BAPTISM

About

BAPTISM is a single player action game. It was developed by Samantha Arehart and was released on November 30, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Baptism is a short kinetic novel about a madman, a child, and a lake.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

story8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a dark and immersive atmosphere, enhanced by its pixel art graphics and unsettling sound design, which effectively convey a sense of dread.
The writing is well-crafted, presenting a gripping and thought-provoking story that keeps players engaged until the end.
The character designs and artwork are striking and memorable, contributing to the overall eerie and surreal experience of the game.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of only 30-55 minutes, which may leave players wanting more content and depth in the story.
As a kinetic novel, it lacks interactivity and player choices, which may disappoint those expecting a more traditional gaming experience.
The story feels incomplete at times, with abrupt endings and unanswered questions that can detract from the overall narrative satisfaction.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The story of "Baptism" is a well-written, dark, and surreal narrative that explores themes of family, tragedy, and religious conflict, captivating players with its intriguing premise and strong character designs. However, many reviewers noted that the linear format and short length (30-55 minutes) left them wanting more, with some feeling the ending was abrupt and the visuals occasionally mismatched the tone of the story. Despite these criticisms, the writing and emotional depth resonate well, making it a recommended experience for fans of kinetic novels.
- “I think this is a wonderfully sad little story about a family torn apart by religious beliefs and their own singular tragedies.”
- “Very well written story that keeps you hooked until its short ending.”
- “Both the story and writing are very well done, and the character design is distinct and striking, capturing the weight of the characters and their situations quite well.”
- “Baptism is a kinetic novel; there are no choices, no dividing paths, you only need to read the story to complete it.”
- “As a strong and frequent advocate of walking simulators and such, even I'd opine that a product in which you click through a linear story and never once make anything resembling a choice is not really a 'game'.”
- “This clearly also came from time and budget restraints, which is unfortunate, as with more material it could have expanded the story further or offered differentiating narrative decision paths for the reader to choose between, much like other visual novels might.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the visuals effectively. While it is described as beautiful and fitting for most of the narrative, some reviewers noted that it falters slightly in the final act. Additionally, the absence of voice acting and sound effects is mentioned as a missed opportunity for greater immersion.
- “It's beautifully written, and has some excellent art both of the drawn and photographic variety, and wonderful music.”
- “A short atmospheric visual novel with great music and artworks.”
- “The music, though sparse outside of the ending, does its job well, expanding the mood created by the images and words to a satisfying end.”
- “And a voice cast or addition of any sound effects outside the music would have added further immersion and truly completed a couple of already great moments.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The graphics in the game are praised for their stunning artwork, including both drawn and photographic elements, which enhance the overall atmosphere. While some users appreciate the animated designs and the visual storytelling, others feel that the actual game content does not fully match the high-quality visuals. Overall, the art and music contribute positively to the experience, despite some mixed opinions on the visual execution.
- “It's beautifully written, and has some excellent art both of the drawn and photographic variety, and wonderful music.”
- “A short atmospheric visual novel with great music and artworks.”
- “Absolutely stunning artwork.”
- “The thing about visual novels is that they're basically books, or at best, comic books, when they feature enough artwork.”
- “The visuals are just 'okay' and suitable to the ambiance, but I did like the animated design of the personas a lot, including the eyes and sun/light signs – I think I fully understand their meaning.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is criticized for being limited, with a short duration of only half an hour and lacking depth or broader mechanics.
- “However, I would be remiss not to point out that this game is only half an hour long and lacks any broader gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long.”
- “I found the controls to be unresponsive, which significantly detracted from the overall gameplay experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating visuals and music, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. The use of faceless characters effectively contributes to a sense of mystery, making the characters' innermost feelings feel distant and unreachable. Overall, the combination of cool art, immersive atmosphere, and strong writing creates a compelling experience.
- “A short atmospheric visual novel with great music and artwork.”
- “Cool art, atmosphere, and writing.”
- “The facelessness totally works for the atmosphere, making the innermost feelings of the characters unreachable.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features exceptional character designs that are both distinct and striking, effectively conveying the emotional weight of the characters and their narratives. The well-crafted story and writing enhance the overall experience, leaving players with memorable imagery that lingers long after finishing the game.
- “Both the story and writing are very well done, and the character design is distinct and striking, capturing the weight of the characters and their situations quite well.”
- “Great character designs, and a gripping story.”
- “The serene yet off-putting character designs and beautiful background photographs fill the story with memorable images and imaginings that stick in the mind long after completing the game.”