Claire
- July 6, 2014
- Hailstorm Games
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"Claire" is a single-player Horror Action game with an interesting plot, good mechanics, and excellent graphics. As Claire, lost in a dark world with your dog Anubis, you must fight back your fear, explore levels, and decide the fate of others you encounter. With a panic system that increases the fear factor and multiple endings determined by plot choices, "Claire" offers a dense atmosphere and a unique gaming experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features great pixel art and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of classic horror games like Silent Hill.
- The story is engaging and explores deep themes such as family dysfunction, depression, and redemption, keeping players invested in the protagonist's journey.
- The gameplay mechanics, including the need to run and hide from enemies, add tension and challenge, making for a thrilling horror experience.
- The map system is confusing and can lead to players getting lost, making navigation frustrating and detracting from the overall experience.
- There are significant issues with enemy encounters, as they can feel more like annoying obstacles rather than genuine threats, reducing the horror impact.
- The game suffers from bugs and glitches, including problems with save points and inventory management, which can hinder progress and enjoyment.
- story216 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Claire" is a complex mix of themes such as burden, redemption, and mental health, centered around the protagonist's troubled past and her journey through a haunting environment reminiscent of classic survival horror games like Silent Hill. While some players found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, others criticized it for being vague, predictable, and occasionally confusing, with a lack of character development and coherence in plot delivery. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a double-edged sword, offering intriguing elements but often falling short in execution and clarity.
“In short, Claire is a short, tense, tragic story that had me genuinely wondering what was going to happen next and hesitating before stepping through a new door for fear of being rushed by monsters.”
“The story centers around a young woman named Claire, who by the looks of it, had an unstable family life. The story switches between her childhood and her growing up with a father who is hardly there and a mother with an illness that left her brain dead.”
“One of the most striking moments is the opening cut scene, where they paint a very clear picture of the tone of the game and some important backstory with nothing but dialogue text and music.”
“The story is...deliberately ambiguous in terms of what's going on and why the eponymous Claire is going through the experience you share with her, so take that as you will.”
“Honestly, it was all fine until the game decided to take its story and toss in a hard turn that came out of nowhere, was undeserved, and added nothing but confusion and frustration.”
“The plot and characters are so vague as to be uninvolving after the initial revelations, and the puzzle resolutions are often completely unintuitive -- nothing in the game will even suggest how various puzzles could be solved, so plan to rely entirely on dumb luck or a walkthrough.”
- gameplay92 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Claire" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the level design confusing and the puzzles frustrating, leading to a less satisfying experience overall. While some appreciate the simple mechanics and atmospheric elements that enhance the horror aspect, others criticize the excessive map-checking and backtracking required, which detracts from the enjoyment. Overall, the game offers an interesting premise but suffers from execution issues that hinder its potential as a compelling survival horror experience.
“The mechanics are interesting and easy to get a hold of, the story is absolutely phenomenal, and the artwork is very easy to look at.”
“What makes Claire and other great horror games like it; Outlast, Silent Hill 2, etc., great is the fact that it is immersive, the gameplay is easy to pick up, the soundtrack and audio can be described as both creepy and visceral, the story is rich and it all harkens back to the early age of horror games when they weren't abandoned or all being turned into Call of Duty/Gears of War.”
“Overall I enjoyed my time playing Claire and will go back to explore for the alternate endings, atmosphere/environment, and gameplay.”
“This game is an exhausting assembly of confusing level design, obtuse puzzles, and game mechanics that never come together to create anything close to a satisfying experience.”
“Exploring the hospital, which is the main gameplay loop, is just frustrating as it can be confusing going from one room to the next in the 2D perspective versus when you look at the map.”
“This isn't as fun as it should have been; what a shame. I really wanted to like this game; everything else seems okay, but the gameplay just needs to be overhauled.”
- atmosphere88 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Claire" is widely praised for its creepy, unsettling tone, effectively evoking feelings of dread and tension throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's sound design and pixel art as key elements that enhance the immersive experience, drawing comparisons to classic horror titles like Silent Hill. While some players find the atmosphere compelling, others note that confusing map navigation can detract from the overall experience.
“Claire does a masterful job creating a tense atmosphere and raising questions as you progress through the story; the titular character's history is slowly revealed to you over the course of the game, and her past grows darker and more distressing in pace with the world around you.”
“It's a superb creeping dread of a game built around creating an amazing atmosphere.”
“Wonderfully creepy little game with a great atmosphere and top soundtrack to match.”
“Seems promising at first, but the atmosphere dies really early on when it has you wandering aimlessly and checking your map after every room to keep track of where you are because the side of the room a door is on has no relation to where it leads.”
“I found this game to be less intense than most horror games and instead focuses on story and a creepy atmosphere.”
“First, what Claire does right: the atmosphere is creepy, unsettling, strung through with dread and doom.”
