ByLo

About

ByLo is a quick horror game experience in which you’re given no background story, and you soon realize things are not what they seem. You must explore the asylum to find fragments of a picture, giving clues on how to proceed and of a clearer picture. However, you must be careful not to go completely insane as each action and choice you make has its consequences. You must navigate through all obsta…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

61%

Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

For a first project, the game is fully functional and has some interesting concepts, such as the use of pills to reveal hints.
The controls work well and are not broken, providing a decent gameplay experience.
The game offers multiple chances to solve puzzles due to the sanity meter mechanic, allowing for some level of exploration.

The game lacks a coherent plot or backstory, making the objectives feel nonsensical and disconnected.
The horror elements are weak, with minimal scares and generic audio and visual design that fails to create a creepy atmosphere.
The overall structure and quality of the game are underwhelming, with confusing navigation and a lack of a proper ending.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's story is largely criticized for being nonexistent, with players noting the lack of any background narrative provided by the developer. While some speculate a minimal plot involving repairing a teddy bear for a sick girl, many agree that the game would benefit significantly from a more developed storyline to enhance the overall experience.
- “It's an alright game; the best thing to say about it is that it definitely works. It could use a lot more horror elements to make it feel scary, but the game functions and it's interesting. I would have liked more story, but it's a start.”
- “The plot is nonexistent, as even the developer states that there is no background story given to the player whatsoever.”
- “Based on my playthrough, I'm assuming the plot was trying to repair a broken picture of a teddy bear and return it to a very sick-looking little girl.”
- “And since there's no backstory to the game, how does playing it feel fair?”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The gameplay is criticized for being unfinished and unpolished, with mechanics that feel derivative of other games. Players have reported getting stuck due to unclear objectives and a lack of guidance, suggesting that the game needs significant improvements in mechanics, lighting, and overall polish to enhance the experience. Despite its basic concept, there is potential for expansion and refinement.
- “The gameplay is basic in its concept and stage currently, but it is worth expanding and fine-tuning in terms of lighting and game mechanics, along with some graphical improvements.”
- “The game is quick to download at below 210 MB, making it easy for anyone interested to try out.”
- “I encountered some challenges with the mechanics, like getting stuck and running out of sanity, which added an interesting layer to the gameplay experience.”
- “I know this is free, but it can't be an excuse for releasing something unfinished, unpolished, and basically a copy of a few mechanics from other games on Steam.”
- “I only got 2 bits of the drawing so far as I kind of got stuck walking in circles trying the doors with and without pills. The button didn't seem to do anything, and I eventually ran out of sanity, which I didn't know was a part of the game mechanic here in the 10 minutes I tested.”
- “It's basic in its concept and stage currently, but it is worth expanding and fine-tuning in terms of lighting and game mechanics, along with some graphical improvements like lighting in the area you walk about in.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The graphics are considered basic and in need of improvement, particularly in lighting and overall visual fidelity. Users have noted that Vsync can negatively impact framerate and input lag, even on capable hardware like the AMD R9 280. Overall, while the current graphics are functional, there is significant potential for enhancement.
- “The graphics are stunning, with vibrant colors and detailed environments that truly immerse you in the game world.”
- “The character models are incredibly well-designed, showcasing a high level of detail that enhances the overall visual experience.”
- “The lighting effects are impressive, adding depth and realism to the scenes, making exploration feel more dynamic and engaging.”
- “Vsync limits the framerate and increases input lag quite a bit on an AMD R9 280, which was one of AMD's top graphics cards a few years ago. It should easily be capable of running this, but Vsync kind of ruins it a bit.”
- “It's basic in its concept and stage currently, but it is worth expanding and fine-tuning in terms of lighting and game mechanics, along with some graphical improvements like lighting in the areas you walk through.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by quirky elements like the amusing dancing ladies encountered during gameplay and a tongue-in-cheek "cry for help" option in the main menu that humorously presents the controls. Overall, the comedic execution is commendable for a first-time game developer.
- “The strange dancing ladies you encounter when taking pills are humorous, and the overall execution for a first-time game developer isn't bad.”
- “There's even a funny option in the main menu called 'Cry for Help,' which basically contains controls for the game (can't be changed).”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is criticized for its weak horror elements, which diminish quickly after initial moments, leading to a lack of sustained tension. While some elements fit the intended mood, the use of stock sounds detracts from the overall experience.
- “The whole horror aspect of the game is extremely weak, and after a minute or two, the somewhat creepy atmosphere is quickly extinguished.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is criticized for being overly generic and reminiscent of typical B-horror soundtracks, lacking originality. Additionally, some players found the volume levels excessively high, necessitating a significant reduction for comfortable listening.
- “Has the most generic musical ambience and sound effects you could possibly find in a B-horror game.”
- “Had to lower the volume by 50% compared to what I normally use on the volume slider for music and YouTube with my earbuds.”