Fear of Clowns
- April 29, 2017
- Mikhail Nevsky
Get on Steam"Fear of Clown" is a first-person horror game where you investigate a mysterious nighttime doorbell ring, only to face an unpredictable and frightening clown enemy. The game features stealth gameplay and a terrifying atmosphere, best experienced with headphones in a dark environment.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique and goofy charm that some players find endearing.
- There are funny moments and a good variety of enemies, which can provide some entertainment.
- The graphics are decent for a game made with FPS Creator, and the atmosphere can be suspenseful at times.
- The game suffers from constant crashes, especially when saving or loading, making it frustrating to play.
- The combat and stealth mechanics are poorly executed, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment.
- The story is confusing and poorly written, with minimal guidance on objectives, leaving players feeling lost.
- gameplay25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Fear of Clowns" has been widely criticized for its lack of engaging mechanics and numerous technical issues, including frequent crashes and long load times. While it attempts to blend stealth and combat, players find the execution to be boring and poorly designed, with clunky controls and a non-threatening antagonist. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant improvements to fulfill its potential and provide a satisfying experience.
“Fear of Clowns is an indie horror game that features both stealth and combat mechanics.”
“As far as gameplay is concerned, you start out being startled from sleep in the middle of the night to the sound of your doorbell.”
“I included a gameplay video at the top you can check out if you're curious as to how the game looks/functions.”
“Disclaimer: it crashed 5 times in 1 hour and a half of gameplay.”
“In theory it sounds appealing, in practice the gameplay is rather boring, and overall the title needs quite a few adjustments before it's fit for human consumption.”
“Unless you enjoy giving yourself a headache, relaunching a game after it crashes multiple times, key finding simulators disguised as stealth games, sitting through long load screens, dealing with bad combat and stealth mechanics, and watching clowns walk through 'solid' walls, then Fear of Clowns is not for you.”
- humor11 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its variety, with many players finding the enemies and situations amusing, often leading to genuine laughter. While some aspects, like the writing and AI, may be flawed, they contribute to the overall comedic experience. However, some reviewers suggest that the humor may not compensate for the game's lack of engaging gameplay and scares.
“The final is funny and the game ends on a twist.”
“Bought this game a while back and have loved every minute of it, a hilarious game 'til the very end, had me laughing until I cried.”
“Bobo's AI can get a little wonky at times, but it's more hilarious than anything else.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as a mix of intense tension and suspense, particularly effective during nighttime play, which enhances the scare factor. However, some players feel that the atmosphere diminishes over time, with moments that disrupt immersion, such as unexpected comedic sounds. Overall, while it starts strong in building tension, its effectiveness varies throughout the gameplay.
“In the right atmosphere and at the right time of night, this game can be scary. I'm not finished with the game yet, but I have a video on the intro to the game and the jump scares.”
“The game starts kind of slow, as it works on building a palpable tension and atmosphere.”
“One of the funniest moments is when you're walking down dark hallways and you hear honking noises; it kills all the atmosphere the game has.”
“The atmosphere was intense, and I was truly scared of the threats that loomed before me.”
“It had a decent atmosphere at the beginning, but it went nowhere.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as visually appealing, while others find them to be average or even poor. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not groundbreaking, they are decent enough to not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
“The graphics look great overall.”
“The graphics are half decent, and I like most of the sound effects.”
“The graphics are average, but not horrible.”
“The graphics are horrible.”
“Graphics are not the best, but are decent enough to not ruin the game.”
“Graphics are average; not much to say other than they're not horrible.”
- story6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story in "Fear of Clowns" is criticized for being nonsensical and lacking depth, primarily relying on scattered notes to fill in gaps. Players are tasked with surviving a night against killer clowns, but the narrative is minimal and fails to engage.
“The story in 'Fear of Clowns' makes no sense whatsoever.”
“There is also barely any story besides what you read in a few notes.”
“Your primary goal is to survive a night filled with killer clowns, and make it back to your apartment in one piece, all the while bridging the story gaps by reading notes that are scattered about.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been criticized for featuring stolen copyrighted tracks, notably including music from Super Mario 64 during key moments. Additionally, the original soundtrack is described as lacking depth, with sparse sounds and drones that fail to create an effective horror atmosphere, leaving players feeling that it is overly dark and unengaging.
“I have to say this straight away, but the developer clearly stole copyrighted music and used it in their game.”
“Stolen music.”
“Dark hallways, scattered sounds here and there, drones in the soundtrack to feign horror, and then worst of all, it is way too dark.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab by indie developers, with users expressing disappointment over its perceived lack of support and abandonment post-launch.
“It's another indie developer cash grab that has been crapped out onto Steam and then completely abandoned.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players note that the grinding mechanics can be inconsistent, as enemies may not react even when players are in close proximity, suggesting a need for improvements. Despite this issue, the game is still recommended if these fixes are implemented.
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I spent hours grinding for resources, but the rewards just aren't worth the time invested.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be highly emotional, often experiencing laughter to the point of tears, indicating a strong comedic impact that enhances their overall enjoyment.
“This game had me laughing until I cried, and I loved every minute of it.”
“The emotional depth of the story really resonated with me, making it an unforgettable experience.”
“I felt a strong connection to the characters, which made the emotional moments hit even harder.”
