Canine

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 101 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Canine Game Cover
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"CANINE is a single-player Horror Stealth game where you, as a boy, must rescue your kidnapped dog Tomy from an evil corporation. With only Tomy's ball as your weapon, use stealth and distraction to avoid a humanoid dog and make your way through a PSX-style game. Experience a class B horror film narrative with two possible endings, a score system, and multiple language options."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews
graphics5 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • CANINE offers a charming retro aesthetic and engaging sound design that enhances the horror experience.
  • The game is short but provides a fun and replayable experience with a scoring system and multiple endings.
  • It effectively combines humor and horror, creating a memorable atmosphere while delivering a heartfelt message about pet adoption.
  • The game is very short, with playthroughs averaging around 30 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like the AI behavior and hiding spots, can feel inconsistent and may detract from the overall experience.
  • There are issues with localization and minor bugs, such as spelling errors and AI pathing problems, that could impact immersion.
  • graphics15 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mix of retro-inspired low-poly aesthetics and PSX-style visuals, which some players find charming and immersive, while others criticize them as inconsistent and occasionally poor. Despite the varying quality, the unique art style and engaging visuals contribute to the overall fun and creepy atmosphere, reminiscent of 80s sci-fi horror. While not on par with higher-end titles, the graphics effectively complement the game's mechanics and sound design, making it a recommendable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Holding the lovably low-poly tomy alone is cute enough, but across the board, Canine strikes a good balance with its retro-inspired graphics.”
    • “The PSX style graphics and the music really make the experience more immersive and creepy!”
    • “Overall, I would definitely recommend giving this game a try; the art style is unique and they do it really well.”
    • “The graphics are alright in parts and poor in others.”
    • “Definitely not on the level of care as Puppet Combo games but has that same aesthetic.”
    • “The graphics are pretty bad but still a fun game; there's a few jump scares when the monster finds you and it was fun trying to get all of the achievements.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring a simple yet engaging hide-and-seek loop complemented by a solid checkpoint system that reduces frustration. Players appreciate the light mechanics, amusing ball interactions, and the overall atmosphere, which enhances the experience despite some jankiness. While not groundbreaking, the game offers enjoyable mechanics and a heartfelt message, making it a fun and immersive experience.

    • “Personally not a fan of the hide and seek gameplay loop, but I actually enjoyed it here. The mechanics were well executed, and the checkpoint system takes away any needless frustration.”
    • “Good message, fun gameplay, and a cute dog.”
    • “The audio is solid along with the atmosphere, and the gameplay is simple and tense.”
    • “And while the gameplay is a little jank, the rooms are well designed and manage to give the game a good claustrophobic feel.”
    • “All while meticulously making sure the payoff is going somewhere and not just have it be trapped in the gameplay, as many tend to do.”
  • story10 mentions

    The game's story is a mix of straightforwardness and unexpected twists, requiring players to suspend disbelief at times. While it is engaging and features a dynamic relationship between the player and the monster, the narrative is relatively short, with some players wishing for a more fleshed-out experience. Overall, the story effectively builds suspense and integrates humor, despite some reliance on familiar science themes.

    • “There's a simple but engaging dynamic between you and the monster; it's got some fun visuals and story.”
    • “The game does a great job of building suspense and storytelling.”
    • “Part of the story required me to seriously suspend belief in order to play along with the plot.”
    • “The plot starts out pretty straightforward, quickly goes bonkers.”
    • “I could totally see a deeper, highly fleshed-out version of this story with more spaces and places to run to while being chased by Ruben.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The game features a charming sense of humor that balances its horror elements, with players noting its cute moments and funny character designs, such as a dog standing on two legs. The lightheartedness adds to the overall experience, making it enjoyable and replayable, especially with the inclusion of a scoring system.

    • “What it makes up for is a cute sense of humor and a focus on replayability with a scoring system at the end of each playthrough, which only takes about a half hour.”
    • “Cool little game that was (un)intentionally funny at times.”
    • “Nice short horror game with stealth, PSX graphics, and a bit of humor; the length is perfect and it even has a scoring system to give it some replayability.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its effective sound design and nostalgic low-poly visuals, creating a tense and creepy experience that evokes strong feelings of anxiety. Players appreciate the immersive environment and the enjoyable buildup, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “The game has some pretty great atmosphere, and I was very much filled with anxiety while going through my first playthrough.”
    • “The audio is solid along with the atmosphere, and the gameplay is simple and tense.”
    • “Solid creepy atmosphere thanks to some effective sound design and that good old low-poly 'PSX revival' visual style that is (happily) very popular these days in horror games.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game is described as unsettling and immersive, enhancing the creepy atmosphere, particularly when danger is near. The use of a "terror radius" effectively builds tension with escalating sound, while the calming save room theme provides a comforting contrast amidst the tension. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact.

    • “The PSX style graphics and the music really make the experience more immersive and creepy!”
    • “Very unsettling music and sound effects when the mutant dog thing is getting close.”
    • “Ruben also has a 'terror radius', as you can hear dangerous music that gets louder and louder with proximity.”
    • “Fortunately, there’s a 'safe room' alongside an accompanying music that will cradle you and melt away the stress that maybe, just maybe, the approaching footsteps will stop and turn 180.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a poignant ending that evokes both sadness and warmth, reminding players of the plight of shelter dogs. The blend of horror, silliness, and wholesomeness creates a memorable experience, leaving players with a heartfelt message that inspires them to consider adopting pets. Overall, the game effectively captures the complexities of love and loss associated with pets.

    • “The end credits made me cry a bit too, with a nice reminder of all the dogs that need a home, and all the dogs that might not have made it to the end with us.”
    • “Ending message was heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time; I think I will adopt about 20 shelter pups now.”
    • “Instead, the developer thoroughly came up with the initial foreboding 'missing pet' premise complete with its aching worries at the onset and then gently assembled all the emotional appendages together.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers solid replayability through a scoring system that encourages players to improve their performance in each short playthrough, which lasts about half an hour. While it may lose some of its scare factor over time, the combination of humor and a grading system keeps players engaged and motivated to replay. Overall, it provides good value for its price with enjoyable replay mechanics.

    • “What it makes up for is a cute sense of humor and a focus on replayability with a scoring system at the end of each playthrough, which only takes about a half hour.”
    • “Nice short horror game with stealth, PSX graphics, and a bit of humor; the length is perfect and it even has a scoring system to give it some replayability.”
    • “It starts to lose its scare factor quite a bit; however, what it makes up for is a cute sense of humor and a focus on replayability with a scoring system at the end of each playthrough, which only takes about a half hour, by the way.”
    • “Best $2.99 I spent in a while, especially given the amount of replayability the game offers by encouraging you to do better thanks to a grading system at the end of each run.”
    • “Nice short horror game with stealth, PSX graphics, and a bit of humor. The length is perfect, and it even has a scoring system to give it some replayability.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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