- graphics80 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming 16-bit pixel art style that effectively creates a creepy atmosphere, reminiscent of classic survival horror titles like Silent Hill. While some players appreciate the detailed environments and dynamic lighting, others criticize the repetitive design of rooms and lack of variety in visuals. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point that enhances the game's horror elements, appealing particularly to fans of retro aesthetics.
“I love the pixel art style and the influences from Silent Hill are very cool.”
“Beautiful pixel graphics and surprisingly dynamic lighting.”
“Though it won’t win anyone over who’s a serious graphics critic, the stylized 16-bit graphics are wonderfully detailed and manage to suck you into the atmosphere in a way you’d never think a 2D game could.”
“But at least showcase a gripping storyline and interesting enemies; unfortunately, none of that matters when the game looks like it comes from the glorified 8-bit graphic era.”
“Boring graphics.”
“The controls are simple, as are the graphics; there are few other characters for Claire to talk to aside from herself and her dog.”
- music44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively blending ambient sounds with unsettling elements that contribute to the horror experience. While the soundtrack is noted for its emotional highs and lows, some players feel it can become repetitive or misaligned with gameplay moments. Overall, the music is described as immersive and integral to the game's tone, successfully evoking feelings of anxiety and nostalgia.
“The soundtrack is amazing as well, hitting all the highs of relief and the lows of anxiety.”
“The music and the sound effects are some of the best I've ever heard; they perfectly set the tone and they're never inconsistent or out of place.”
“Wonderfully creepy little game with a great atmosphere and top soundtrack to match.”
“The theme music eventually just grates.”
“It's totally serviceable, but neither the effects nor soundtrack stand out in any way.”
“The music is a mix between ambience and 'demons screaming from hell' type.”
- stability10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, particularly on the PC version, with frequent bugs affecting gameplay and a highly unreliable map that players are advised to avoid. While some users still enjoy the story and gameplay, the overall experience is marred by these persistent technical problems.
“Worst of all, the PC version is buggy as hell.”
“Especially since the map is so buggy, players should never consult it -- it will be wrong roughly 75% of the time.”
“There is very minor item management—that is to say I've never run out of space—and moving items around can be a bit buggy.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find the story boring and awkwardly told, many appreciate the effective use of tone and tension that fosters emotional investment in the main character and narrative. The game explores significant emotional themes, keeping players engaged and guessing, though it may not provide complete emotional fulfillment for everyone.
“And yet everything available is used to great effect to create a creepy tone throughout, to get the player emotionally invested in the main character and the story, to gradually ratchet up the tension.”
“Just beat the game, great story, didn't run into any bugs, game goes over some emotional topics, kept me guessing what was going to happen next.”
“I'm finding myself scared and shocked, and emotionally invested in the story.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling like a "backtracking simulator" that detracts from the overall experience. The reliance on running or hiding from enemies, combined with frequent deaths, contributes to a sense of monotony rather than excitement, making the journey to the final challenge feel more laborious than engaging.
“I died a lot on the way to the final challenge, making it more tedious than terrifying.”
“Backtracking simulator (feels tedious due to 2nd reason).”
“This is mainly a 2D side-scrolling hallway navigation game with some survival horror elements thrown in (elements which are the only compelling part of an otherwise tedious game) and a completely worthless 'map'.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as hilarious, providing a refreshing contrast to its 2D horror elements. Players appreciate how it captures a sense of being lost and alone while still incorporating a lighthearted, comedic tone that enhances the overall experience.
“It's all one big joke; if I can't see the humor in it all, I don't know what I would do.”
“Claire is a very interesting take on being a 2D horror game; it captures a sense of being lost and alone, mixed with a nice bit of humor.”
“Sometimes it's hilarious.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through multiple endings, various puzzles, and side quests, as well as three difficulty levels. However, some players feel that the overall replay value may be limited, suggesting it might only sustain interest for a few runs. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, it may not meet the expectations of those seeking extensive replayability.
“There are a few cool puzzles and side quests that add to the replay value of the game, as well as three different difficulties and a plethora of different endings.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that lead to different outcomes, encouraging players to explore multiple playthroughs.”
“If you're looking for a game that has an understandable map, more memorable side characters rather than atmosphere, something with a higher replay value than maybe 4 runs through at max, more likely than not, this is not the game for you. With it usually being 10 dollars, I'm afraid you might be able to do better.”
“There is replayability value in the game as there are multiple endings you can unlock based on what you do in the game.”
“There are a few cool puzzles and side quests one can do that add to the replay value of the game, as well as three different difficulties and a plethora of different endings.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game draws strong parallels to Silent Hill 3, particularly in its character design and atmospheric backdrop, suggesting a deep, immersive narrative experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users noting that the performance is memorable and well-executed by the developers, making it a recommended purchase for fans of the horror genre.
“The performance is mostly memorable and well-executed by the developers, making it a standout horror game.”
“This game reminds me of the Clock Tower series, and the optimization truly enhances the overall experience.”
“I would definitely recommend buying it for its impressive optimization and engaging gameplay.”
