bugs, although a few minor issues, such as a buggy text description, have been noted.
“Nice game, smooth and bug-free at least for me.”
“I found one case of buggy text description on the bug zapper.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“There are constant frame drops that ruin the overall experience.”
