Exanimum: The Silent Call
- March 11, 2024
- Perspektik
Get on Steam"Exanimum: The Silent Call" is a first-person indie psychological horror game following Jason and his daughter Jessica, who encounter unsettling events on the road to Greenfield town. The game immerses players in a creepy atmosphere with realistic graphics and sound effects, while psychological tension builds through a journey filled with secrets and threats. Fear constantly looms, providing suspense with every step taken into the eerie depths of the forest.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and an immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- Jump scares are well-timed and effective, contributing to a genuinely scary experience.
- The story, while short, is engaging and evokes strong emotions, making it a memorable experience.
- The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frame rate drops and performance issues in certain areas.
- The story can be confusing and lacks clarity, leaving players unsure of the plot at times.
- Some players found the game too dark, making it difficult to navigate and see important elements.
- story97 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it compelling and engaging, while others criticized it for being confusing and lacking coherence. Many appreciated the dark themes and emotional depth, but noted that the narrative could be difficult to follow, with some elements feeling disjointed or underdeveloped. Overall, while the game offers intriguing moments and strong atmospheric storytelling, it may leave players puzzled about certain plot points and character motivations.
“The story was compelling and cohesive.”
“The story and atmosphere of the game really impressed me.”
“Equipped with a deep storyline, atmospheric environment, and thrilling gameplay mechanics, this game draws you into an unforgettable nightmare world.”
“But, the story didn't make any sense.”
“The plot really doesn't make much sense or have much depth.”
“The story felt bare and predictable, some bits of the game felt too quiet (not enough ambient noise or music), you're on your own for the majority of the game, and overall the people who experienced it with me said they were getting bored while watching.”
- atmosphere45 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of sound design, lighting, and environmental details that enhance the horror experience. While some players noted issues with frame rates and the overuse of jump scares, the overall consensus is that the game successfully creates a tense and unsettling atmosphere that captivates players. Many found the combination of dark themes and compelling storytelling to be a standout feature, making it a memorable entry in the horror genre.
“The atmosphere was dark, intense, and downright creepy.”
“You can tell that a lot of effort was put into the atmosphere and keeping you immersed in the environments, especially the sound design.”
“Exanimum: The Silent Call excels at creating a dark and tension-filled atmosphere, enveloping the player with a disturbing sense of reality with every detail.”
“Unfortunately, atmosphere also doesn't carry a game entirely, and the gameplay and story do take a bit of a back seat.”
“This game was bland, the atmosphere boring, the 'jumpscares' very predictable and completely unnecessary.”
“As for the more critical side of it - I do think that the removal of the flashlight part of the way into the game robbed some of the atmosphere.”
- graphics40 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere, often described as top-notch and reminiscent of high-quality titles. However, some players have reported issues with frame rate drops and optimization, particularly on lower-end hardware, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the game's graphics are generally praised for their realism and ability to enhance the horror elements.
“Graphics: 10/10 simply gorgeous.”
“The graphics and atmosphere are so immersive, pulling you right into the heart of the experience.”
“Graphics were astounding and the character movement felt natural.”
“The first thing that bothered me was that, at the first launch of the game, the graphics and FPS were all uncapped and maximized, which almost killed my PC, even if the only thing playing was a video.”
“On the opposite side of the fence, the game isn't very optimized for lower-end graphics cards (I have an RTX 3050), and it did lose a lot of frames, and the controls felt a little janky at times.”
“Previously, sloppy visuals, cheap and repetitive components, and poor optimization distinguished the good from the terrible.”
- gameplay24 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Exanimum: The Silent Call" is generally well-received, praised for its atmospheric design, thrilling mechanics, and effective jump scares, creating an engaging horror experience. However, some players noted that the movement can feel slow and the gameplay may become repetitive due to backtracking. Overall, while the game is on the shorter side, it offers a solid experience that balances skill and suspense, making it worth the price for horror enthusiasts.
“I had so much fun getting to play this for myself, from the lighting mechanics to the sound design it all helped to create a spooky atmosphere ❤️ it is a bit on the shorter side but I definitely recommend giving it a go for the experience!”
“The gameplay is quite good, with well-crafted environments, atmosphere, and jump scares.”
“Equipped with a deep storyline, atmospheric environment, and thrilling gameplay mechanics, this game draws you into an unforgettable nightmare world.”
“Gameplay: probably the weakest aspect of the game.”
“Having said that, the gameplay is always the same.”
“I’m not a fan of this mechanic because it usually forces you to backtrack and see what changed.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game have received high praise for effectively building tension and enhancing the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting how the absence of music at key moments heightens the sense of realism and suspense. While some players appreciated the unsettling and immersive qualities of the soundtrack, others criticized the audio balance and occasional overuse of jumpscares. Overall, the music is seen as a crucial element that complements the gameplay, intensifying the player's emotional experience.
“The music and tension beats were on point.”
“The sound design and music choices in the game are also truly noteworthy.”
“The environment and music give a sense of tension and pull you into the game.”
“I kinda stood there at the 'end' like 'are we done?' The music and the ambience were horrifically lovely.”
“-only a single volume button between the music and SFX, so there was an imbalance of audio.”
“This game was so badly put together; constant jank and clipping, not to mention the constant jumpscares. There were a few good moments of non-jumpscares, like the time the monster walked away, but the perspective, the jank, the constant jumpscares, and overused music completely ruined any possible experience to be had.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end graphics cards, while others reported smooth gameplay with only minor hiccups. Lighting and weather effects were noted as specific areas where optimization could be improved. While graphics are generally acceptable, the inconsistency in performance has left many users dissatisfied.
“It ran well and I didn't run into any noticeable bugs or performance issues.”
“Graphics are fine, despite occasional optimization difficulties.”
“Only issue I had was that I got some slight performance issues during weather effects, but nothing game-breaking.”
“Very poorly optimized.”
“My main issue with the game was optimization and lighting.”
“On the opposite side of the fence, the game isn't very optimized for lower-end graphics cards, and it did lose a lot of frames, and the controls felt a little janky at times.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the absence of tedious battery hunting in the game, but find the overall experience to be marred by a confusing and tedious story. Additionally, the game’s physics can feel cumbersome, contributing to a sense of frustration during gameplay.
“The only positive of this game is that there was no tedious battery hunting.”
“The strongest aspect of this game is its engine; outside of that, the story is bare, tedious, and often confusing if you think about it for too long.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I found the grinding mechanics to be frustratingly monotonous, which detracted from the overall experience.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by unexpected moments, such as a misplaced jumpscare that feels more amusing than frightening, along with quirky details like a missing stove that add to the overall charm and amusement.
“There was one particular 'jumpscare' that felt out of place and ended up being funny to me.”
“I noticed some funny little details here and there that really amused me, like a missing stove in the house.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report issues with partial controller compatibility, noting that certain actions, like opening doors or interacting with objects, require switching to mouse controls, which contributes to a perception of overall instability in the game.
“Partial controller compatibility was buggy; I couldn't open certain doors or interact with certain objects without having to switch to mouse.”
“I assumed the game was just being buggy.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by the depth of character designs and impactful dialogues, which significantly enhance the central tension of the story.
“The depth of character designs and impactful dialogues enhances the central tension of the story.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“Each character's journey is thoughtfully crafted, making their growth feel authentic and engaging.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the emotional experience is somewhat hindered by a lack of guidance, leading to feelings of frustration and confusion as they find themselves stuck and aimlessly wandering in the game.
