CORPSE FACTORY
- May 31, 2022
- RIVER CROW STUDIO
- 11h median play time
"Corpse Factory" is a suspenseful visual novel with full English voice acting and an all-star cast. The game tackles mature themes such as violence, mental health conditions, and suicide as it tells the story of a disturbing website that fulfills users' dark desires. Immerse yourself in the dark atmosphere with an original soundtrack featuring Emi Evans and music by Alec Shea.
Reviews
- Engaging and twisted storyline that keeps players hooked throughout the game.
- High-quality voice acting and beautiful artwork enhance the overall experience.
- Well-developed characters with complex personalities and mental health issues.
- The plot falls apart in the later acts, with many inconsistencies and rushed endings.
- Limited choices throughout the game, making it feel more like a kinetic novel than a traditional visual novel.
- Some characters' actions and motivations are unrealistic, leading to a lack of immersion.
- story701 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Corpse Factory" is a dark and twisted narrative that explores themes of mental illness and morality through its unhinged protagonist and a series of unexpected plot twists. While the initial acts are engaging and well-crafted, many players feel that the latter parts of the story suffer from pacing issues, plot holes, and a lack of coherence, leading to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. Despite its flaws, the game captivates with its unique premise and character development, appealing to those who enjoy psychological horror and are willing to suspend disbelief.
“The story is dark and full of unexpected twists, keeping me hooked throughout.”
“The attention to detail in the storytelling, the intricate character development, and the stunning graphics all contribute to an immersive experience that few games can rival.”
“The developers skillfully crafted a story that is filled with unexpected twists and turns, leaving me constantly on edge, never able to predict what would unfold next.”
“The plot is all over the place with more plot holes than I can count; I am baffled how people enjoyed this game.”
“The story starts off smoothly, with the world-building and character introductions neatly integrated into the progression of the story, but it quickly devolves into a chaotic mess.”
“The final act and the ending itself are over so quickly that they barely have time to explain anything, leaving the plot with more holes than Swiss cheese.”
- music154 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. While some noted that the soundtrack may not be particularly memorable or varied, it effectively sets the tone and complements the visuals, contributing to the overall immersive experience. Highlights include a fantastic opening theme and well-placed tracks that align with the game's psychological horror elements, although a few users mentioned some repetitiveness in the music.
“The soundtrack is exquisite and pushes the game's atmosphere into truly horrific territory.”
“The music is very fitting, closing in to the atmosphere one may find in 'Saya no Uta' -- although, compared to it, we are set for a milder trip down craziness, in a realistic environment.”
“The amazing soundtrack hits at just the right moments too, really showcasing the subtle mood swings here and there, and the voice actors nailed their roles very well.”
“The rest of the cast is decent along with the soundtrack, though this last part could have used some more variety.”
“Graphics are well made, music becomes too repetitive after a while, and other drawbacks were mentioned above.”
“I do wish there had been a few more songs composed for the game because they get reused a bit too much and become repetitive.”
- graphics75 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork, vibrant character designs, and immersive visuals that enhance the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and atmospheric music, which together create a captivating ambiance, although some note inconsistencies in quality, particularly in later acts. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some critiques regarding the execution of graphic content.
“The artwork is absolutely stunning, and the music - especially the intro - is beautiful.”
“The game's visuals are stunning, with vibrant backgrounds that create a sense of existence within the game world.”
“The attention to detail in the storytelling, the intricate character development, and the gorgeous graphics all contribute to an immersive experience that few games can match.”
“For instance, the text may describe a guy lying in a river of his own blood, his eyes gouged out, his neck slit, his stomach caved in, his butthole gaping, etc., etc... but the artwork just shows him sitting on a bench dehydrated with some ketchup dripping from his mouth.”
“Most of the art is very well done (with the exception of Tomoe and Shinya, their art seems unpolished and doesn't mesh well with the artwork of the rest of the game).”
“It's really a shame because everything else is good like the voice acting, the music, the visuals and also the premise, but 9 hours in this I can tell you it's becoming a slog for me to finish.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, reminiscent of cult classic films with intentionally bad acting. Players found the writing to be both hilarious and bizarre, with moments that evoke laughter even in serious contexts, such as the absurdity of character interactions and plot twists. While some elements may come off as cringe-worthy or overly silly, the overall tone is engaging and entertaining, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate unconventional humor.
“There were lines that truly made me consider this game to be 'The Room' of anime visual novels purely out of serious lines coming across so hilariously in a game that wants you to take it seriously.”
“The crow factory was the most hilarious thing ever to read right after experiencing the true ending.”
“The story is completely bonkers near the end but at least it's funny.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Corpse Factory" is consistently praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a well-crafted soundtrack and striking visuals. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke tension and unease, making it a compelling experience for fans of the thriller genre. The combination of excellent voice acting and a chilling musical score further enriches the overall ambiance, creating a captivating and unsettling narrative environment.
“The music also manages to capture the atmosphere, the emotion, and the importance of the scenes.”
“This visual novel has really good visuals, the entire thing is voiced, and the macabre music creates a truly chilling atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack is exquisite and pushes the game's atmosphere into truly horrific territory.”
