Bureau of Contacts
- June 20, 2024
- MiroWin
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Bureau of Contacts" is a ghost-hunting game where a neural network controls the ghost's behavior and tactics based on the player's actions and words. The game features cursed locations, different types of ghosts and traps, and the possibility of betrayal by other agents. Communication with the ghost has no limits, so players should be mindful of what they say as the ghost understands context and reacts accordingly. Explore, strategize, and survive with friends or solo in this unique horror experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique AI that allows ghosts to react to player interactions, creating a more immersive experience.
- The graphics and atmosphere are visually stunning, enhancing the horror experience.
- The gameplay mechanics are innovative, with a focus on gathering evidence and performing exorcisms, making it a fresh take on the ghost hunting genre.
- The game is currently plagued by numerous bugs and performance issues, leading to a frustrating experience.
- There is a lack of content, with only one large map available, making gameplay repetitive and tedious.
- The evidence collection system is confusing, with unclear mechanics that can lead to player frustration and difficulty in progressing.
- gameplay44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game features unique mechanics and a compelling atmosphere, with players appreciating the innovative fuse and evidence-gathering systems. However, many reviews highlight issues such as clunky mechanics, performance problems, and a lack of clarity in instructions, which can detract from the overall experience. While some find the gameplay engaging and strategic, others feel it is unfinished and frustrating, indicating a need for further refinement and quality-of-life improvements.
“I like the fuse mechanic; it's a more unique way than just turning on the power and being able to turn all lights on.”
“The game offers deep gameplay, an interesting plot, and a great atmosphere.”
“Unique mechanics that I have not seen before in ghost hunting games are pretty intuitive and easy to master; at the same time, they make you think carefully. If you make a single mistake, you can end up paying with the run.”
“The entity gives you zero time to gather evidence; it's very fast and there is no hiding mechanic (that I am aware of, but I could be missing it).”
“While the horror atmosphere is undeniably potent, the gameplay itself can be clunky at times.”
“Everything within it in terms of gameplay is so half-baked and unfinished to the point of being ridiculous.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning quality and ability to create an immersive atmosphere, enhancing the horror experience. Many players appreciate the unique art style and high level of graphical complexity, although some have noted performance issues, such as frame rate drops on higher settings. Overall, the visuals are considered one of the game's greatest strengths, contributing significantly to its engaging gameplay and eerie ambiance.
“Stunning graphics and unforgettable screamers made me really nervous :)”
“Thanks to its unique art style and rich atmosphere, Contact Bureau immerses you in a fascinating world of intrigue and mystery.”
“Very fun in-depth ghost hunting simulator with the most realistic graphics I've seen in the genre.”
“I had to turn down the graphics to low, and even with my 4070 Ti, the average FPS outside was 34 and inside was 60, dropping to the 40s at times.”
“From an aesthetic point of view, most of the game is wonderful, but some of the icons are confusing.”
“The awesome graphics, but I'm not yet trying the game fully.. I will update the comment after the stream.. thank you.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepiness, mysticism, and immersive qualities, enhanced by impressive graphics and unique art styles. Players appreciate the suspenseful environment, although some express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a haunting ambiance that appeals to fans of the horror and ghost hunting genres.
“Interesting puzzles and atmospheres of gloominess.”
“Thanks to its unique art style and rich atmosphere, Contact Bureau immerses you in a fascinating world of intrigue and mystery.”
“The game is very atmospheric, suitable for people who like to be constantly in suspense; you will have to constantly look around.”
“It's a pity that the atmosphere of the game itself is not as exciting as we would like.”
“While the horror atmosphere is undeniably potent, the gameplay itself can be clunky at times.”
“After playing a couple of matches, there wasn't a jump factor really, but the atmosphere does still stay creepy.”
- story18 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a captivating narrative with detective elements and engaging gameplay, but it suffers from unclear plot points and tedious exorcism mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the intriguing atmosphere and character interactions, others find the execution lacking, with ghosts being more cute than scary and certain gameplay elements feeling repetitive or frustrating. Overall, the storyline has potential but is marred by inconsistencies and gameplay issues.
