ColdSide
- November 6, 2020
- AdroVGames
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"ColdSide" is a single-player Horror Adventure game developed with CryEngine V, featuring masterful graphics and a dense atmosphere. As a digger named Chris, explore an abandoned underground laboratory studying anomalous phenomena, with constant tension, atmospheric music, and ambient by Mikko Tarmia, influenced by the SCP Foundation.
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and a well-executed atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- It offers a mix of jump scares and tension, keeping players engaged throughout the gameplay.
- The game has multiple endings and decision-based outcomes, adding replayability and depth to the experience.
- The story is often confusing and poorly written, making it difficult for players to become invested in the narrative.
- The save system is frustrating, as it only saves progress at the beginning of each level, leading to potential loss of progress.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with controls and unresponsive actions.
- story54 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is often described as confusing, cliche, and lacking depth, with many players noting its sparse narrative and reliance on familiar horror tropes. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and the potential for multiple endings, others criticize the dialogue and plot coherence, suggesting that the story feels disjointed and poorly executed. Overall, the narrative serves more as a backdrop for the gameplay experience rather than a compelling driving force.
“The whole story is interesting.”
“Short amount of gameplay but compelling story.”
“I like the overall concept and story (I'm sure a few plot holes will be answered eventually, no spoilers.) If you like a game that keeps the atmosphere tense with brilliant sound work and plenty of scares, this is definitely one to try out!”
“The story is painfully mediocre and most scares are very predictable.”
“The story is your typical 'government found some creatures they wanna turn into dangerous military weapons, but oh no it goes really south and now everything is messed up' with no twists or creative turns whatsoever.”
“I didn't hate this game (truth be told, it's not half bad), but the plot (using the term very loosely) is so generally incoherent, or at least inconsistent in its narrative focus, that you really can't get too attached to anything your character is doing.”
- graphics32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising their quality, detail, and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere. The use of CryEngine has been highlighted as a significant factor in achieving stunning visuals, even on lower-end systems. While some noted minor issues with post-processing effects, the consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, contributing to a compelling and immersive experience.
“The graphics on max were outstanding.”
“Graphically, this game is absolutely stunning.”
“With the graphics and the music/sound effects, this game has an awesome atmosphere.”
“Overall, I'm quite surprised by the difference between asset quality, graphics, and script/UI quality.”
“The graphics and lighting are decent, but the amount of post-processing effects are over the top, and the whole game feels like you are looking at it through some beefed-up filter.”
“Graphics are not realistic.”
- atmosphere30 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its excellent graphics, sound design, and ability to create a tense, creepy environment without relying heavily on jump scares. Reviewers highlight the game's mysterious ambiance and immersive qualities, noting significant improvements from previous titles by the same developer. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing to a compelling horror experience that encourages exploration and replayability.
“Atmosphere of this game is amazing and I can see a lot of improvement since the first game by the same developer.”
“Mysterious atmosphere while not being bombarded with jumpscares.”
“With the graphics and the music/sound effects, this game has an awesome atmosphere.”
“The earlier beginnings to the adventure did slow right and thanks to the monumental graphic power and at least some white-knuckle, straightforward (if unoriginal) horror set-pieces and thick atmosphere, the game did manage to hold my attention and make me appreciate the devs' efforts.”
“Additionally, the atmosphere in this game and the environmental design was fantastic!”
“The lighting (sometimes lack thereof) adds so much tension and atmosphere to the game.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as slick and engaging, though it tends to be short and linear, resembling a horror-themed walking simulator. While some players appreciate the atmospheric elements and compelling story, others criticize the lack of depth and innovation in gameplay mechanics, likening it to a tech demo rather than a fully realized game. Overall, it offers a decent experience for its length, but may not satisfy those seeking more substantial gameplay.
“Good graphics, an engaging gameplay where the horror elements do their job well; not too expensive and it's overall pretty impressive for a one-person indie developer.”
“Short amount of gameplay but a compelling story.”
“While this game did not really scare me, it did keep me on my toes throughout the gameplay experience.”
“Gameplay didn't change much from the other games and still plays like a horror-themed walking sim.”
“The gameplay is non-existent.”
“With good lighting and atmosphere, but no actual gameplay, it feels more like a tech demo.”
- music6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its dark ambient drone quality, effectively enhancing the atmospheric experience alongside the graphics. Reviewers highlight the excellent audio and original soundtrack, noting that it contributes significantly to the game's immersive and slightly eerie vibe without relying on cheap jump scares. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that complements the game's unique waking simulator elements.
“The music features nice dark ambient drone sounds as the soundtrack.”
“This game has great atmospheric music and graphics that enhance the overall experience.”
“The audio and original soundtrack are excellent; I liked it very much.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, with users experiencing frequent bugs, including glitches that can force level restarts. While controller functionality is generally stable, interactions with certain elements, like padlocks, can be inconsistent. Overall, players find the game to be quite buggy.
“The game runs smoothly without any major bugs, making for a stable experience.”
“Despite some finicky controls, the overall stability of the game is impressive.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or significant issues, which speaks to the game's stability.”
“The game is buggy.”
“Sometimes very buggy, requiring a level restart.”
“Still buggy (went out of bounds by getting hit by a door through the wall).”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, offering good graphics and a fair price-to-performance ratio, making it suitable for a relaxing gaming experience.
“The game has good graphics and good optimization.”
“Good for a relaxing afternoon; the price vs performance ratio is fair enough.”
“No, it seems well optimized.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its goofy moments that provide a lighthearted contrast to the horror elements, making it enjoyable and fun. Players appreciate the inclusion of humorous segments, such as collecting moon men for a funny alternate ending, which adds a playful twist to the overall experience.
“There are a few segments that make me chuckle from how goofy they look, but it's nice to have that humor sprinkled in.”
“This is a true turn-your-brain-off and have fun horror game. Look around and collect the little moon men for a funny alternate ending, or don't and experience the final level anyway, which is just a joy to play because it's such a drastic change from the previous levels.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its high replayability, encouraging players to return for multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers a wealth of choices that make it highly replayable.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the diverse paths and outcomes available.”
“I love how the different character builds and strategies encourage multiple runs.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The lack of voice acting in the game detracts from the emotional impact of cut-scenes, resulting in awkward moments during what should be intense or heartfelt sequences.
