Burn Me Alive
- September 1, 2021
- ASDstudio
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Burn Me Alive" is a dark, occult-themed investigation game set in 1977 Tennessee. Players must uncover mysteries, shoot or sneak past adversaries, and gain abilities as they progress. The game contains intense, flashing scenes that can trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a tense atmosphere with good sound design and voice acting that enhances the horror experience.
- The story, while somewhat cliché, is engaging enough to keep players interested, with some unique twists and decent puzzles.
- The game has moments of genuine scares and a well-crafted environment that contributes to the overall horror theme.
- The gameplay is marred by slow movement speed, clunky controls, and poorly designed puzzles that often require backtracking.
- There are significant technical issues, including a non-functional settings menu, memory leaks, and unresponsive actions that detract from the experience.
- The combat mechanics are awkward and feel out of place, disrupting the otherwise atmospheric horror experience.
- gameplay17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of horror mechanics and engaging problem-solving elements that can create a tense atmosphere. While some players appreciate the active gameplay and unique horror experience, others criticize it for feeling disjointed or lacking depth, with some mechanics appearing superficial or overly edgy. Overall, it offers a balance of exploration and action, appealing to fans of horror games who seek more engagement than typical walking simulators.
“I played during the nights, after work, with a headset... don't... just don't do that... this is a trick that you think it's just a usual indie game, and expect nothing from it, especially with a very cheap price, meanwhile you get deeper and deeper in the scary story and a very nice gameplay, and you see yourself looking at the monitor, trying to hold your scream...”
“So the game has a well-designed combination of core horror mechanics, screamers, and the scary atmosphere.”
“What I liked most was that it’s quite evened out in gameplay; engaging observation skills, problem-solving, stretching the legs, and keeping the heart going.”
“The gameplay feels edgy for the sake of being edgy.”
“Despite self-inflicting some burns with uninspired gameplay.”
“1 hour gameplay later: horror ritual...”
- story16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story of "Burn Me Alive" is a budget horror narrative set in 1977 Tennessee, focusing on Henry Gray, who grapples with the loss of his family. While some players find the plot engaging and atmospheric, others criticize it for being nonsensical and lacking originality, with character development needing improvement. Overall, the game offers an intriguing experience with a mix of puzzles and horror elements, though opinions on its cohesiveness and depth vary.
“Overall, the story was interesting and unique enough to keep me interested.”
“The plot for Burn Me Alive is set in Tennessee, 1977, and revolves around a man named Henry Gray who lost his wife and child in a terrible accident.”
“You walk through the game to discover the story, which is my absolute favorite.”
“The story in the game can't be called very original.”
“It's nonsensical, especially when you do not even know how your family died at that point in the story.”
“Character development could use some work but the story was woven with care and illustrious effort reminding me of the fire motif and protagonist’s turmoil.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as grimy, dark, and nightmarish, effectively enhanced by well-executed music and sound effects that contribute to a sense of dread. While the eerie ambiance and jump scares are noted, some players feel that the combat and puzzle-solving elements detract from the overall horror experience, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's atmospheric consistency. Overall, the atmosphere is compelling but could benefit from a more cohesive integration with gameplay mechanics.
“The atmosphere is grimy and dark with a twist of strange, nightmarish sensations; the jumpscare caught me well, but I don't like the sound of zombies after killing me; it got too annoying.”
“So the game has a well-designed combination of core horror mechanics, screamers, and a scary atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is grimy and dark with a twist of strange, nightmarish sensations. The jumpscare caught me well, but I don't like the sound of zombies after killing me; it got too annoying.”
“It honestly could have done without the combat, especially when most of the combat was set to pretty awkwardly placed generic rock music, which clashed with the slowly escalating dread atmosphere that it had spent most of an hour working towards.”
“Nerve-shattering atmosphere screaming with nightmarish graphics and eerie, disturbing sound effects fine-tuned to heart-thumping rhythms of grisly psychotic malice.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the nerve-shattering atmosphere and nightmarish visuals, while others criticize the lack of advanced graphical options and optimization. A few scenes, such as one featuring a dog, are seen as unnecessary, and overall, the visuals are described as decent but not compelling enough to enhance the gameplay experience.
“Nerve-shattering atmosphere screaming with nightmarish graphics and eerie, disturbing sound effects fine-tuned to heart-thumping rhythms of grisly psychotic malice.”
“Decent graphics.”
“There is one graphic scene with a dog that could have been left out or replaced with something else.”
“Needs a bit of optimizing and ability to set graphical preferences in options.”
“~ no options to tweak graphics at an advanced level.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise its ability to enhance the atmosphere, others criticize it for being generic and poorly integrated with the gameplay, particularly during combat. Overall, the sound design is noted as well-executed, but the choice of music often clashes with the intended mood, detracting from the overall experience.
“Secondly, the music and effects are well done and are used to build up the atmosphere.”
“[*] sound and music: 8”
“It honestly could have done without the combat, especially when most of the combat in it was set to pretty awkwardly placed generic rock music which clashed with the slowly escalating dread atmosphere that it had spent most of an hour working towards.”
“It sounds like a metal song name or a movie or a book, sadly generic with little impact.”
“❌ horror sound & music”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the seamless gameplay and minimal interface, others report significant issues such as a malfunctioning settings menu, poor performance, and memory leaks, which detract from the overall experience and value.
“A well-optimized gameplay and practically the absence of any in-game interfaces makes your journey in the game world an unforgettable experience.”
“This is among a plethora of other optimization issues that probably wouldn't exist if the settings menu actually worked, so I could use my proper resolution.”
“The poor optimization, lack of functionality, and massive memory leak truly keep it from being worthy of a purchase, even on sale.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users note that the game lacks replayability due to limited new pickup locations and suggests that a time attack mode could enhance replay value.
“The new pickup locations do not add any significant replay value to the game.”
“The time attack mode feels more like a chore than a fun way to enhance replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is seen as lacking depth, though the narrative is crafted with significant care and effort, drawing comparisons to titles like "Dying Flame" and "The Evil Within 2," where themes of fire and the protagonist's inner struggles are central.
“Character development could use some work, but the story was woven with care and effort, reminding me of 'Dying Flame' and 'The Evil Within 2', where the fire motif and protagonist’s turmoil are prominently featured.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack the depth needed to make their journeys engaging.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players note that the game effectively challenges the character's psychological and emotional state from the outset, creating a compelling and immersive experience that engages them on a deeper emotional level.
“From the very beginning, your character’s psychological and emotional state comes under fire.”
“The game masterfully captures the complexities of human emotions, making every decision feel weighty and impactful.”
“I found myself deeply connected to the characters, experiencing their joys and sorrows as if they were my own.”
