Bathotel
- May 18, 2022
- Bronze Box
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Get on itch.io Store"Bathotel is a single-player Horror Adventure game with a good story and dense atmosphere. Players must navigate an ever-changing hotel, solving puzzles and encountering mysterious guests while learning about their own dark past. The hotel's repeating world and shifting realities create a disorienting and immersive experience."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a compelling atmosphere and intriguing 3D pixelated graphics that enhance the horror experience.
- Sound design is well-executed, contributing significantly to the eerie and mysterious feel of the game.
- Despite its short length, the game offers a decent narrative and encourages exploration, with some interesting mechanics like throwing mice.
- The gameplay is repetitive, primarily involving back-and-forth walking through looping hallways with minimal variation.
- The game is very short, typically taking only 30-45 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content and closure.
- Some technical issues, such as glitches affecting visibility and readability, detract from the overall experience.
- story12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, praised for its engaging mystery and ability to evoke nostalgia within the analogue horror genre, though it requires players to actively seek out information through exploration and listening. While many found the narrative gripping and well-paced, some expressed a desire for more closure and additional context to enhance the experience. Overall, it appeals to fans of psychological thrillers and those who appreciate a story that allows for personal interpretation and imagination.
“The story was really good though it does require reading everything and listening to all the radios to fully understand it.”
“Features a story that doesn't overload you with information, but creates a mystery that you slowly piece together as the game progresses.”
“The story, told alongside a charming, low-res graphical aesthetic, allows it to become a great addition to the analogue horror genre and can even feel nostalgic for some.”
“I personally don't really get the story behind this game or the appeal of the gameplay.”
“I didn't like the lack of closure with both endings, and I am not saying you need to explain the story, I just wanted a little cutscene or something.”
“My first impression was very positive, I think the game instantly hits you with an infectious atmosphere and a compelling environment to explore that reminds me of PT and Cube, but in the end, I think the story failed to keep up with the psychological elements and to contextualize its characters, in addition to having some technical issues and glitches.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of solid mechanics and engaging puzzles, though some players find it repetitive due to the back-and-forth walking. While the story may not resonate with everyone, the game offers a unique atmosphere enhanced by sound design and quirky elements like the mice. Overall, it provides good value for its price, especially for an indie title.
“Good set of puzzles and the game has a great feel when playing, with some mechanics that add a little creepiness. The mice are a nice touch.”
“The sound design and game mechanics are also stellar, especially for an indie game of this size.”
“I personally don't really get the story behind this game or the appeal of the gameplay.”
“However, the majority of the gameplay involves repetitive back-and-forth walking, which I found less enjoyable.”
“For the amount of gameplay and story you get with this game, for the price, I think this is a no-brainer.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a charming 3D pixelated art style that appeals to fans of retro aesthetics, enhancing the game's analogue horror theme. While some players appreciate the nostalgic and intriguing visuals, others have noted issues with grunge settings affecting readability. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though they may not be universally appealing.
“The 3D pixelated graphics are pretty cool; I'm a huge fan of games like this, especially when it's a bit more in the style of 'The Janitor Bleeds.'”
“It's an intriguing short game with a 3D pixelated art style that I personally love!”
“If you find the graphics too grungy and the subtitles unreadable, hit escape, then options, and look for the 'grunge' setting.”
“The penalty for failure is low (once you know how to fix the graphics issue), but I didn't feel rewarded either.”
“The story, told alongside a charming, low-res graphical aesthetic, allows it to become a great addition to the analogue horror genre and can even feel nostalgic for some.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and old-school aesthetics. Players appreciate the compelling environment that evokes feelings of mystery and tension, although some note that the story struggles to match the atmospheric depth. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“I loved the static effect and thought it added to the spooky atmosphere nicely.”
“This is a super interesting little puzzle game, I really enjoyed the old school style and creepy atmosphere!”
“The sound design does an excellent job at creating an immersive and mysterious atmosphere.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is generally stable and not considered buggy or glitchy, providing a positive first impression with its engaging atmosphere. However, some players have noted the presence of technical issues and glitches that detract from the experience, particularly in relation to the story and character development.
“My first impression was very positive; I think the game instantly hits you with an infectious atmosphere and a compelling environment to explore that reminds me of PT and Cube. However, in the end, I think the story failed to keep up with the psychological elements and to contextualize its characters, in addition to having some technical issues and glitches.”
