Corpse Party: Book of Shadows
- October 29, 2018
- 5pb.
- 2h median play time
A literary masterpiece that pushes the boundaries of video games being legitimate art with its suspenseful, thrilling, and unique narrative that takes the horror genre to a new level. It is a classic for those Halloween fright nights but just make sure to double check the doors are locked when you turn the lights out.
Get on Steam"Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" is a horror-adventure game that serves as a sequel, prequel, and midquel to the original game. It explores past incidents and characters, allowing players to alter outcomes and experience new narratives. This PC version offers HD visuals and enhanced mouse controls. Please note that it contains spoilers for the first game.
Reviews
- The incredible soundtrack and Japanese voice acting elevate the experience, making it a must-play for fans of the original Corpse Party.
- The game provides deeper character development and backstory for minor characters, enhancing the overall narrative.
- The first-person perspective and darkening mechanic create a more immersive and terrifying atmosphere.
- The gameplay shifts to a visual novel format, which may disappoint fans expecting the exploration and mechanics of the original.
- Many chapters feel disconnected and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement in the overall story.
- Technical issues, such as glitches and a cumbersome interface, detract from the experience.
- story179 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" is characterized by its non-linear structure, featuring a collection of standalone chapters that explore alternate timelines and backstories of characters from the original game. While some players appreciate the depth and character development, others find the disjointed narrative and lack of significant plot progression frustrating, with only the final chapter contributing meaningfully to the overarching storyline. Overall, the game is praised for its immersive storytelling and character exploration, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series, despite its convoluted nature.
“The characters all have distinct personalities and are really well made, and the plot is very deep and immersive.”
“The story is well appreciated and runs quite deep.”
“For those who enjoy a good horror story - especially one with plenty of mystery to unravel - the original corpse party is the best.”
“The chapters in Book of Shadows are all disconnected from each other, and are all their own story from different timelines.”
“Since each chapter is an entirely self-contained story that in some way connects to the original, the game has trouble standing on its own, feeling more like an extended DLC rather than a true sequel.”
“The only chapter that actually progresses the overall story forward is the final hidden one, which actually acts as a prologue to Corpse Party: Blood Drive, which has yet to come out on Steam.”
- gameplay81 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" has shifted to a visual novel format, emphasizing storytelling over interactive mechanics, which has received mixed reviews. While some players appreciate the new point-and-click exploration and the introduction of the "darkening" mechanic, many find the gameplay tedious, slow, and lacking the engaging elements of its predecessor. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on narrative, with minimal interactive gameplay that may not satisfy those looking for a traditional gaming experience.
“Unlike Corpse Party 2021, in Book of Shadows, getting darkened is now a thing; it's a new mechanic.”
“Point and click adventure style gameplay mechanics and a board game-esque floor map are the primary new means to explore the world of Corpse Party, and as a result, the RPG Maker mechanics of older CPS are now almost completely gone (save some features within the pause menu).”
“Gameplay wise, this is essentially a visual novel with the occasional puzzle or choice that affects the outcome of the chapter.”
“The writing and gameplay quality are both drastically reduced from Blood Covered.”
“Sure, the gameplay itself sucks; I think most would agree - while I'm not a fan of point-and-click, the problem here is the cluttered UI and long loads each time you do as much as go to the next room.”
“Gameplay is essentially a point-and-click version of what you had in the first game; go around, interact with stuff, and progress the story.”
- music34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the incredible soundtrack and Japanese voice acting that enhance the overall experience. The haunting melodies and atmospheric tracks effectively complement the horror elements, creating a thrilling ambiance, while some nostalgic tracks from the previous game are also featured. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout aspect, contributing significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive atmosphere.
“The incredible soundtrack and Japanese voice acting take this from being a mid game to a great one.”
“The music and art in this game are incredibly well done!”
“The rest of the soundtrack is mostly atmospheric and unhinged, perfectly matched with the overall feel of the game.”
“The haunting soundtrack returns with its melancholic melodies and eerie tunes, creating an unsettling ambiance that complements the game's horror elements.”
“While I don't like this game quite as much as its predecessor in the series, I still love the music and atmosphere.”
- graphics25 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" are widely praised for their significant upgrade from the original 2016 version, featuring vivid visuals, immersive backgrounds, and detailed character designs that enhance the horror atmosphere. While some players noted a preference for the original's art style, the overall consensus highlights the game's high-definition artwork and effective use of gore, contributing to a chilling experience. The transition to a visual novel format is also seen as a positive, allowing for a greater focus on storytelling alongside the improved graphics.
“Graphically, Book of Shadows is a massive upgrade from the original 2016 Corpse Party; the game looks and controls so much better.”
“Visually, Book of Shadows retains the atmospheric pixel art style that defined its predecessor, with eerie environments and disturbingly detailed character designs that immerse players into the haunted halls of Heavenly Host.”
“The artwork is way more updated compared to the original, and it still remains a true horror game!”
