Fear Equation
- January 14, 2016
- Screwfly Studios
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Fear Equation," you are a train's conductor on a mysterious ghost train, using a "Fear Engine" to enter the dreams of passengers and confront their nightmares. Manipulate fear, anxiety, and horror through puzzle-solving and narrative choices to save trapped souls and uncover the train's haunting secrets. This unique horror adventure challenges you to maintain your own sanity while navigating the dark corners of the human psyche.
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Reviews
- The game features a unique and intriguing concept, blending resource management with horror elements, creating an immersive atmosphere.
- Players appreciate the depth of strategy involved in managing passengers and resources, as well as the customization options for characters.
- Despite some bugs, many find the game engaging and challenging, with a sense of tension that keeps them invested in the gameplay.
- The game suffers from a lack of clear instructions and a confusing tutorial, making it difficult for new players to understand mechanics.
- Many players find the gameplay repetitive, with little variation in daily tasks and a lack of meaningful choices during missions.
- Issues with saving mechanics and bugs, such as crashes and unresponsive elements, detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players praising its strategic depth and immersive experience, particularly for fans of micromanagement and tactical planning. However, criticisms include outdated saving mechanics, repetitive daily tasks, and a lack of fleshed-out social/faction systems, which detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game shows promise and ambition, it suffers from wonky mechanics and insufficient information, leaving some players feeling bored despite its potential.
“Considering it's only the publisher's third game, the skill that's been put into the ambience and core gameplay loop is incredible.”
“Great gameplay, use of strategy, tactics, and if you roleplay it, it's an awesome experience.”
“There are a few issues that I have found, but it hasn't detracted from the overall experience; I would recommend this to those who enjoyed the Myst series, enjoy micromanagement and tactical planning as well as the thrill of horror-themed gameplay.”
“Needs better saving mechanics because the RNG in this game is trash and basic saving/loading that anyone would expect from a game made in 1980 isn't there.”
“However, the gameplay is the same thing every day with lots of fast forwarding to continue, broken up by the occasional scavenger run.”
“Lack of information isn’t just damaging to gameplay; it’s also boring in a game that is all about information and the decisions you make.”
- story30 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story centers around the player's role as a train engineer tasked with rescuing survivors from a foggy threat, but it lacks depth and engagement, featuring minimal consequences for choices and a lack of side quests or dynamic events. While the main missions are enjoyable, they are infrequent, leading to a dull experience during travel phases. Overall, the narrative feels underdeveloped, with players expressing a desire for more interactive storytelling elements.
“Yes, it has a clear main story: you're the engineer in charge of the train, and your main goal is to get as many survivors as possible to escape from the fog and reach the final destination.”
“If you're a fan of strategy board games, you might enjoy reading intriguing narratives on your quest cards.”
“I understand the limitation to only sending five passengers out at once to scavenge for both technical and story-based reasons.”
“Basically, there are no story-based events like side quests, hazards, or accidents when going through all of the game phases.”
“But as implemented, it's a pretty dull experience after your first couple of missions.”
“That said, what I don’t understand is the mission team not bringing everyone you meet onboard the train, or as the 'driver', my having the option to revisit a location to grab supplies they skipped out on the first trip.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as good but not exceptional, effectively contributing to player immersion and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game. While they may not reach a 10/10 standard, the 3D visuals and aesthetic choices are appreciated, especially by those familiar with similar titles. Overall, the effort put into the graphics is recognized, making for an enjoyable experience.
“For players familiar with Zafehouse Diaries, this embeds similar mechanics but is a step up that incorporates 3D graphics and much more in-depth gameplay.”
“So I am digging it so far; the aesthetic and the general atmosphere are good.”
“I normally play more graphic-intensive games, but I really love the effort that has been made here.”
“The graphics are okay; they aren't 10/10, but they do create an immersive experience in the game.”
“For players familiar with Zafehouse Diaries, this game incorporates similar mechanics but takes a step up with 3D graphics and much more in-depth gameplay.”
“I usually play more graphically intensive games, but I really appreciate the effort that has been put into the graphics here.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive qualities and effective tension-building, creating a captivating aesthetic that draws players in. However, some reviewers note that while the atmosphere is strong, the overall experience can feel somewhat dry and lacking in variety, making it a challenging recommendation at its price point.
“The game has taken me with its atmosphere and concepts; they really fit together and make you feel deeply immersed.”
“The atmosphere and general immersive nature of the game are top-notch, creating a captivating experience.”
“I would say the game is not super scary, but it is great at building tension and atmosphere.”
“The game has taken me with its atmosphere and concepts, while making the game simpler in implementation, they really fit in one picture and make you feel deeply immersed.”
“It does have a spooky atmosphere though, and I do like that.”
- music4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received negative feedback, with users criticizing the poor sound quality and repetitive win music, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the lack of background music during gameplay contributes to a sense of monotony.
“I hated the win music at the end of the game; what terrible sound quality on a terrible short loop.”
“There is no music except for some of the 'attacks', so it can get a little boring.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's monetization strategy could be more effective if it relied on advertisements through online game portals, indicating a preference for ad-based revenue over other monetization methods.
“This is the kind of game that would make more money from advertisements on some kind of game portal on the internet.”
