Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 419 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle Game Cover
We tell you, it’s a good game! It’s not average! It might have some problems here and there, but you have to admit it is a “Good” game.
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"Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle" is a third-person survival horror game that serves as a prequel to "Daymare: 1998." As special agent Dalila Reyes, explore the advanced research center of H.A.D.E.S., battling never-before-seen creatures with innovative weapons. Experience hardcore action, environmental puzzles, and intense horror in this chilling adventure.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 419 reviews
story81 positive mentions
replayability6 negative mentions
  • The game features improved graphics and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
  • The Frost Grip mechanic adds a unique twist to combat, allowing players to freeze enemies and create strategic opportunities.
  • The story is engaging and well-written, with interesting character development and connections to the previous game.
  • Combat can be frustrating due to the fast and teleporting enemies, leading to cheap deaths and a lack of satisfying hit feedback.
  • There is a limited variety of enemies and weapons, which can make gameplay feel repetitive and dull over time.
  • The flashlight is poorly designed, making it difficult to navigate dark environments, and the game lacks a map feature.
  • story291 mentions

    The story of "Daymare: 1994" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and reminiscent of classic survival horror, while others criticize it for being convoluted and poorly executed. Many appreciate the atmospheric setting and character development, but note issues with dialogue, pacing, and character animations that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a step up from its predecessor, yet still suffers from clichés and a lack of coherence at times.

    • “The story is well-written with relatively impressive scientific explanations for what's unfolding.”
    • “The story so far is actually very interesting as well.”
    • “I would like to see this game as its own series and not as a Resident Evil fan passion project because there is some seriously interesting story here.”
    • “If the story was better I could probably force myself to just keep trying, but I have lost all motivation.”
    • “The story is strange and takes a lot of time before it really picks up steam.”
    • “The plot is mind-bogglingly bad, including multiple U.S. government agencies that decide to commit treason.”
  • gameplay205 mentions

    The gameplay of "Daymare 1994: Sandcastle" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it frustrating due to clunky mechanics, limited enemy variety, and a lack of essential features like dodging or melee counters. While the introduction of the frost grip mechanic adds a unique twist to combat, it often feels underutilized and can lead to tedious encounters. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic survival horror experience reminiscent of classic titles, but suffers from balancing issues and repetitive gameplay that detracts from its potential.

    • “The gameplay is challenging but rewarding, featuring an array of weapons, puzzles, and enemies to keep you on your toes.”
    • “If you're a fan of classic 90s horror games, this title will make you feel like you've gone back in time, but with stunning graphics and gameplay.”
    • “The game mechanics are fluid and the controls are responsive, allowing the player to deal with the horrors with precision.”
    • “I had rage quit it soooo many times over such a stupid and pointless mechanic that achieves absolutely nothing!!!”
    • “This was not fun, and the possibly cool environment is ruined by bad and boring gameplay.”
    • “The combat is not fluid, and the general gameplay of the combat encounters is very clunky.”
  • graphics113 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the detailed environments and atmospheric visuals that evoke classic horror games, while others criticize performance issues such as low frame rates and unpolished textures. Many players appreciate the art direction and immersive quality, noting that the graphics are impressive for a smaller studio, yet some feel they fall short compared to AAA titles. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some technical shortcomings.

    • “Excellent graphics, and very well optimized.”
    • “The game immerses you with visuals that are reminiscent of classic films like Alien and Resident Evil, while the sound design and atmosphere remain unique and engaging.”
    • “Nevertheless, the atmosphere and visuals are top-notch, much better than you’d expect from a small Italian indie studio - combined with the exceptional sound design, they can really deliver an atmosphere I’d put on par with AAA titles, without doubt.”
    • “Second, the entirety of the castle level ran on an almost unbearably low frame rate barely touching 30 and dropping as low as 24 even with the graphics turned way down (which makes it look like a Windows 95 game).”
    • “I don't usually care for graphics in a game as long as it's stable, but my god does this game look terrible!”
    • “Having finished the game, the lighting has really fallen short; I've had to turn my brightness to 10/10 and I still can't see a thing. The flashlight barely lights a room without aiming a gun to focus the light, and there seems to be a lot of lighting particles on walls and textures making the graphics appear grainy and unpolished.”
  • atmosphere73 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tension and immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent graphics, sound design, and a well-curated environment that evokes a sense of horror reminiscent of classic titles like Resident Evil. Players appreciate the dark, claustrophobic settings and the effective use of lighting and sound to create a spooky ambiance, although some feel it doesn't fully capture the essence of its 1994 setting. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay experience despite some criticisms of other game elements.

    • “The atmosphere was spectacular, as was the lore.”
    • “The lighting plays a key role in the atmosphere and the overall player experience, which I found to be incredibly well managed.”
    • “Nevertheless, the atmosphere and visuals are top-notch, much better than you’d expect from a small Italian indie studio - combined with the exceptional sound design, they can really deliver an atmosphere I’d put on-par with AAA titles, without doubt.”
    • “The game is set in 1994, and I don't think that it has captured the atmosphere of that time really well.”
    • “The setting in the secret base at Area 51 provides a claustrophobic and tension-filled atmosphere.”
    • “Atmosphere and graphics are alright, but story, characters, animations, models, rigs, voice acting, and line delivery are unfortunately far on the lower end of the spectrum.”
  • music50 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its eerie atmosphere and orchestration, enhancing the overall experience. However, some players noted a lack of consistent musical presence during gameplay, leading to moments of silence that could detract from immersion. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered a strong point, its integration into the gameplay could be improved for a more cohesive experience.

