Closer To Home
- October 19, 2022
- isthisamug
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Closer To Home" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you play as a young author returning to their hometown after a long absence. The game explores themes of memory, identity, and the complexities of small-town life as you reconnect with old friends and confront the ghosts of your past. As you navigate the town and its inhabitants, your choices will shape the outcome of your story, making for a unique and personalized experience.
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Reviews
- Unique and engaging art style that enhances the surreal and psychological themes of the game.
- Intriguing narrative that invites players to explore and interpret the story, keeping them engaged throughout.
- Challenging puzzles and exploration mechanics that reward curiosity and attention to detail.
- Convoluted map design and navigation can lead to frustration and confusion, making it difficult to progress.
- Some players may find the story too abstract or difficult to understand, which could detract from the overall experience.
- Technical issues such as frame drops and limited control options may hinder gameplay for some users.
- story14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as complex and psychedelic, often leaving players puzzled yet intrigued, with a narrative that unfolds gradually through exploration. While some find the storytelling rewarding and thought-provoking, particularly in its themes of reality and dreams, others note that the interface can be confusing, making it challenging to follow quest lines. Overall, the unique art style and engaging dialogue enhance the experience, though the clarity of the story may vary for different players.
“The story, although psychedelic, makes its larger threads clear, and each area you discover is unfurling one more piece of a larger mystery.”
“Its gripping story will leave you wondering even after you've seen all it has to offer.”
“Engaging story that makes you think about the nature of your reality and life.”
“But I don't understand the story at all; maybe that's intentional, I don't know.”
“The interface in itself is pretty unfriendly; just interacting with this game can be a point of confusion, let alone trying to make progress following quest lines that don't make sense.”
“That said, I didn't particularly get a good sense of personality early in the game; I think some of the darker tones later in the story are easier to follow.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique and coherent art style, which effectively enhances the chilling and grotesque atmosphere. Players appreciate the surreal visuals that contribute to the overall experience, although some suggest that clearer design could improve navigation. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, complementing the engaging story and gameplay.
“Really interesting little quirky psychological horror game with some great music and super interesting visuals.”
“The art style is coherent and perfect for a chilling, grotesque setting that also got many laughs out of me.”
“The original visuals alone make it worth it, but you'll get much more in the story and puzzles.”
“Everyone was equally confused and left the stream after things got very gory and graphic.”
“For a game like this, pretty much any art style will work; I just think you could have cleaned up the areas a bit so it's easier to see the points of interest.”
“Aesthetic is not the problem; more so, it's the way you pace your game and how I actually experience it.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging mechanics, particularly the enjoyable skate mechanic and the unique reality/dream transition mechanic that challenges players to think outside the box. It combines fun movement with genuinely disturbing elements, creating a thrilling experience that elicits a range of emotions, from excitement to fear. Additionally, the inclusion of in-game notes enhances the overall experience, making exploration rewarding.
“The gameplay is engaging, had me squealing like a girl many times, sometimes out of fun and sometimes out of terror.”
“Genuinely disturbing and scary at times with fun movement mechanics and interesting spaces.”
“There's also a certain mechanic (stabbing yourself to move between reality/dreams) introduced which requires you to bend the world's established rules in a way you haven't seen thus far to progress, and almost led me to think I'd found a particularly bad ending until I guessed my way to finding the solution.”
“The gameplay feels clunky and unresponsive at times, making it frustrating to navigate through the levels.”
“I found the combat system to be overly simplistic and lacking depth, which made encounters feel repetitive and dull.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its fantastic quality and ability to enhance the overall ambiance, contributing significantly to the quirky psychological horror experience. While some players feel that more music could have been incorporated, the existing soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the unique visuals and engaging story.
“Really interesting little quirky psychological horror game with some great music and super interesting visuals.”
“I could not recommend this game enough, the story is amazing, the art style is unique and really freaking cool, the soundtrack is fantastic.”
“The overall tone of the game is all over the place; it has a certain ambiance to it, even though sometimes I feel like you needed to use more music.”
“The overall tone of the game is all over the place; it has a certain ambiance to it, but sometimes I feel like it needed more music.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is characterized by a mix of intentional design choices and occasional bugs, which may appeal to players who enjoy a more obscure and exploratory experience. While some glitches may feel accidental, they often contribute to the overall atmosphere of the game, making it a curious recommendation for those who appreciate this style.
“The mix is quite interesting, and for those who like it obscure and don't mind rough edges and a few bugs, it gets a curious recommendation!”
“To be fair, this type of game deconstruction is an intentional element in these exploration games. You are meant to be lost and go around hugging walls; sometimes it's not very clear if the glitches are accidental or just part of the scenery.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by unique and engaging character designs, particularly noting the appeal of characters like Ribbit. The game features a variety of strange enemies and collectibles that enhance the overall experience, contributing to a fun and interactive environment.
“The character design is very cool; I love Ribbit!”
“The enemies and character design are very strange and unique, featuring a lot of fun collectibles and interactables.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a profound emotional impact from the game, often feeling a sense of longing for deeper understanding or hidden secrets. This lingering feeling contributes to an unforgettable experience that resonates long after playing.
“Throughout the whole experience, I felt like there was something greater I was missing, or a secret that I was always this close to finding. Regardless, the way this game made me feel is unforgettable.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of melancholy and suppressed darkness, evoking off-brand Yume Nikki vibes. It features a mix of lighthearted moments and disturbing undertones, ultimately leading to a descent into madness, reminiscent of titles like The Purgo Box.
“The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, drawing you into a world that feels both familiar and unsettling. Every corner of the environment tells a story, making exploration a deeply immersive experience.”
“The sound design and visual aesthetics combine to create an atmosphere that is both eerie and captivating, leaving players on edge while also feeling a strange sense of wonder.”
“The game gives me off-brand Yume Nikki vibes, although the themes I am getting from the atmosphere are very different, somewhere between melancholy and suppressed darkness. The narrative has both lighthearted moments and very disturbing undertones, similar to a game such as The Purgo Box, eventually degrading into complete madness.”
“The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks a cohesive identity, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion or connection.”
