Facility 47
- September 14, 2020
- Inertia Game Studios
Get on Steam"Facility 47" is a first-person puzzle-adventure game set in a mysterious Artic research facility. As protagonist Alan Thompson, players uncover chilling secrets while solving intricate puzzles and escaping the clutches of a sinister organization. With a focus on exploration and discovery, players must piece together the story of what happened at Facility 47.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful artwork and a haunting atmosphere that effectively immerses players in the story.
- The plot is engaging and offers a unique twist, with thoughtful puzzles that challenge players without being overly frustrating.
- The hint system is well-designed, providing clear guidance when players get stuck, which enhances the overall experience.
- The game lacks a map or indicators for interactable items, leading to confusion and excessive clicking around the environment.
- Some puzzles can feel obscure or illogical, making it difficult for players to progress without relying heavily on hints.
- The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under two hours, which may leave some feeling unsatisfied with the overall experience.
- story37 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally well-received, characterized by a decent plot that effectively complements the atmosphere of isolation and mystery. While some players noted a lack of originality and certain narrative elements that felt forced, the storytelling through environmental clues and notes adds depth and engagement. Overall, it is appreciated for its coherent narrative and the way it enhances the gameplay experience, despite not being groundbreaking.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of isolation the game provided as you progress through the story trying to piece together your character's story.”
“The plot is relatively simple, but well done and the storytelling is pretty well-paced.”
“There's also an interesting story to go with the puzzles, and you get to unfold the mystery by finding clues in the form of notes, e-mails, and log entries.”
“And while the story may not win any awards for originality, what it does, it does well.”
“Didn't enjoy this one, too much backtracking, didn't enjoy the puzzles or story.”
“The story does not really interact with the game, so there is a bit of disconnect, but the notes and diaries sprinkled into the game give it a bit more engrossment.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and unique aesthetic, with many players appreciating the rich visuals and atmospheric design. However, some users note that the pixelated style can make it difficult to identify interactive elements, and the overall presentation may feel cluttered at times. While the graphics are considered nice and fitting for the game's vibe, they may not be as memorable or immersive compared to modern standards.
“What comes to the artwork, I really like it and that's why I bought the game in the first place.”
“It really has a great vibe, great puzzles that are smart and logical, great graphics and environment.”
“The artwork is simple, but animated well and very pretty.”
“Game doesn't have any map, arrows pointing where you can go or highlighted active areas like in most of these types of games, and since it's a little bit pixelated, it can sometimes be hard to notice that you can pick up something.”
“These games worked well back in the day with titles such as Myst and Hugo's House of Horrors, but with advancements in graphics, most people can't be bothered trying to play through these.”
“The artwork has an old rustic, almost colorful noir vibe to it, which makes it fun to look at during the game, but it is also pretty cluttered and busy, making it hard to find certain things.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive sense of isolation and foreboding, enhanced by effective sound design and compelling visuals. Players appreciate the gloomy ambiance that complements the storytelling, despite some critiques regarding the lack of modern gameplay conveniences. Overall, the atmosphere successfully draws players into a mysterious and engaging world, reminiscent of classic horror themes.
“I enjoyed the atmosphere of isolation the game provided as you progress through the story trying to piece together your character's story.”
“This game is atmospheric and does a great job of making you feel you're on your own.”
“Story isn't groundbreaking, but it's delivered in a cool way and the gloomy atmosphere (thanks to the awesome audio and appropriate background music) really helps in that department.”
“Despite few of the modern conveniences of adventure games (no hotspot indicator, auto mapping, or fast travel), I relished the atmosphere here and the writing.”
“The art is good, the sound design is effective at building atmosphere, the story is coherent (never giving away its hand too early), and there's a lot of variation in puzzles with Deponia-style minigames.”
“The music draws you into the atmosphere.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a repetitive, gloomy soundtrack that complements the dark and mysterious atmosphere. While it may not be particularly memorable or varied, it effectively enhances the overall experience and aligns well with the game's aesthetic.
“The story isn't groundbreaking, but it's delivered in a cool way and the gloomy atmosphere (thanks to the awesome audio and appropriate background music) really helps in that department.”
“Music draws you into the atmosphere.”
“The music fits the gloomy setting perfectly, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The music is repetitive; I think it only had one song playing in the background the whole game.”
“There's kind of gloomy, dark music and dark mysterious scenery, but that's about it.”
“The music draws you into the atmosphere.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed feedback, with some users noting poor mechanics, while others appreciate the value offered for the price, highlighting enjoyable puzzles and a compelling story. Overall, it seems to provide a decent experience, especially considering its low cost.
“The puzzles, gameplay, story, and visuals you get for 4 bucks is honestly well worth it.”
“As you play, you notice that there are somewhat poor mechanics.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and lacking in direction, often resorting to hints to progress. This repetitive gameplay detracts from the overall experience, making it feel less rewarding and discouraging replayability.
“I would like to say that I recommend this game, but alas, it is very tedious. It could have been greater, but there were no indicators as to my next move, and I spent almost all the gameplay clicking on the hints. For the price, it is okay, but I just feel it isn't worth the small price.”
“Unfortunate that it's a choose-your-own-ending type because playing again anytime soon seems tedious.”
“Tedious, pointless, and lacking.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that the humor in the game is surprisingly well-executed for a low-budget title, avoiding the pitfalls of unintentional comedy that can detract from the experience. Instead of relying on clichéd or overly simplistic jokes, the game opts for straightforward dialogue that maintains immersion without sacrificing enjoyment.
“I was surprised by that since often in low-budget games, humor can either enhance the experience or ruin the mood if done poorly or unintentionally funny.”
“Instead of saying 'the password is related to books/maps/etc.' or 'does x look funny?', you will get 'go to x, use y' or 'the password is 1234'.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional depth of the game is limited, as characters exhibit minimal emotional reactions, often reduced to simplistic responses like "x is scary/sad." While there are letters and diary entries that provide some backstory and context, the overall impact of emotional moments, such as discovering a dead coworker, feels shallow and underdeveloped.
“The letters and diary entries provide a glimpse into the character's past and motives, but the character in the game has minimal emotional reactions to anything or anyone beyond simple expressions of fear or sadness.”
“[spoiler] finds a dead body of a coworker with whom we supposedly have emotional interactions, and it hits hard: 'poor guy :(' [/spoiler].”