    • “A special note goes to the soundtrack, which is perfectly orchestrated, creating an even more eerie atmosphere.”
    • “The sound designer knocked the ball out of the park and the musical score is absolutely phenomenal.”
    • “Overall sound and music of the game is really good, music mutes and resumes at right times to add to the tension of the game.”
    • “Also, why couldn't they add music or some upbeat elevator music as I am walking around the area, instead of just hearing the character's heavy breathing the entire time or the footsteps? That made the game kind of drag on.”
    • “The writing isn't good; it feels unnatural and falsely deep. The music will even swell to tell you the feelings you should be having in that moment.”
    • “It just sounded like artist-for-hire and lacked the emotional impact of the original song from the first game; however, overall the OST was stronger in Sandcastle.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for delivering excellent graphics and smooth performance, with many players experiencing 60fps most of the time. While there are occasional stuttering issues and minor dips in performance, particularly during cutscenes and in the final segments, the game is generally well-optimized and runs effectively on high settings without significant bugs or crashes.

    • “Excellent graphics, and very well optimized.”
    • “Performance is really smooth with 3090 and 12900k at 1440p resolution, got an average 100+ fps on highest settings.”
    • “But despite my 5 paragraph rant here, I am far from being disappointed because everything else was a major improvement, especially the technical side of things; it's definitely a better optimized and polished experience than the first game.”
    • “There are some stuttering issues and crashes, but besides that, the game is very smooth and runs very well.”
    • “Performance was 60fps 97% of the time, had a dip into the 40s in a cutscene where Reyes wakes up and looks at what is maybe a planar reflection that they used in that cutscene, and towards the end there were a handful of rooms that fluctuated a bit, but not massively.”
    • “Having good and bad performances together only accentuates the contrast even further.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting a lack of incentives to replay after completing the main story. Suggestions for improvement include adding bonus costumes and enhancing gameplay elements like puzzles and resource management to encourage multiple playthroughs. The consensus is that the game offers minimal replay value, particularly for a horror title.

    • “I'd like to see you work on a smaller project, lower your visuals to the level of other indie survival horrors and prioritize what made classic survival games work: puzzles, backtracking, combat loop, resource management, replayability.”
    • “🔲infinitely replayable”
    • “I mean if the main character received at least 2 bonus costumes that would increase the replayability of the game.”
    • “No replay value.”
    • “Sadly low replayability: there is a serious jump in difficulty and changes between normal and hardcore, but no extra difficulty is added after completing hardcore.”
    • “It's a short game with not that much replayability (like most horror games).”
  • grinding18 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and pacing. While some found moments of enjoyment in completing the game, the repetitive nature of gameplay and the forced use of certain mechanics led to a perception of it being more of a chore than a challenge. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback, making the game feel less engaging compared to its predecessor.

    • “It's just a time-consuming tease that is not enjoyable or worth beating with how tedious it is.”
    • “Seriously, it's not difficult, it's just designed to be tedious.”
    • “As a fan of both classic and modern survival horror, I find this game tedious, frustrating, and overall excruciating.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some voice acting being described as "bad but funny," contributing to a campy charm reminiscent of the first game. While the sequel is noted to be more competent, it lacks the same level of unintentional hilarity, though there are still moments that elicit laughter for the wrong reasons. Overall, the humor often stems from awkward delivery and absurd scenarios, making it entertaining in a quirky way.

    • “It's funny that these Hades agents have such high-tech equipment and weaponry, but they bought their flashlight from some yard sale, with half-dead batteries lol.”
    • “At least that game was in the category of 'so bad it's funny' and it is what made me excited for Sandcastle because of its cheesiness and campy feeling.”
    • “Writing so bad it's almost funny and great gameplay.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed emotional impact in the game's soundtrack, with some compositions, like "In My Name," praised for their intriguing and emotional vocal performances. However, others felt that certain tracks lacked the depth and emotional resonance of the original game's music, leading to a perception of a less authentic artistic effort. Overall, while the original soundtrack had its strengths, it struggled to consistently evoke strong emotions.

    • “This one is more subjective of course, but overall I found 'In My Name' a more intriguing composition with a more interesting and emotional vocal performance.”
    • “It just sounded like artist-for-hire and lacked the emotional impact of the original song from the first game; however, overall the OST was stronger in Sandcastle.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with issues such as erratic enemy behavior, weapon control problems, and glitches affecting gameplay. Reviewers suggest that the developers may have rushed the release, resulting in a lack of polish and a frustrating experience. Overall, the game appears to suffer from significant stability issues that detract from its enjoyment.

    • “I just feel like they should have waited. The game still seems buggy in certain aspects, at least when it comes to the enemies. Sometimes, whenever I used the MP5, if I held down the trigger, the gun would go up and shoot at the ceiling, and the screen would start to shake. Maybe the shaking could have been on my end.”
    • “Developers are trash trying to cover their garbage game by overly complicating fights, making them buggy and slow.”
    • “[Limited enemy variety, glitches and missing assets, control issues, character model and animation problems]”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally well-received, with good animations and solid combat mechanics. However, some character designs and facial animations fall short, which is somewhat understandable given the game's small studio origins. Overall, while there are notable strengths, there are also areas that could benefit from improvement.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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