Fear the Spotlight
- September 15, 2023
- Cozy Game Pals
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Fear the Spotlight" is a third-person horror adventure set in the ominous Sunnyside High. When Vivian is left alone during a séance, she must avoid the monster prowling the halls, find her friend Amy, and uncover the dark truth behind a tragic history. The game features tense stealth sequences, atmospheric exploration, and tactile puzzles, making it a thrilling introduction to the narrative horror genre.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Beautifully crafted areas with great attention to detail and a charming PS1-inspired aesthetic.
- Engaging story with good voice acting and unique puzzles that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Perfect for fans of classic survival horror, offering a cozy yet spooky atmosphere without relying on jump scares.
- The game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content and a longer experience.
- Some puzzles are overly simplistic, which may disappoint players looking for more challenging gameplay.
- The decision to remove the game from the store for updates has frustrated many fans, leading to concerns about accessibility and future content.
- story147 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative, well-paced progression, and strong voice acting, while others found it mediocre or disappointing. It features a blend of horror and charm, often described as a high school murder mystery with intriguing twists, though some players felt it lacked significant peaks or depth. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a highlight for many, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some subjective critiques.
“Fear the spotlight boasts an engaging story, clever puzzles, and a solid stealth mechanic that never felt cheap or unfair in my playthrough.”
“The story is a high school murder mystery with a few creepy apparitions sprinkled in and it’s paced incredibly well and told through notes, cut scenes, and a lot of small and big environmental details.”
“The heart of this game lies in its captivating story.”
“The story is where I feel like it sags the most though.”
“The story itself doesn't really have any sort of major peaks.”
“I just feel like the story was leading us to a much more interesting place than where we ended up.”
- atmosphere54 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its ability to create a tense, eerie, and captivating experience without relying on jump scares. Reviewers highlight its PS1-inspired visuals, engaging story, and clever puzzles, all of which contribute to a deeply immersive and unsettling environment. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that enhances the horror experience, making it a recommended choice for fans of the genre.
“In a world filled with numerous jump scare horror games, it's nice to see a game put atmosphere above all else.”
“It masterfully builds an eerie atmosphere and sustains spine-tingling tension throughout, leaving me genuinely on edge without resorting to gimmicks.”
“The atmosphere is done pretty well, but the game isn't all that scary and there's a bit too much fetch questing.”
“Transitions between dark and light areas are where the dithering is most apparent, and the sensation of dithering accumulating into a void of nothingness adds so much more to the world's atmosphere and tension.”
“This game plays to its strengths, perfectly using its deceptively simple art direction to build tense atmosphere and an intimate sensory experience.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its solid mechanics, engaging puzzles, and smooth controls, creating a balance with the narrative that enhances the overall experience. While some players found it simplistic and lacking in depth, others appreciated its charm and the deliberate design choices that contribute to tension. Overall, the game offers a concise and enjoyable experience, though there are calls for more inventive gameplay elements in future titles.
“Fear the Spotlight boasts an engaging story, clever puzzles, and a solid stealth mechanic that never felt cheap or unfair in my playthrough.”
“The gameplay is reminiscent of PS1 games but controls a lot better; even the parts that annoyed me (our lovely protagonist is very slow even during stressful moments) seem deliberate to create tension.”
“In a short amount of gameplay, Fear the Spotlight manages to construct a deeply engrossing narrative that will stick with you long after you're done playing.”
“Pretty boring, not very scary, not big on gameplay mechanics and with simplistic puzzles.”
“Barely any mechanics to it.”
“More inventive gameplay puzzles would make me more enthusiastic to recommend this.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming PS1-inspired aesthetic, which effectively enhances the horror atmosphere while maintaining a nostalgic appeal. Reviewers appreciate the combination of retro visuals with modern effects, such as dynamic lighting and shadows, which elevate the overall presentation. The art direction is noted for its ability to convey both creepiness and charm, making it a standout feature for fans of the genre.
“The visuals are also fantastic; I can tell there was a lot of love put into everything.”
“The PS1 style visuals coupled with modern effects like cloth simulation and shadows cast by your flashlight also add a lot to the presentation and prevent it from feeling amateurish.”
“Even though the art style is PS1 inspired, the art direction is also fantastic with beautiful dynamic lighting and shadows, which make the feel of the game that much stronger.”
“It's unclear whether you are hidden or not as it's not really based off visuals.”
“If you are a genre veteran, you may not soil your pants in terror, but I'm sure you'll appreciate the aesthetic.”
“Even though the art style is PS1 inspired, the art direction is also fantastic with beautiful dynamic lighting and shadows which make the feel of the game that much stronger.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its effectiveness and memorability, particularly the main villain theme. Reviewers highlight the impressive variety of ambiance and atmospheric soundtracks that enhance the overall experience, contributing to the game's tension and storytelling. The combination of retro visuals and haunting music creates a captivating atmosphere, especially in the survival horror context.
“Not sure who did the music and audio design for this game, but it's very effective; the main villain theme being particularly memorable.”
“I loved the variety of ambiance and use of the soundtrack.”
“Fear the Spotlight is a short and outstanding survival horror game that interweaves its retro visuals with some incredible atmospheric music and some spooky horror sequences and settings.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has been criticized for its lack of struggle and depth, leading to a sense of undeserved outcomes. While the character design, voice acting, and overall story are praised, the insufficient development detracts from the overall experience.
“Great character design, great voice acting, great tension building, great music, and an amazing story.”
“With how little struggle or character development there was, it felt out of place and undeserved.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for improved optimization in the game's item usage mechanics, specifically suggesting a more efficient method for switching tools, such as selecting a screwdriver for multiple uses without repeated selections. Overall, while the character performances are highly praised, the interface could benefit from enhancements to streamline gameplay.
“The only thing I'd like to see is possibly a more optimized way to use items, like when unscrewing two screws. Instead of unscrewing and selecting the screwdriver each time, it would be great to select the screwdriver as the item you'd like to use and switch between them.”
“The only thing I'd like to see is possibly a more optimized way to use items, like when unscrewing two screws. Instead of unscrewing and selecting the screwdriver each time, it would be better to select the screwdriver as the item you'd like to use and switch between them.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional depth and authenticity of the characters, which enhances their immersion in the narrative. The game also instills a sense of intelligence in players, making them feel engaged and smart throughout the experience.
“The emotional depth and authenticity of the characters served to immerse me even deeper into the gripping narrative.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users report a highly stable experience with no bugs, translation issues, or typos, indicating a well-polished product.
“No one has anything bad to say; my experience was completely bug-free, with no translation problems or typos.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Fear the Spotlight" successfully balances horror and humor, creating a compelling experience that is both frightening and darkly funny. Reviewers appreciate this unique blend, highlighting its ability to engage players through a mix of tension and wit.
“Fear the Spotlight achieves that beautiful balance of being scary while compelling and dark while funny.”
