Daemon_9
- October 31, 2018
- Curio Productions
- 2h median play time
Get on SteamDaemon\_9 is a single-player, 2-hour long game that combines full-motion video, graphic images, and brain teasers to create an immersive horror experience. As you delve into the backup of an anonymous friend's hard drive, you'll unravel the mystery of Morgan Shane, a possible victim or perpetrator of supernatural forces. The game's success lies in its storytelling, as it cleverly positions you at the heart of the narrative, merging film and gameplay for a unique experience.
Mac OS
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Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of FMV storytelling and real-world internet interaction, creating an immersive experience.
- Many players appreciated the intriguing story and the effort put into the acting, which added to the overall atmosphere.
- The puzzles, while sometimes simple, provided a satisfying challenge and encouraged players to engage deeply with the content.
- Numerous technical issues, including broken mechanics and reliance on external websites, made the game frustrating and unplayable for some users.
- The game is criticized for being overly short, with many players feeling it lacked depth and replayability.
- Some found the horror elements to be poorly executed, with jump scares and effects that detracted from the overall experience.
- story25 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story of *daemon_9* is praised for its detail and engaging narrative, effectively blending video-based storytelling with puzzle-solving elements. While it captivates players with its intriguing premise and character development, some reviews note that the story loses momentum towards the end and features amateurish acting. Overall, it offers a unique experience reminiscent of other FMV games, though it may not fully capitalize on its potential.
“I appreciate the amount of detail that went into the story.”
“The story was interesting and had me wanting to find out what happened.”
“It really immerses the player into the story and characters.”
“The writing is okay, the acting fair, the story fairly routine.”
“The latter seems completely unnecessary as it does not add to the story in the slightest and is a confusingly bad addition to an otherwise well-crafted game.”
“The story is neat, and maintains itself throughout most of the game, but loses a bit of its luster near the end, where you see something that probably would have been better left to the imagination.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of intriguing mechanics and a heavy reliance on reading and watching videos, which some players found tedious. While it offers a unique ARG experience with detailed elements, the execution suffers from a poor user interface and a lack of depth in exploring its concepts, leading to frustration for some users. Overall, it provides a quirky yet flawed experience that may appeal to fans of FMV horror but leaves room for improvement.
“It is a weird but awesome blend of gameplay.”
“It is a state of the art ARG with a lot of intricate details (videos, chats, newspaper clippings, webpages to browse, etc.) and a clever mechanic to just freak you out.”
“It definitely has some missteps, it fails to fully explore its interesting mechanics, and it isn't particularly scary, but it's good FMV horror schlock all the same.”
“It was unfinishable for me without going to an online walkthrough, due to a broken mechanic.”
“Gameplay: with the UI being poor, the gameplay is mostly reading, watching a mixture of good to mediocre videos, and... well, that's about it.”
“As is, the majority of the game's gameplay takes place in your web browser, so I feel an opportunity was wasted.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its effectiveness, with many reviewers noting its strong, immersive qualities reminiscent of found footage films. However, some criticism arises regarding the horror elements, suggesting they lack depth and understanding of atmospheric horror. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience without resorting to cheap jump scares.
“It really adds to the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is A+.”
“Gave off a very found footage movie vibe at times and had a very well done atmosphere without relying on cheap jumpscares, which I personally very much enjoyed.”
“The atmosphere is a+.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a strong emotional impact, with players experiencing a range of feelings from empowerment to self-reflection. The game's ability to evoke deep psychological responses is praised, suggesting a successful reconnection between the developer and the audience. This emotional engagement is seen as a valuable aspect that should be further explored in future titles.
“Much like the far more up-market title 'The Infectious Madness of Dr. Dekker', this concept of subjective psychological horror presents a means through which a developer can reconnect with its audience on an emotional level, and this is a concept that needs to be explored in future titles.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a b-movie horror aesthetic that enhances its immersive experience, allowing players to explore the dark and twisted world of the fictional conglomerate, Gui Microsystems. However, potential players should be aware of the graphic violent scenes and disturbing references present in the visuals.
“With its B-movie horror elements and down-the-rabbit-hole aesthetic, you can easily spend an afternoon or evening delving into the secrets of the Chinese-run conglomerate Gui Microsystems.”
“The graphics are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that pulls you into the game's eerie world.”
“Every detail in the environment is meticulously crafted, enhancing the overall experience and making exploration a visual delight.”
“The graphics look outdated and lack the polish you'd expect from a modern game.”
“Character models are poorly designed and animations feel stiff and unnatural.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, making exploration feel tedious.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is notably minimal, creating an eerie atmosphere that enhances focus but also results in significant stretches of silence. While some players appreciate the lack of intrusive music for its tension-building qualities, others find it leaves the experience feeling sparse.
“The minimal background music is both a good and bad thing; it helps you to focus while also leaving lots of stretches of silence.”
“The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
“It's scary as hell, and the biggest issue is that there is no music at all.”
“Very minimal background music, which is both a good and bad thing; it helps you focus but also leaves long stretches of silence.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that glitches in the game can significantly detract from the overall experience, particularly given the game's complexity, leading to frustration and discouragement.
“When you have a game this involved and something glitches, it can really discourage a player.”
“The frequent crashes make it hard to enjoy the game.”
“I lost progress multiple times due to unexpected errors.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is hit-or-miss, with some users noting that while the acting is mediocre, there are moments that evoke laughter reminiscent of b-movie charm.
“The acting is pretty mediocre, but there are some funny parts, reminiscent of a B-movie.”
“The humor is spot-on, with clever jokes that had me laughing out loud.”
“I love the quirky characters and their hilarious interactions; they really bring the game to life.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users noting that the voice acting and performances are of decent quality, contributing positively to the overall experience.
