ByLo

About

ByLo is a single player action game. It was developed by Mia Osterholm Sarceno and was released on September 1, 2019. It received neutral reviews from players.

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

Skip User Reviews

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

humor2 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 game offers a humorous element with strange encounters, like the dancing ladies, which can provide some entertainment.
Despite its flaws, the game is free to play, making it accessible for those curious to try it out.

The game lacks a coherent story or plot, leaving players confused about their objectives and the overall purpose.
It is criticized for being an asset flip, with many elements borrowed from other sources, resulting in a lack of originality and polish.
The horror elements are weak, with minimal scares and a disappointing ending that fails to provide a satisfying conclusion.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's story is largely criticized for its absence, with players noting that there is no background narrative provided, even acknowledged by the developer. Some speculate a minimal plot involving repairing a teddy bear for a sick girl, but overall, the lack of a coherent story detracts from the experience, leaving players wanting more depth and context.
- “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 fair?”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's graphics exceed expectations, though they appear to rely on assets from external sources. While the visuals are basic and in need of refinement, particularly in lighting and mechanics, the overall performance is hindered by Vsync, which introduces input lag. Despite these issues, the game is quick to download and offers potential for future enhancements.
- “The game graphics look better than you might expect, but that's just because it looks like some or all of them are borrowed from asset stores or elsewhere.”
- “Basic in its concept and stage currently, but 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.”
- “The game graphics look better than you might expect, but that's just because it looks like some or all of them are 'borrowed' from asset stores or wherever.”
- “Vsync limits the framerate and increases input lag quite a bit on an AMD R9 280 here, 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 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.”
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. It's also under 210 MB, so it's quick to download and try out for anyone interested.”
- “I only got two 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 mechanics here in the 10 minutes I tested.”
- “While I know this is a free game, it can't be an excuse for releasing something unfinished and unpolished. It feels like a copy of a few mechanics from other games on Steam.”
- “I know this is for 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, and the button that didn't seem to do anything. Eventually, I 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.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game 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 game controls. Overall, the comedic execution is commendable for a first-time 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, leaving players feeling underwhelmed. While some aspects 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, leading some players to find it unremarkable and excessively loud, prompting them to lower the volume significantly.
- “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.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely criticized for its lack of stability, being described as buggy and unfinished, leading to a frustrating experience for players.
- “The one thing you can be sure about is that this is a buggy, unfinished, incomplete mess with no value for gamers.”