Corpse Party: Book of Shadows

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 487 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Corpse Party: Book of Shadows Game Cover
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.
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"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.

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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 487 reviews
story88 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • The incredible soundtrack and Japanese voice acting elevate the experience, making it a must-play for fans of the original Corpse Party.
  • The game expands on the lore and character backstories, providing depth to minor characters and enhancing the overall narrative.
  • The visual novel format allows for a more immersive storytelling experience, with well-written dialogue and engaging character interactions.
  • The gameplay has shifted to a point-and-click style, which some players find tedious and less engaging compared to the original's exploration mechanics.
  • Many chapters feel disconnected and do not significantly advance the main story, leading to a sense of repetition and lack of cohesion.
  • Technical issues, such as glitches and a cumbersome interface, detract from the overall experience and can frustrate players.
  • story358 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, particularly for side characters, others find the narrative convoluted and lacking in meaningful progression, with only the final chapter advancing the overarching plot. Overall, the game is seen as a worthwhile extension for fans of the series, though it may feel more like an anthology than a direct sequel.

    • “The characters all have distinct personalities and are really well made, and the plot is very deep and immersive.”
    • “Where Book of Shadows truly excels is in its storytelling.”
    • “If you loved the story of the first game, you're going to love the developments in this game.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay162 mentions

    The gameplay in "Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" has shifted to a visual novel format, emphasizing storytelling over interactive mechanics, which has led to mixed reviews. While some players appreciate the new point-and-click mechanics and the introduction of the "darkening" feature, many find the gameplay tedious, slow, and lacking the engaging exploration of previous titles. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on narrative, with minimal interactive elements that may not satisfy those looking for a traditional gameplay 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 in Book of Shadows primarily consists of navigating through a series of interactive visual novel scenarios.”
    • “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.”
    • “Map traversal is slow and tedious, and the interactive gameplay portion of the game gets old fast.”
  • music68 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its haunting melodies and atmospheric sound design that enhance the horror experience. The soundtrack features a mix of new tracks and nostalgic pieces from the previous game, contributing to a thrilling ambiance that complements the narrative. Overall, the combination of a great soundtrack and effective voice acting elevates the game's emotional depth and engagement.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing and adds an extra layer of thrill to the game!”
    • “The haunting soundtrack returns with its melancholic melodies and eerie tunes, creating an unsettling ambiance that complements the game's horror elements.”
    • “The music and art in this game are incredibly well done!”
    • “Sometimes it feels that a song doesn't fit the scene, but somehow it still works!”
    • “The rest of the soundtrack is mostly atmospheric and unhinged, perfectly matched with the overall feel of the game.”
    • “While I don't like this game quite as much as its predecessor in the series, I still love the music and atmosphere.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics in "Corpse Party: Book of Shadows" are widely praised as a significant upgrade from the original 2016 version, featuring vivid visuals, gorgeous backgrounds, and detailed character designs that enhance the immersive horror experience. While some players noted a preference for the original's art style, the updated HD artwork and atmospheric pixel art effectively maintain the eerie aesthetic of the series. Overall, the game's visuals, combined with strong voice acting and storytelling, contribute to its appeal, despite some critiques regarding repetitive art styles and the transition to a visual novel format.

    • “Graphically, Book of Shadows is a massive upgrade from the original 2016 Corpse Party; the game looks and controls so much better than before.”
    • “The environments are equally eerie, and the character designs maintain the disturbingly detailed aesthetic that immerses players into the haunted halls of Heavenly Host.”
    • “Visually, Book of Shadows retains the atmospheric pixel art style that defined its predecessor, enhancing the overall immersive experience.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere40 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and effective use of visual styles, including pixel art and first-person perspectives. Players appreciate the slow buildup of dread and psychological depth, which contribute to a sense of unease without relying on jump scares. However, some critiques note that changes in gameplay format may detract from the overall atmospheric experience, though the game still manages to deliver a compelling horror narrative.

    • “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.”
    • “Quite unnecessary, but almost never a problem, this subtle addition at least has a meaning to it, while 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.”
    • “Although it seems to be a sequel to Corpse Party: Bloodcovered, it is actually a very different game which somewhat continues the storyline, with a pretty different atmosphere.”
  • character development12 mentions

    The game significantly enhances character development by providing deeper insights into previously neglected characters, enriching the overall lore of the series. It expands on the backstories of both returning and new characters, allowing players to connect with them on a more human level amidst the eerie and immersive environments. This nuanced approach to character development adds emotional depth to the narrative, making the players feel for the characters' struggles.

    • “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.”
    • “This game fills in more of their character development, which makes you feel for them as humans.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The game elicits a profound emotional response through its blend of heartwarming moments and shocking brutality, creating a jarring emotional whiplash that enhances the psychological horror experience. Players note a unique layer of irony, emotional pain, and anxiety that deepens the impact of the narrative, alongside graphic gore that adds to the unsettling atmosphere. Overall, the emotional complexity and intensity set this game apart from others in the genre.

    • “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.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, citing slow and tedious map traversal and lengthy exploration sequences that can lead to boredom. The point-and-click mechanics and extensive text descriptions contribute to a sense of monotony, making the interactive gameplay feel less engaging compared to previous titles. Overall, many reviewers suggest that without a guide, players may spend excessive time navigating and searching, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “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. It's somehow overall not what you expect from the gameplay after the previous game.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its numerous glitches, leading some users to feel unsafe recommending it. Despite the overall appreciation for the series, the stability issues significantly detract from the experience.

    • “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.”
  • humor4 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting an unexpected ending that elicited strong laughter. The blend of emotions, including fear and joy, contributes to a rich gaming experience, leaving players eager for the next installment.

    • “The unexpected ending made me laugh my ass off, though 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.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over its perceived focus on profit rather than quality or player experience.

    • “This game is obviously a cash grab.”
    • “So as soon as this came out, I bought it - but here's the thing, this game is obviously a cash grab.”
    • “Cash grab.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the addition of more playable characters, including some that were previously unplayable, significantly enhances the game's replayability. This variety encourages players to explore different playstyles and strategies, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.

    • “The addition of more playable characters, including a few that were previously unplayable, significantly enhances the game's replayability.”
    • “With the introduction of new playable characters, the game offers fresh experiences and strategies, making each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “The variety of playable characters, including some that were once locked, keeps the gameplay exciting and encourages multiple runs.”
    • “The game lacks variety, making it hard to find motivation for replaying.”
    • “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to dive back in.”
    • “The limited character options really diminish the replayability factor.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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