“Despite an interesting story, my favorite thing about this game is the overall atmosphere.”
- gameplay23 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on visual novel elements, featuring minimal interactivity with only a few meaningful choices throughout the experience. While some players found the lack of traditional gameplay elements and mini-games to be a drawback, many appreciated the engaging narrative and atmosphere, making it a worthwhile experience despite its brevity. Overall, the game offers around 10 hours of reading and story immersion, appealing to those who prefer narrative-driven experiences over complex gameplay mechanics.
“Choices feel reasonably meaningful, and you feel like you get a good amount of gameplay out of a single playthrough.”
“It has a great atmosphere and engaging narrative, and it is well worth playing if you are looking for a unique and thrilling experience, albeit a short one with about 10 hours of gameplay in total.”
“For context: I thought I was approaching the end but ended up having 5 more hours of gameplay. (Additional context: I was streaming, so the gameplay time is longer; solo play I'd guess it was maybe 3 more hours of gameplay left.)”
“The gameplay could be summarized as a kinetic novel as there are only 3 choices you can make throughout the whole game; the rest is straight up reading through the story, with no mini-games included.”
“However, on the gameplay side, the amount of choices and ramifications are few and far between.”
“Corpse Factory is definitely heavy on the visual novel elements and light on choice-making and gameplay.”
- character development16 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted for its intricate storytelling and attention to detail, particularly with characters like Noriko and Kojiro, which enhances the overall immersive experience. While the character designs are praised for their beauty and ability to reflect personalities, some reviewers feel that the development could be more consistent, with a few criticizing the linearity and lack of choices that limit character growth. Overall, the game is recognized for its memorable character designs and strong voice acting, though some players wish for deeper on-screen development.
“One of its best qualities is the amount of detail (and love, certainly) put into the character development of Noriko and Kojiro.”
“As I read through the story, I found myself fascinated by the character designs, which perfectly capture each character's personality and inner struggles.”
“The attention to detail in the storytelling, the intricate character development, and the gorgeous graphics all contribute to an immersive experience that few games can match.”
“The character development was messy.”
“This novel is allergic to character development on-screen!”
“I wish I could trade 2-3 hours of chapter 1's rambling nothingness and exchange it for story/world/character development elsewhere - I feel like it would automatically make the game a lot better.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly impactful, eliciting a wide range of feelings from players, including trauma and empathy for the characters. The narrative effectively immerses players in the chaos and psychological struggles of the protagonist, enhancing the emotional weight through well-timed twists and evocative music. While some recommend it for those seeking intense emotional experiences, others caution that it may not be suitable for everyone.
“Literally made me feel all kinds of emotions.”
“This story made me feel like a witness, a part of the crew, carefully watching the chaos firsthand as it spread and slowly began to corrupt everyone it laid hands on.”
“There were many twists in the game that, while I expected what might happen, I just didn't expect how brutal it would feel emotionally to many of the characters, and I think they did that well.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find value in pursuing achievements, others feel it lacks significant replay value, likening it more to an interactive visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some users expressing that it offers no replay value at all.
“But, it doesn't stop the story from being a fun ride, and there is replay value in trying to get all of the achievements.”
“☐ infinite replayability”
“[h1][b][u]replayability[/u][/b][/h1]⬜ over and over and over!”
“As a result of this, the game feels more like a slightly interactive visual novel than a video game. While this does not detract from the quality of the game's best aspects (its characters and story), it does make some of its advertising look disingenuous and reduce the game's replay value.”
“Replayability: just no.”
“Which gives it 0 replay value.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of voice acting in the game is highly praised, with a strong emphasis on the quality of performances and production value achieved through crowdfunding. While some characters have less screen time or range in their lines, the majority of the cast delivers impressive and fitting performances, enhancing the storytelling experience. However, there are minor concerns regarding voice direction for one character, which detracts slightly from the otherwise high-quality presentation.
“The voice acting is top-notch, with every actor delivering an incredible performance.”
“Corpse Factory is fully voiced in English, and the voice actors' performances are great.”
“They understand how writing works best in this medium and executed it well with a reasonably meaty story. They killed it with the presentation, and thanks to the crowdfunding campaign, they were able to go all out with the production value, even hiring a cast of experienced voice actors to make some great performances for the game.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for featuring intrusive microtransactions that detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like an interactive visual novel than a traditional video game. While the characters and story are praised, the monetization approach is seen as disingenuous and negatively impacts replay value.
“As a result of this, the game feels more like a slightly interactive visual novel than a video game. While this does not detract from the quality of the game's best aspects (its characters and story), it does make some of its advertising look disingenuous and reduces the game's replay value.”
“Horrible microtransactions to play!”
“This game could've been your coffee advertisement.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some appreciate the ability to explore different endings without additional tedious grinding, others find the overall grinding experience excessive and burdensome.
“So... much... grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I found the grinding to be repetitive and exhausting, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- stability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users report that "Corpse Factory" runs smoothly on the Steam Deck without the need for any adjustments, indicating strong stability across platforms.
“Corpse Factory runs great on the Steam Deck without any tinkering.”