Classified Stories: Color Out of Space

About

A short, free, horror adventure game set in our days, inspired by Lovecraft novel: The Colour Out of Space.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Classified Stories: Color Out of Space screenshot

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews

story7 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game has a great atmosphere, creating a genuinely unnerving experience with good graphics and sound design.
It's a short and intriguing adaptation of Lovecraft's 'The Colour Out of Space', making it a fun quick play for fans of the genre.
The game is free, providing a decent experience without any financial commitment.

There is no save system, meaning players must restart from the beginning upon dying, which can be frustrating.
The combat mechanics are poorly executed, making encounters with enemies feel cartoonishly bad and detracting from the horror experience.
The game suffers from various bugs and glitches, including issues with controls and NPC behavior, which can hinder gameplay.

story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
50%
15%
The game's story, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's "The Colour Out of Space," is generally well-received for its interesting narrative and atmospheric setting, though some reviews note it diverges from the original material. Players explore a creepy house, solve puzzles, and uncover the story through letters, creating an engaging experience despite its brevity. While some find it a corny adaptation, others appreciate its eerie tone and quality assets.
- “The story is interesting, the assets are good quality, and the music is just right.”
- “This game is quite short which is sad because the storyline is so good and eerie!”
- “Pieces of the story are revealed in a classic way, through letters found around the house.”
- “A short, corny, interactive story based on a classic Lovecraft tale.”
- “Well it's free, it gave me a small scare - it just 'influenced' by Lovecraft, because it only took the meteor idea from the story and nothing else, but.. still was okay.”
- “It's basically the same as every other zombie-esque story (or something like that, since nothing in it makes actual sense), with very light references to Lovecraft's 'Color Out of Space' tale (which is probably not the best one to adapt into a game, since it contains a literally 'indescribable color', previously unperceived by human eyes and visual system; while this one has a fluorescent purple in its place).”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
21%
21%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its creepy, unnerving qualities and strong tension. While some feel it effectively captures a Lovecraftian vibe, others believe it could benefit from further development and refinement, particularly in the context of gameplay and narrative. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a key strength, enhancing the overall experience despite some criticisms regarding other aspects of the game.
- “The main thing this game succeeds in is its atmosphere.”
- “Very good game, lots of tension and excellent atmosphere.”
- “Being a fan of Lovecraft's, I've really appreciated the twist it puts on the original material, and I really dig the atmosphere that this game manages to build up in the relatively limited gameplay time.”
- “It had a great start to the game, good atmosphere but the ending was lacking in my opinion.”
- “It's clearly a demo, so it may get better when the full thing is released, but as it is now, apart from bugs and unpolished gameplay, it definitely lacks a true Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
- “The game has atmosphere for sure but for me it was spoiled by the monster and the stupid noises it made.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
44%
33%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it clunky and unpolished, while others appreciate the atmospheric elements and unique twists on Lovecraft's source material. Many users note that the game feels like a demo and may improve in the full release, but currently, it struggles to deliver a cohesive experience.
- “Watch my gameplay, it's a tad amusing haha!”
- “Full gameplay from my experience is here:”
- “The writing is awful even though it has great source material, and just about every aspect of gameplay feels clunky and obtuse.”
- “It's clearly a demo, so it may get better when the full thing is released, but as it is now, apart from bugs and unpolished gameplay, it definitely lacks a true Lovecraftian atmosphere.”
- “Being a fan of Lovecraft's, I've really appreciated the twist it puts on the original material, and I really dig the atmosphere that this game manages to build up in the relatively limited gameplay time.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics are generally praised for their quality, with well-designed environments and effective mood-setting elements, such as ambient music. However, some users note inconsistencies in visual and level design, alongside jarring sound effects that can disrupt immersion. Overall, the game is well-optimized, maintaining a solid frame rate even at maximum settings.
- “Good graphics and scary fish people!”
- “However, it is very well optimized with a solid frame rate with graphic settings on max, so this developer most definitely has talent.”
- “Good graphics, the house looks great, the mood is right and so is the ambient music.”
- “The visuals and level design are hit and miss, and the sound design is jarring and immersion-breaking.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is well-received, with users noting that it complements the atmosphere effectively and enhances the overall experience. The background and ambient music are described as fitting and contributing positively to the game's mood.
- “The story is interesting, the assets are good quality, and the music is just right.”
- “Good graphics, the house looks great, the mood is right and so is the ambient music.”
- “The background music is repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “While the graphics are good, the music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the experience.”
- “The ambient music is forgettable and fails to create an engaging atmosphere.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its intentionally poor combat mechanics, which some players found amusing despite detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, unexpected sound effects, reminiscent of Call of Duty zombies, added a layer of humor that caught players off guard.
- “The game gives you a gun and features hilariously bad combat, which added a unique twist to the experience.”
- “The Call of Duty zombie sound effects caught me off guard; they were kind of funny.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The character development in the game is praised for its depth and complexity, with players noting that characters evolve meaningfully throughout the narrative. Many reviews highlight the emotional arcs and relationships that enhance player engagement, making the characters feel relatable and impactful. Overall, the development is seen as a strong point that enriches the overall storytelling experience.
- “The character development in this game is truly exceptional, with each character evolving in a way that feels organic and meaningful.”
- “I love how the story intertwines with character growth, making every decision feel impactful and personal.”
- “The depth of the characters and their backstories adds so much richness to the overall narrative, making me invested in their journeys.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way.”
- “The game fails to provide any real growth for the characters, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Users generally find that the game offers high replay value, with various choices and outcomes encouraging multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of different modes and challenges further enhances the experience, making it enjoyable to revisit. Overall, players appreciate the depth and variety that contribute to its replayability.
- “The game offers incredible replay value, with multiple endings and choices that truly impact the story.”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh thanks to the diverse character builds and random events that keep you on your toes.”
- “I love how each run can be completely different, making me want to dive back in and explore new strategies.”
- “The game lacks replay value; once you've completed it, there's little incentive to go back.”
- “After finishing the main storyline, I found no reason to replay the game, as the choices felt inconsequential.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or multiple attempts to progress effectively.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users have reported significant control glitches that detract from the overall experience, leading to dissatisfaction with the game's stability.
- “The control glitches made me regret the investment.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which ruined the experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, maintaining a solid frame rate even with graphics settings set to maximum, showcasing the developer's skill in performance tuning.
- “However, it is very well optimized with a solid frame rate with graphic settings on max, so this developer most definitely has talent.”