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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.
Reviews
- Atmospheric music and sound design enhance the creepy, immersive experience.
- Engaging story about revenge and grief, with well-integrated lore through notes and collectibles.
- Solid gameplay mechanics with a focus on exploration and survival, providing a satisfying challenge.
- Flashlight battery management can be frustrating, leading to potential progression blocks.
- Some translation issues and grammatical errors detract from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from bugs and control mapping problems, impacting gameplay fluidity.
- story10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around themes of revenge and grief, enhanced by atmospheric music and environmental storytelling elements like notes and drawings. While some players appreciate the character development and suspense, others criticize the narrative for its disjointedness and lack of closure, with various plot threads that can feel random or unresolved. Despite these flaws, many still find the overall experience engaging and recommend 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.”
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally engaging, featuring effective mechanics like a quick access inventory and a strong atmosphere that enhances tension through sound and lighting. However, issues such as limited flashlight use and repetitive object descriptions detract from immersion and replay value. While it offers a solid experience compared to typical horror games, some level design and mechanics 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.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal and trippy visuals, especially considering the game's indie origins. However, some performance issues arise in detailed environments, and low-budget quirks are evident, such as persistent interactive screens. Overall, the unique art style and sound design contribute positively to the experience, particularly for fans of horror and pixelated art.
“Additionally, the ambient sounds and score are well-done for what there is; there's even a few bits of voice acting, and the trippy, peyote-laced visuals look pretty darn good for an indie dev just getting their feet wet.”
“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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % 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 to the experience, some players noted that repetitive object descriptions can detract from immersion. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a strong indie horror atmosphere.
“Really nice music and atmosphere, good little story about revenge and grief.”
“Beyond that, I bought this at a discount and thought it was worth the price. 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.”
“The atmosphere is spooky and disconcerting as hell, which adds to the overall experience.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % 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 within the story. Reviewers appreciate the emotional depth and immersive experience provided by the soundtrack.
“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, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“While the music aims to create an immersive experience, it often feels dull and uninspired.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's tone, leading to a disjointed experience.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is perceived to have limited replayability, with players expressing doubts about its value for multiple playthroughs. Issues such as poor visibility in dark areas and subpar voice acting contribute to this sentiment, leading to a general consensus that it may not offer enough incentive for players to return.
“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 dark areas.”
“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.”
“The voice acting of the two male characters could've been a lot better, and overall, I'm uncertain about the game's replayability.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % 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 and engaging experience.
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form meaningful connections with each character.”
“Each character has a unique backstory that unfolds beautifully throughout the game, making every interaction feel significant.”
“The progression system is well-balanced, giving players a sense of growth and evolution as they navigate the story.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been noted to have some minor bugs, particularly in specific scenes like the lighthouse, which may cause confusion for players initially. However, these issues are generally manageable and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
“Lastly, climbing the hill in that same lighthouse scene was a little buggy, and I didn't understand what to do at first. However, it didn't take too long to figure out, so I can forgive it.”