“The game offers a fascinating story with detective elements, in which players take on the role of an agent working for a bureau that collects and analyzes information about mysterious events and characters.”
“Contact Bureau is an exciting adventure game that will amaze you with its amazing storyline and addictive gameplay.”
“With a compelling storyline and varied game mechanics, Contact Bureau forces you to think strategically and plan your actions carefully.”
“Exorcisms are just tedious rather than fun and not to mention insanely anti-climactic... 'exorcism passed', the end goal, is just the ghost stating through a needlessly long sentence of how it's upset you're attempting to exorcise them. The ghost still hunts and acts like normal despite being 'exorcised'.”
“The plot is unclear and the ghosts are not scary but cute.”
“Playing it, however, is another story.”
- stability15 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that significantly impact gameplay. While some acknowledge that these issues are typical for an early access title, the overall consensus suggests that the game requires further refinement before it can be considered stable and enjoyable. Players are advised to wait for updates to address these stability concerns.
“If you want to only play games that are bug-free and complete, give this game a little more time in the oven before you check back.”
“Very buggy and prone to crashing.”
“From game crashes to the AI spirit box freaking out to the ghost simply leaving the house on its own, I could probably list over 69 glitches which can kill the experience for a lot of players.”
“However, it is pretty buggy at the moment.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is significantly lacking, with users reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates, choppy gameplay, and potential memory leaks. Many players noted that these problems detract from the experience, suggesting that substantial improvements are needed for the game to reach its full potential. While some players experienced decent frame rates, they still encountered freezing and other optimization-related issues.
“If performance and the AI payment system were improved, it would easily be a 10/10.”
“Fix the optimization, and this game could be amazing!”
“Performance is absolutely terrible with insanely low FOV and textures that cause motion sickness (even for people that don't typically get motion sickness like myself).”
“However, it's plagued by performance issues that cause choppy gameplay over time, likely due to a memory leak.”
“The game has potential but needs major optimization.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is light-hearted and entertaining, providing a comedic contrast to its non-horror elements. Players appreciate the ability to engage with characters through jokes, even if the responses may not always align with their sense of humor. Overall, it adds a fun layer to the gameplay, especially when purchased at a discount.
“Of course it's not horror, but it's funny! At a discount, it is definitely worth adding to your collection.”
“You can even have them respond to jokes, although they may not find you funny.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is well-received, as there are no microtransactions, allowing players to use infinite spirit requests for free. Reviewers appreciate the developers' commitment to prioritizing player experience over profit, indicating a focus on community engagement rather than cash grabs.
“For those coming from Insym's stream: there are no microtransactions! You can use infinite spirit requests for free.”
“The game offers a fair monetization model that doesn't pressure players into spending money.”
“I appreciate that the game allows players to progress without needing to spend real money.”
“I personally choose to support developers who listen to their players and actually care about the well-being of their game outside of a cash grab.”
“First for people coming from Insym's stream: there are no microtransactions; you can use infinite spirit requests for free.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of exorcisms to be tedious and anti-climactic, with the completion of an exorcism resulting in a lackluster conclusion that fails to change the ghost's behavior. The lengthy dialogue and minimal impact on gameplay contribute to a frustrating experience rather than a rewarding one.
“Exorcisms are just tedious rather than fun and, not to mention, insanely anti-climactic. The end goal, 'exorcism passed', is just the ghost stating through a needlessly long chatGPT sentence how upset it is that you're attempting to exorcise it. I had to test it in the tutorial just to make sure that was actually the exorcism passing... it indeed was considered you completing the mission, yet the ghost still hunts and acts like normal despite being 'exorcised'.”
- music1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as awesome, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
“The music is absolutely awesome!”
“The soundtrack really enhances the overall experience.”
“I love how the music sets the mood for each level.”
