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Get on itch.io StoreHelp young investigator James uncover the dark truth behind the murder of the Smiths' and their missing daughter Ellen in this thrilling 2D pixel horror game.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Ellen features a captivating atmosphere with well-executed pixel art and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the horror experience.
- The game offers an engaging story centered around themes of revenge and grief, with collectible notes and cassettes that deepen the narrative.
- Gameplay mechanics, such as the quick access inventory and the need to hide or run from monsters, provide a satisfying challenge without relying on button-mashing sequences.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including a quickly depleting flashlight battery and unclear objectives that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Some aspects of the translation and voice acting are subpar, which detracts from the overall immersion and clarity of the story.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that it lacks replayability and could benefit from more content and polish.
- story20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around themes of revenge and grief, enhanced by a spooky atmosphere and engaging side notes that provide additional context. However, some players found the narrative to be convoluted, with various tangents and a lack of closure, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, many reviewers appreciated the character development and suspense, recommending the game for its intriguing story and immersive atmosphere.
“Really nice music and atmosphere, good little story about revenge and grief.”
“The developers of this game didn't make the story too complicated, but they gave enough information to establish who all of the characters were and it helped build suspense as you wondered how the game would end.”
“You find out more about the story and the characters in it.”
“The notes sometimes contain run-on sentences, metric vs. imperial errors (the game takes place in England, which does not use the standard US imperial system including 'miles' and 'feet'), and whatever the 'story' may be is completely lost over time.”
“The story suddenly turns into an amalgamation of unresolved cold cases turned haunted house, to something about an abusive father, the player character supposedly experiencing a form of hallucination, to a prior family being burned under the accusation of witchcraft.”
“The story branches into seemingly random tangents and offers no real closure.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally engaging, featuring effective mechanics like a quick access inventory and a compelling dark mystery that drives players forward. However, issues such as limited flashlight use, repetitive environmental descriptions, and a lack of replay value detract from the overall experience. While the game successfully creates a tense atmosphere with sound and lighting, some level design elements could benefit from refinement.
“All of the mechanics work well enough, and I especially enjoyed the quick access inventory you can store possibly necessary items in for speedy use. The general cycle of gameplay kept me wanting to move forward.”
“During the first few moments of gameplay, things are tense, and the game does very well at keeping the paranoia with surround sound and ambient lighting.”
“I'm sure this isn't that uncommon in games like this, but I appreciate that the developers introduced better mechanics than most of the button-mash horror games that come out these days.”
“The playthroughs I've watched others play of this game encountered the same issues, with being without the flashlight and battery for most of the gameplay.”
“I would not recommend this game for replay value nor would I for especially streamer/gameplay based playthroughs specifically on the notion of being unable to read crucial points of the game in the aforementioned dark areas.”
“For the full price of $10, some mechanics and level design could use a bit of work.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal, particularly the trippy visuals and glitchy effects that complement the game's atmosphere. However, some technical issues arise, such as performance drops in detailed environments and persistent interactive screens, reflecting the game's low-budget origins. Overall, it is recommended for fans of horror and pixelated art styles.
“The glitchy colorful blur effects were also cool and paired well with the aesthetic of the game.”
“Aesthetically pleasing.”
“Good sound design and graphical aesthetic.”
“Not all is perfect as in some of the more detailed environments the graphics wanted to chug; one of the puzzle's interactive screens stays stuck on your monitor until you solve it, and other quirks show its obvious low budget.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its spooky and disconcerting qualities, enhanced by atmospheric music and a compelling story centered on themes of revenge and grief. While the pixel art and unusual puzzles contribute positively, some players noted that repetitive object descriptions can detract from immersion. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a strong indie horror experience.
“Really nice music and atmosphere, good little story about revenge and grief.”
“The atmosphere is spooky and disconcerting as hell and the story was great.”
“Nice horror atmosphere, interesting story, unusual puzzles, good looking pixel art; I definitely recommend trying this if you're looking for a good indie game.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the overall ambiance and complementing the themes of revenge and grief in the story. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a key element that contributes to the immersive experience.
“Really nice music and atmosphere, good little story about revenge and grief.”
“Nice ambient soundtrack.”
“Atmospheric music.”
“The atmospheric music is repetitive and lacks variety.”
“While the atmospheric music sets a mood, it quickly becomes monotonous.”
“The atmospheric music feels out of place and doesn't enhance the gameplay experience.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is perceived to have low replayability, with players expressing doubts about its value for multiple playthroughs. Issues such as difficulty in reading crucial points in dark areas and subpar voice acting contribute to this sentiment. While some acknowledge that many games lack replay value, the consensus leans towards this title being particularly uninviting for repeated gameplay.
“I would not recommend this game for replay value, nor would I for streamer/gameplay-based playthroughs, specifically due to the inability to read crucial points of the game in the aforementioned dark areas.”
“I spotted a grammatical error in one of the notes, the voice acting of the two male characters could've been a lot better, and overall I'm not sure if the game will have much replayability (I have yet to play it a second time). To be fair, most games don't have much replayability.”
“I would not recommend this game for replay value, nor would I for streamer/gameplay-based playthroughs, specifically due to the inability to read crucial points of the game in the aforementioned dark areas.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by unique art styles, featuring sleek designs for human characters and bolder, thicker designs for monsters, which contribute to a visually distinct narrative experience.
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some stability issues, particularly in specific scenes like the lighthouse, where players encountered bugs that affected gameplay. However, these issues are generally manageable and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“Climbing the hill in the lighthouse scene was a bit buggy, and I didn't understand what to do at first. It didn't take too long to figure out, so I can forgive it.”
