Black Chapter
- October 24, 2020
- Spire Studio
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn Black Chapter, you play as a high school student trapped in a haunted cathedral with a killer demon disguised as human. Solve puzzles, find clues, and make choices to decide the fate of your classmates and determine the game's multiple endings. The atmospheric horror game is inspired by Japanese RPG Maker classics, featuring a creepy setting and deadly consequences around every corner.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Black Chapter offers an engaging story with multiple endings, allowing players to explore different outcomes without needing to replay the entire game.
- The game features well-designed puzzles and a mix of jump scares that keep the gameplay exciting and suspenseful.
- The character art and atmosphere are well-executed, contributing to a thrilling horror experience that fans of the genre will appreciate.
- The writing and character development are often criticized as bland and cringeworthy, detracting from the overall immersion in the story.
- Some players found the gameplay mechanics frustrating, particularly with instant-death sequences and a lack of autosave, leading to significant setbacks.
- The game can be overly challenging at times, with puzzles and enemy encounters that may induce frustration rather than enjoyment.
- story32 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story is generally praised for its engaging and intriguing narrative, with many players appreciating the well-developed characters and the atmospheric setting that enhances the overall experience. While some found the story's depth lacking, the incorporation of choices affecting the ending and the clever integration of puzzles kept players invested. Overall, the narrative is described as interesting, addictive, and well-told, with elements of mystery and horror that contribute to a compelling gameplay experience.
“The story is interesting enough, and does a good job keeping you guessing as to what is going on in the big picture.”
“The cathedral's dark past unfurls as the game progresses and journal entries scattered across various rooms add to some much appreciated world building and backstory.”
“I just finished the game and it was awesome, the mixed elements went surprisingly well, the game flow, the story, everything connects perfectly.”
“The story was interesting, and it kinda sucks that a poorly implemented sequence is the reason I gave up on this.”
“The story itself isn't that deep and scary, but the atmosphere makes up for it.”
“The story is very well done.”
- music14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its fitting and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the eerie tone without becoming monotonous. While some players noted occasional silence where music stops, they appreciated this design choice for its immersive effect. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's dark ambiance and complements the jump-scare elements effectively.
“The soundtrack is very fitting to the game, eerie and yet doesn't bore.”
“Has an overall dark atmosphere and great soundtracks, definitely had a few jump-scares during my playthrough.”
“Music appears and disappears when it is necessary and, from my humble point of view, that is one of the best decisions the team could make, as it lets you be immersed in the game.”
“Music sometimes stops by itself, making the room just soundless. Maybe it's intentional, but I would love to hear the music here and there.”
“Although I received the product for free, I'd very much wish to purchase the art and soundtrack as thanks!”
“Being the kind of game it is, I was expecting creepy and eerie music everywhere, but it isn't, and it does not need it.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of engaging jump scares, chasing scenes, and detective mechanics that keep players invested throughout the experience. While some users appreciate the nostalgic feel and puzzle-solving elements, others note clunky mechanics and a need for improved hitbox detection. Overall, the game offers a captivating atmosphere and multiple endings, making it enjoyable despite its shortcomings.
“The gameplay and story are enthralling and it kept me engaged all the way to the end.”
“The gameplay is enjoyable; it's a mix of solving puzzles and investigating what's happening as you get through the story.”
“Old school RPG, with a great atmosphere that keeps the tension right and engaging, with the unforgiving mechanics of the 90's games (save often).”
“The mechanics are very clunky.”
“Not a long game, around 4 hours of gameplay but 4 different endings (of which I currently have 2, but I will be playing for the rest).”
“It just needs to have a bigger hitbox for some objects.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its ability to create suspense and tension, particularly in key areas like the crypt, where players feel a genuine sense of being chased. While the story may lack depth, the dark and eerie ambiance, complemented by effective jump-scares and a strong soundtrack, significantly enhances the overall experience, making it engaging and chilling. The old-school RPG mechanics further contribute to the immersive atmosphere, keeping players on edge throughout their journey.
“One of the most important things for a 2D horror RPG is the atmosphere and feeling of suspense it creates.”
“The game had mostly jump scares, but also created a tense atmosphere, especially in the crypt section, where I felt I was genuinely being chased and needed to hide.”
“The atmosphere is dark and eerie, with a good amount of jump scares and a great soundtrack.”
“One of the most important things for a 2D horror RPG is the atmosphere and the feeling of suspense it creates.”
“The game had mostly jump scares, but it also created a tense atmosphere, especially in the crypt section, where I felt I was genuinely being chased and needed to hide.”
“The story itself isn't that deep or scary, but the atmosphere makes up for it.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their high-quality artwork and character design, blending anime and pixel-art styles reminiscent of classic SNES RPGs. The overall aesthetic, combined with a strong soundtrack, enhances the game's visual appeal.
“The artwork is very nice, especially the character design.”
“The graphics are a mixture of anime and pixel art.”
“Graphics: they are a mixture of anime and pixel art.”
“The artwork and soundtrack are at their finest!”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users reported experiencing glitches when interacting with objects, particularly when walking against or standing near them, indicating some stability issues in the game.
“There were some glitches when you walked against or stood near objects.”
“The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is solid, with no crashes or lag reported, indicating a stable performance.
“The game never crashed and never lagged, so performance-wise it was excellent.”
“The optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I appreciate how well the game runs; it maintains a steady frame rate throughout.”
“The game never crashed, and it never lagged, so performance-wise it was alright.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops during intense moments.”
“Despite the game's potential, poor optimization results in long loading times and stuttering gameplay.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features very hilarious moments that contribute to an engaging and entertaining story, making humor a standout aspect of the experience.
“Very hilarious moments and a great story.”
“The humor is spot on, making every interaction a joy.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and clever puns.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the lack of character development hinders emotional engagement, resulting in emotional moments that fail to resonate or leave a lasting impact.
