Conrad Stevenson's Paranormal P.I.
- February 27, 2022
- D&A Studios
- 39h median play time
Get on Steam"Conrad Stevenson's Paranormal P.I." is a first-person ghost hunting simulation, where you become investigator Conrad and use real-life tools to explore haunted locations. Gather evidence of paranormal activity, uncover the ghosts' pasts, and solve each case to attract more clients in this methodical and patient approach to the paranormal. Each location has its unique haunted history and requires thoughtful investigation to clear the lingering spirits.
Reviews
- Highly immersive and atmospheric experience that captures the essence of ghost hunting.
- Unique approach to ghost hunting with a focus on investigation and storytelling rather than survival.
- Developer is responsive to community feedback and consistently updates the game with new content.
- Gameplay can feel slow and repetitive, requiring patience to gather evidence.
- Some mechanics, like the interaction with objects and equipment, can be clunky and frustrating.
- Limited content currently available, with only a few locations and ghosts to investigate.
- story144 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is a central focus, with each ghost possessing a unique backstory that players can uncover through immersive investigations. Players appreciate the depth and emotional resonance of the narratives, which are intricately woven into the gameplay, allowing for a slow-paced, methodical exploration of haunted locations. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its engaging delivery and atmospheric tension, making it a standout experience for fans of narrative-driven ghost hunting games.
“Each ghost in the game has their own story and their own means for being released or exorcised.”
“The story behind every ghost, trying to figure out what happened to them and trying to tie in all the factors to get them to show themselves, is amazing; I love it!”
“It rewards slow, careful, methodical playstyles, and follows a story instead of a match-by-match format.”
“The story behind every ghost, trying to figure out what happened to them and trying to tie in all the factors to get them to show themselves, is amazing. I love it!”
“Each location has its own unique cast of ghosts that require investigating. When you finally have figured out what has happened to the ghost and what its story is, it is time to help it move on.”
“The investigation part becomes really important in telling all the individual stories and letting you understand each one's own story.”
- gameplay105 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of exploration and puzzle-solving, focusing on ghost investigations with a narrative-driven approach. While the mechanics are unique and immersive, some players find them clunky and lacking clear explanations, leading to frustration during tense moments. Overall, the game offers a slower-paced, realistic experience that appeals to those who enjoy detailed lore and methodical ghost hunting, despite some repetitive elements and a need for clearer mechanics.
“I thoroughly enjoy the game for its ultra-realistic approach to paranormal investigation; even after extensive play, the game retains its eerie charm akin to horror games, offering countless hours of immersive gameplay.”
“The gameplay works like this: you arrive at a location that has multiple ghosts - the location can be as small as a family house or as big as a district.”
“The mechanics are great and the depth of the investigations is brilliant.”
“Some mechanics, like interacting with objects, don’t always work smoothly, and it can be frustrating when you’re in the middle of a tense moment.”
“The gameplay loop itself is not that great.”
“It's genuinely just boring after the 3rd or 4th investigation because it really feels like there is no gameplay sometimes, it's just you cycling through your tools until your character decides he's seen enough.”
- atmosphere69 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively blending tension and storytelling to create a genuinely spooky experience. Players appreciate the focus on atmospheric horror over jump scares, with many noting the detailed environments and intriguing backstories of the ghosts. Overall, the game successfully establishes a captivating and haunting ambiance that enhances the ghost hunting experience.
“The atmosphere is my favorite part of this game.”
“A beautiful take on the popular ghost hunting genre that focuses primarily on atmospheric horror as opposed to life-threatening danger, creating a clever blend of realism and fantasy.”
“This game has absolutely the most epic atmosphere.”
“The slow buildup of activity as you investigate makes it so much scarier when a ghost yells at you out of nowhere and really adds to the eerie atmosphere and tension.”
“Despite there being no real 'danger' in the game, as the ghosts can't kill you, I find there's a lot with the atmosphere and storytelling that can really make the game scary in its own right.”
“The lack of response in general regarding EVP evidence is easily the most infuriating part about this game, but otherwise, the atmosphere is very well done.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their outstanding quality, atmospheric design, and detailed environments, creating an immersive experience for players. However, some users report performance issues, particularly on lower-end computers, where the game can be demanding on GPU resources. Overall, the visuals, including lighting and art style, contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some technical challenges.
“The graphics are outstanding and you really feel like you're ghost hunting.”
“The overall atmosphere is stunning, graphics are pretty, sounds are well done, and maps are detailed.”
“The visuals are incredible and eerie.”
“Well, it's atmospheric right up until the sound of your computer's fans start cutting through as the game, unless set to the lowest graphics, eats up 99% of your GPU to run.”
“It's very much an indie game with lower quality graphics than Phasmophobia.”
