Crying Pony

About

Crying Pony is a single player action game. It was developed by CreSpirit and was released on April 19, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Crying Pony is a 2D side-scrolling horror game where the protagonist, Michael, is hunted by the lurking evil in his nightmares. As the nightmare's corruption seeps into reality and even pulls Michael's daughter into its grasp, will he be able to lead them both to escape from the nightmare?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Crying Pony features beautiful art direction and sound design, creating a dark and eerie atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
The game is more forgiving than typical survival horror titles, with frequent checkpoints that suit its linear design, making it accessible for players.
The combat mechanics are simple yet effective, allowing for a blend of supply management and action that feels satisfying.

The game's ending is disappointing and feels weak, leaving players wishing for a more fulfilling conclusion.
Some gameplay elements, such as enemy respawning and limited ammo, can lead to frustration, particularly during chase scenes.
The narrative lacks originality and depth, recycling familiar horror tropes without offering a unique twist or engaging plot.

story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's story centers on Michael, who is plagued by nightmares of a crying pony, but many reviewers find the narrative unoriginal and reminiscent of other titles. While the detailed environments and world-building are appreciated, the overall plot lacks uniqueness and fails to offer a fresh perspective, leaving players wanting a more innovative storyline.
- “The game follows the story of Michael, a man who is haunted by nightmares of a crying pony.”
- “However, I still like all of the detail in the rooms; the game has a lot of background material and various world-building. I was interested in the story; I just wish it was a bit different.”
- “It reminds me of a certain game, but I don't want to make a comparison because of the plot similarities, although I don't think the story is all that unique.”
- “I wanted to follow the story, but in the end, it feels like something we have seen before many times.”
- “Sadly, I just don't think the game did anything interesting with the narrative. I didn't mind the characters, but for me, I think this is exactly the kind of plot you don't want to do; we have seen something similar so much over the years, I need something a little different.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Gameplay in the game is visually impressive, but players have noted issues with clarity regarding the location of puddle monsters, leading to a trial-and-error experience. Additionally, while the combat mechanics are present, they lack a sense of purpose, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “My first impression was very good; I think it's a very good-looking horror game, and I wish the combat mechanics had more purpose.”
- “Gameplay here: https://youtu.”
- “For the puddle monsters, sometimes it was not clear where they were located. I know about the body parts, but in a place with water, I sometimes could not tell, so it felt too much like trial and error.”
- “My first impression was very good; I think it's a very good-looking horror game, but I wish the combat mechanics had more purpose.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a simple yet effective art style that employs low saturation and contrast to evoke a dark and eerie feeling. While some players found the atmosphere decent and engaging, others felt it lacked variety, with repetitive elements diminishing the overall experience. Jump scares were appreciated, but the consistency in pacing left some players wanting more depth in the narrative.
- “The game's art style is simple but effective, using low saturation and contrast to create a dark and eerie atmosphere.”
- “I thought the atmosphere was not great, but decent enough. I was never really out of the experience; it's just that some unintuitive moments made me ignore the narrative a bit.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics feature a simple yet effective art style that employs low saturation and contrast to evoke a dark, eerie atmosphere. While the visuals are praised for their beauty and attention to detail, including various death animations and room designs, some players feel that certain ideas are recycled too frequently. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the psychological horror experience.
- “The game's art style is simple but effective, using low saturation and contrast to create a dark and eerie atmosphere.”
- “The visuals were great, everything from various death animations to the coloring of the rooms and the design of the scenery.”
- “About 2 to 3 hours of psychological horror and convoluted navigation through the nightmares; if nothing else, the visuals were very beautiful (in a disturbing kind of way).”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music is noted for its surprising intensity, contributing to the overall fantastic experience alongside its stunning art direction and animations.
- “Overall, I thought the game was fantastic - the art direction and animations were gorgeous, and there is some surprisingly scary music in here too.”