Blackbay Asylum
- August 1, 2014
- TAD Productions AB
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"Blackbay Asylum" is a 2D, side-scrolling psychological horror game. You play as a patient in an abandoned asylum, trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to its inhabitants while avoiding dangerous enemies. The game features puzzle-solving, stealth, and combat mechanics in a hand-drawn, gripping environment.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features fun and challenging puzzles that require critical thinking and exploration.
- It has a unique blend of dark humor and horror elements, creating an engaging atmosphere.
- The protagonist's quirky personality and dialogue add charm and entertainment to the gameplay.
- The game suffers from technical issues, particularly on Windows 10, leading to low frame rates and bugs.
- There is no save feature between chapters, which can be frustrating for players who need to pause their progress.
- Some puzzles can be overly obscure or illogical, requiring the use of guides to complete.
- humor38 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Blackbay Asylum" is characterized by its dark, twisted, and often crude nature, appealing to players who appreciate morbid comedy intertwined with horror elements. While some find the humor to be uniquely entertaining and a highlight of the game, others feel it can be excessive or offensive, with a mix of clever and recycled jokes. Overall, the game's blend of dark humor and gruesome visuals creates a distinctive experience that may not resonate with everyone, but is praised by those who enjoy its unconventional style.
“Blackbay Asylum is surprisingly enjoyable due to its black humor and perplexing puzzles.”
“I liked the sense of humor; the protagonist is a psychopath who comments on his surroundings and what is happening in the asylum in his own, very unique way - I can imagine that not everyone thinks this is funny, but I did.”
“While the game itself has a sick, twisted sense of humor that can be very funny at times, this is due to the protagonist Doug's reactions not just in cut scenes and situations he finds himself in, but also when you interact with the environment around you in general in terms of dialogue.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated and mediocre, reminiscent of early PSX titles, with some reviewers noting that while certain elements are visually appealing, many cutscenes and first-person views are poorly executed. Despite these shortcomings, the visuals effectively contribute to the game's chilling atmosphere and horror elements, with some players appreciating the simplicity and humor in the artwork. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
“Legitimately scary visuals despite the aged graphics.”
“The atmosphere was chilling at times, which is a feat, given the not very advanced graphics.”
“The graphics are actually quite good—especially cut scenes.”
“Just keep in mind that the graphics and texts are apparently dated.”
“And let's be honest, the graphics of this game are pretty awful.”
“Meaning the gameplay is a little clunky, the action sequences can frustrate, and the graphics are notably dated.”
- story26 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is a blend of Lovecraftian horror and psychological thriller, featuring a psychopathic protagonist navigating a creepy asylum filled with intriguing lore and character interactions. While the narrative is engaging and well-constructed, some players found it predictable and occasionally cliché, with certain elements feeling rushed. Overall, the storytelling is complemented by clever puzzles and a captivating atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity.
“Along the way, you'll also find information regarding story secrets and lore, as told by some interesting characters and through various logs.”
“I liked the change of perspective in parts of the game and the varying lengths of the game chapters, which creates a very enjoyable storytelling experience.”
“The story follows a psychopathic killer with a cute little teddy bear that gets sent to Blackbay Asylum; after a while, as is normal in asylums in games, all hell breaks loose and you are set out to escape this asylum whilst avoiding getting killed in the process.”
“The story follows a psychopathic killer with a cute little teddy bear that gets sent to Blackbay Asylum. After a while, as is normal in asylums in games, all hell breaks loose and you are set out to escape this asylum while avoiding getting killed in the process.”
“As a Cthulhu-inspired story, it had a lot of potential, and the game's first half makes you believe it will reach it.”
“The story is handled well when presented in forms of journals, logs, files, letters, and talking to some of the inhabitants, but it does come across as a little cliché and certain parts seemed rushed.”
- gameplay22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on puzzle-solving within a unique adventure framework, blending various mechanics to create an engaging experience. While some players appreciate the eerie atmosphere and the combination of gameplay styles, others note that the gameplay can become clunky and frustrating as it progresses, with dated graphics and occasional bugs detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many find the gameplay enjoyable and worth the price, highlighting its fun and adventurous elements.
“Really cool adventure game that takes advantage of different mechanics to create a unique gameplay experience, at least for an adventure game.”
“The gameplay is more or less like a point-and-click adventure game with a top-down camera view, and all you have to do is solve puzzles.”
“Amazingly, the game brilliantly combines the two gameplay styles together without difficulty.”
“Gameplay starts out okay but then quickly declines in quality as it progresses.”
“Meaning the gameplay is a little clunky, the action sequences can frustrate, and the graphics are notably dated.”
“The rest of the gameplay is your typical run around and discover what items to pick up and how to use them.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dark, chilling, and immersive qualities, effectively creating a spooky environment that enhances the overall experience. While some players appreciate the blend of humor and horror, others note that the graphics may not fully capture the intended impact. Overall, the atmosphere, combined with clever puzzles and engaging storytelling, contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“So if you love a dark, spooky atmosphere, but prefer a less adrenaline-heavy experience, this might be right up your alley.”
“I don’t mind admitting that I got genuinely spooked by the atmosphere it managed to create.”
“The atmosphere was chilling at times, which is a feat, given the not very advanced graphics.”
“It's an adventure game with a thick atmosphere filled with gore, humorous dialogue, violent nudity (saw a girl naked and eaten in half), also has cringeworthy voice acting.”
“Odd characters, chilling music, very dynamic, and creepy atmosphere definitely a recommended buy.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally acceptable, with some users reporting minor bugs that do not significantly impact gameplay. However, a critical issue related to a Windows 10 update has rendered the game unplayable for some players, highlighting potential compatibility concerns. Individual experiences may vary based on operating systems.
“It's a little bit buggy, but nothing game-breaking.”
“I've personally found no bugs or glitches within the game itself; however, there is one major issue with a Windows 10 update that makes the game completely unplayable.”
“Note: My review ends here and only represents my time playing the game. If you're still not sure, I recommend reading other reviews, visiting the community forum to ask questions, or checking for any game updates. Also, note that experiences may vary depending on your OS.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music and sound effects in the game are highly praised for enhancing the overall atmosphere, contributing to a dynamic and eerie experience. Reviewers note that the chilling soundtrack effectively builds tension, particularly during key gameplay moments, although some feel that certain events could be better timed to maximize impact. Overall, the audio elements are considered a strong point of the game, making it a recommended buy.
“The sound effects are well made and in certain places it does add to the tension, as does the music.”
“Odd characters, chilling music, very dynamic, and creepy atmosphere definitely a recommended buy.”
“For instance in the game while in birds-eye view all you can hear is the music and the sounds of your footsteps, which creates an eerie feeling within the game. However, once you progress far enough, a gameplay event occurs that has great execution in terms of tension. Still, part of me feels that this event was introduced too early, while another part believes the main issue is that this gameplay event doesn't occur often enough.”
“What sound there is is well done and in certain places adds to the tension, as does the music.”
“Odd characters, chilling music, very dynamic, and a creepy atmosphere definitely make it a recommended buy.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, indicating that it can become monotonous and may detract from the overall enjoyment.
“This gets tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive.”
“I find myself doing the same tasks over and over without any real reward.”