“While I'm not a fan of the more 'moe' art style they chose for it, I feel like the writing and gameplay of the first make up for whatever it lacks visually.”
“It wasn't necessary to tweak the visuals either, I just wanted a higher resolution and fullscreen mode.”
“There are a lot of gruesome scenes and some of them are really horrible - it's not so much the bloody visuals but the descriptions that get you.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and effective use of pixel art. Players appreciate the palpable sense of dread and psychological depth, with many noting that the first-person perspective intensifies the horror experience. While some feel that changes in gameplay have diluted the atmosphere compared to its predecessor, the overall consensus is that the game successfully creates a captivating and unsettling environment that horror fans will enjoy.
“The atmosphere of dread and despair is palpable throughout Book of Shadows, as it introduces players to new perspectives and unveils the fates of various characters.”
“This game does an even better job with atmosphere as you get to play in first person most of the time, and mixed with the art and music, it's much scarier than the first game because of that.”
“What I really love about this game is the fact that it does not rely on jumpscares but instead creates an unsettling atmosphere and suspense.”
“Changing the format into 3D adventure also doesn't help with the atmosphere at all.”
“The total change of the core gameplay definitely reduced the overall value of the atmosphere, as now only CG sets and rather bland backgrounds complement the narrative structure, which is already weakened by a total lack of fresh, good ideas.”
“This entry is gorier, probably due to the visual novel style, rather than the RPG Maker style of the first game, with improved CGs and the soundtrack creating an equally claustrophobic and scary atmosphere.”
- character development6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game significantly enhances character development by providing deeper insights into previously overlooked characters and expanding their backstories, which enriches the overall understanding of the series' lore. It introduces new characters while also offering nuanced development for existing ones, making players empathize with their struggles and experiences. The detailed character designs and eerie environments further immerse players in the narrative.
“This game fills in more of their character development, which makes you feel for them as humans.”
“It gives character development to characters who were neglected in the first entry and really helps your overall understanding of the series's lore.”
“Thankfully, underneath all the suffering, there is a bunch of nuanced character development including some much-needed insight to the overlooked original victims' past.”
“It expands upon the backstory and adds more character development of the characters in the first game as well as adding new characters.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a striking blend of heartwarming moments and intense psychological horror, creating a profound emotional whiplash that keeps players on edge. The incorporation of irony, emotional pain, and anxiety enhances the experience, while graphic gore and unsettling sound effects contribute to a disturbing atmosphere that evokes complex feelings of discomfort and intrigue.
“The emotional whiplash in every chapter is a nice, and horrifying, experience every time.”
“There's a whole layer of irony, emotional pain, and anxiety that occurs in this game specifically that you won't find in Corpse Party!”
“The psychological horror elements are intensified, creating an emotional impact that resonates with the themes of the original Corpse Party.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be slow and tedious, with map traversal and exploration sequences that can feel monotonous and frustrating. The combination of lengthy text descriptions and unengaging point-and-click mechanics contributes to a sense of boredom, often requiring guides to avoid wasting time. Overall, the experience falls short of expectations set by previous titles in the series.
“Map traversal is slow and tedious, and the interactive gameplay portion of the game gets old fast.”
“You have tedious exploration sequences where you navigate areas on a map menu and search screens for things to interact with; if you don't use a guide for this, you are going to waste hours of time and be bored out of your mind.”
“Still interesting but just not as good; maybe it was the point-and-click mechanic that wasn't engaging and got really tedious at times, or maybe the really long descriptions that just drag on and on, making it overall not what you expect from the gameplay after the previous game.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for numerous glitches that significantly impact the overall experience, leading some users to feel hesitant about recommending it. Despite the series' appeal, stability issues detract from its enjoyment.
“I love Corpse Party; it's a great series, but this game specifically has so many glitches that I don't feel safe recommending anyone buy it.”
“I experienced a few glitches in the game that I thought I could save and reload to fix, but it didn't work.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unexpected ending, which elicited strong laughter from players and maintained their interest in future installments. Additionally, the emotional range experienced during gameplay, including moments of fear and laughter, contributes to a rich and engaging narrative experience.
“The unexpected ending made me laugh my ass off, but at least it has me interested in the next installment.”
“I felt many things while playing this as someone who got the first game almost to 100% (I'm too lazy to farm the last name tags). I was scared, I was laughing, I felt something tickling down my spine, and I especially cried at the hidden chapter.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it prioritizes profit over quality or player experience.
“Cash grab.”
“As soon as this came out, I bought it - but here's the thing, this game is obviously a cash grab.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the increased replayability due to the addition of more playable characters, including several that were previously unplayable, which encourages experimentation and varied gameplay experiences.
“The addition of more playable characters, including some that were previously unplayable, significantly enhances the game's replayability.”
“With a diverse roster of characters to choose from, each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“The variety of characters and their unique abilities encourages players to explore different strategies in each session.”
“The game lacks variety in its missions, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay it since the side quests are uninspired.”
“The limited character options and lack of meaningful choices diminish the replayability significantly.”
