Bad Faith
- February 4, 2022
- Mado
- 1h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Bad Faith" , Magda, a member of the Haven-a sanctuary for the pure of heart-questions her community's unusual practices and discovers a mysterious building during a solitary walk. Magda, a perceptive yet timid young woman, works in the Haven's Art Sect and grapples with her feelings toward the Haven's strict guidelines and punishments. This game explores themes of obedience, rebellion, and self-discovery in a captivating, atmospheric world.
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Reviews
- The game features a captivating story that explores intense themes of isolation, bullying, and revenge, with a strong focus on character development and emotional depth.
- The art style is beautiful and clean, effectively contrasting with the dark subject matter, while the dynamic presentation with speech bubbles adds a lively touch to the visual novel experience.
- The atmosphere is well-crafted, enhanced by a chilling soundtrack that complements the narrative, making it an engaging and immersive experience for players who appreciate psychological horror.
- The final act of the game feels rushed and lacks the depth and clarity established in the earlier acts, leaving some players feeling lost and unsatisfied with the resolution.
- There are technical issues, including minor bugs and glitches, which can detract from the overall experience, as well as some awkward pacing and overwritten dialogue in certain scenes.
- The world-building is minimal, with little lore provided about the community and its rules, which may leave players wanting more context and background to fully understand the story.
- story52 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story explores themes of isolation, societal narratives, and queer horror through the lens of Magda, a girl grappling with bullying and her deteriorating mental state. While the narrative is engaging and features well-developed characters, some reviewers noted a lack of depth and clarity regarding certain plot points, particularly the significance of a mysterious being introduced later in the story. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its raw emotional impact and atmospheric presentation, though it may not resonate with all players due to its dark themes.
“The story delves into themes of isolated societies, curated societal narratives, and queer horror.”
“The main plot details Magda's slowly unraveling mental state, focusing on how prolonged mistreatment and ostracization from one's peers can damage a person and lead them down a dark path.”
“It's a very raw story that doesn't pull punches at depicting what ostracization feels like and what it does to the mind.”
“While I write about how the story is a reflection of the darkness of the human ego, I do have to ask myself at the end of the story, 'what really was the point?' What I mean by this is, there is no real explanation as to what is up regarding the mysterious being that is introduced into the story.”
“Without elaborating further, in the interest of avoiding spoilers, I'll say only that it felt rushed, with one large plot point in particular being resolved pretty much offscreen, and that the subsequent epilogue doesn't really add much.”
“The story sets up a lot of lore but a lot of it is hidden and never revealed to the player.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as tense, unsettling, and immersive, effectively capturing a sense of anxiety and eeriness. Reviewers highlight the impactful use of soundtracks and nuanced character portrayals that enhance the overall experience, drawing comparisons to other dark narratives. The game's ability to create a familiar yet creepy setting resonates strongly with players, making it a standout aspect of the experience.
“I was captivated by the tense atmosphere and the intense portrayal of the main character's relentless inner voice.”
“The atmosphere is very unsettling, the story moves at a fast clip, all of the characters are nuanced and interesting, and the presentation is good.”
“This work excels at creating a very eerie and scary atmosphere as it follows the protagonist's experiences in the cult she's living in.”
“Bad faith also delivers the atmosphere of anxiety of being judged very well.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their distinctive and evocative art style, which effectively complements the narrative and enhances the overall experience. While some players noted that the extreme violence sometimes relies on narration rather than visuals, the character designs and aesthetics are considered a highlight, contributing to the game's emotional impact. Overall, the artwork is described as raw, graphic, and fitting for the themes presented, with many players expressing a strong appreciation for the unique visual presentation.
“Great art style.”
“I absolutely loved the art style and the music used fit the scenes.”
“However, by the final act, the violence becomes so extreme that much of the game relies on narration to convey what is happening, rather than on visuals.”
“It's very raw and graphic and upsetting, but it's meant to be that way.”
“The art style is unique and evocative, the character designs varied and lovely, their personalities more nuanced even than necessary.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its minimal yet chilling soundtrack that effectively enhances the storytelling and atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the evocative sound effects and dynamic compositions, particularly noting how the music complements tense scenes and fits seamlessly with the game's art style. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's charm and emotional impact.
“It oozes charm from every single aspect, from the dynamic character sprites with numerous poses and facial expressions to the evocative use of sound effects to the impressively eerie soundtrack.”
“The minimal, often chilling soundtrack served to accentuate the story extremely well, as did the filtered photo backgrounds and the various fonts.”
“Atmosphere conveyed through effective use of a simple soundtrack, particularly the piece with slow yet heart-pounding drums for scenes of tension.”
“All in all, a very tense game; I love the music and sound effects like the whining of the microphone before the assemblies.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional impact of the game is mixed; while it presents a decent horror narrative, the lack of depth in the antagonist's characterization diminishes its potential for emotional resonance. Players note that the themes of revenge can evoke feelings of depression and anxiety, but the execution often feels superficial, leading to an unsatisfying climax and an awkward resolution. Overall, the emotional experience is overshadowed by a focus on aesthetic elements rather than meaningful storytelling.
“However, the antagonist characters aren't really delved into enough to make this as emotionally impactful as it could be, only somewhat hinting at further emotional complexity outside of their interactions with our heroine.”
“They can lead to depression, anxiety, and can leave lasting emotional harm that some may never recover from.”
“Wholesome revenge”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, users report that the game exhibits minor visual glitches, but these issues are not considered significant enough to impact the overall stability of the experience.
“There are frequent crashes that disrupt gameplay and make it frustrating.”
“The game often freezes during key moments, which can ruin the experience.”
“I've encountered numerous bugs that affect performance and stability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its nuanced personalities and diverse designs, contributing to a unique and evocative art style that enhances the overall experience.
“The art style is unique and evocative, the character designs are varied and lovely, and their personalities are more nuanced than necessary.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey.”
“Each character evolves in a way that feels organic and meaningful, making their growth a rewarding experience.”