“Performance is amazingly bad for a game with such mediocre visuals; audio ranges from clumsy voice acting for the protagonist to some pretty freaky ghost sounds.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to uncontrollable interactions and the need for specific viewing angles to engage with elements like lights. While some appreciate the slower pace as a refreshing change from other paranormal games, many feel that the mechanics can become monotonous, requiring significant time investment to progress. Overall, the grinding may detract from the enjoyment for those seeking a more dynamic experience.
“Can get a bit tedious if the ghosts aren't doing anything to detect.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Also interacting with lights is pretty tedious as you have to be viewing the switch a very specific way to interact with it.”
- optimization11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, especially on less powerful hardware. While some appreciate the visuals and gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is not well-optimized, leading to frustrating experiences such as low frame rates and audio issues. Players express hope for future updates to improve performance, but currently, it is deemed unplayable for those with older systems.
“It looks good, runs smoothly, and I like the slow burn of the investigations.”
“Needs a bit of optimization, but it's early access, and I'm excited to see what further updates and patches bring in!”
“I look forward to when I can keep a frame rate above 25, either through game optimization, or I upgrade to less of a potato.”
“It's not optimized for less powerful hardware, which is a shame because this game looks like so much fun.”
“I look forward to when I can keep a frame rate above 25, either through game optimization or by upgrading to less of a potato.”
“This game barely works and is unoptimized as hell. 53 minutes wasted just to hear some little girl laugh for half a second, then miss the entire thing by the time I pulled out the EVP. Don't buy this game unless it's more completed in the future.”
- replayability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its unique storytelling and lore, many feel it lacks the random generation that enhances replay value. Although it offers a rich experience and planned new content, the scripted nature and fixed missions limit its replayability compared to other titles in the genre. Players who prioritize narrative and atmosphere may find it worthwhile, but those seeking varied gameplay may be disappointed.
“It's potential and replayability is almost limitless.”
“Despite how focused the game is on uncovering the ghosts' histories, it still has so much replayability.”
“There is also replayability with the completed cases.”
“I don't think it has much replay value.”
“This game sacrificed replayability for creativity and more horror.”
“It has more story and lore, but maybe a little less replayability.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever writing and character interactions, particularly with Conrad's amusing reactions to ghosts. Users appreciate the funny voice acting, which enhances the overall experience, although some elements, like the laughing little girl, received mixed reactions.
“Whoever took that floor plan layout of the home that has a bathroom door open directly into the top of the stairs made me laugh.”
“There are some hilarious lines, and I really like Conrad as a character.”
“It is actually hilarious how he reacts to ghosts.”
- stability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, with users noting it is not entirely bug-free and still requires further refinement. While it runs adequately and offers an engaging experience, minor glitches persist, particularly in the early access endgame. Overall, players find it enjoyable but acknowledge the need for improvements.
“The game is not completely bug-free, but it runs well enough.”
“I experienced very few crashes, making my gameplay smooth and enjoyable.”
“The performance is solid, with minimal lag and stable frame rates.”
“To be honest, I am not sure if I recommend this game to others or not yet... I like the idea of the game, but it's definitely buggy.”
“The downsides are the game still needs some work, can be buggy, and the narrator is an annoying chatterbox.”
“While the endgame isn't set in stone yet (as of this writing, it's still in early access) and there are a couple of minor glitches, it's still a fun scare-filled quest through various locations with ghosts, demons, and... something in the woods.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a profound emotional journey, transitioning from fear to deep empathy as they uncover the backstories of ghosts and help them find peace. The touching mechanic of aiding spirits, coupled with detailed mission reports that provide closure to families, enhances the overall emotional impact of the game.
“I went from being terrified to sobbing from heartfelt emotions after discovering the story of a particular ghost and then helping that ghost find peace and cross over to the other side.”
“Finding out what happened to them and being able to release them is such a cool and touching mechanic.”
“After each job, you receive a detailed mission report, and it feels much more wholesome to be able to provide feedback to the worried families or homeowners.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its minimal yet effective use, contributing to a tense atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some players found the musical sound effects initially confusing, struggling to distinguish between the game's ambient sounds and the music itself.
“The lighting, the sound design, and the minimal but effective use of music create a tension that keeps you on edge.”
“At first, the musical sound effects just confused me as I wasn't sure what was ghost and what wasn't.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is well-received, with players appreciating the developer's commitment to providing regular content updates and actively engaging with the community, indicating that it is not a cash grab or likely to become abandoned.
“The monetization model feels exploitative, with essential features locked behind paywalls.”
“It's frustrating to see so many in-game purchases that impact gameplay balance.”
“The constant push for microtransactions detracts from the overall experience.”
