File Destined
- February 25, 2023
- Metavision Studio
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam"File Destined" is a single-player, narrative-driven cyberpunk adventure game. As a skilled hacker, you must navigate a dystopian world, outsmart smart-city systems, and expose a sinister mega-corporation's secrets. With an emphasis on hacking and puzzle-solving, players must make impactful choices that alter branching narratives and lead to multiple endings.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a well-crafted atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- The story is engaging with unexpected twists, and the jump scares are effectively placed throughout the gameplay.
- Players appreciated the unique mechanics, such as the lighter system, and the overall production quality for an indie title.
- The game is quite short, typically lasting around 1 to 2 hours, which some players felt was not enough for the price.
- Many found the gameplay to be linear and repetitive, with a reliance on common horror tropes that made it feel unoriginal.
- The slow movement speed and the need to constantly refill the lighter were seen as frustrating elements that detracted from the immersion.
- story68 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative and unexpected twists, while others criticize it for being cliché and predictable. Many appreciate the atmospheric setting and sound design that enhance the storytelling, though some feel it lacks originality and depth. Overall, it is seen as a solid horror experience with a captivating plot, despite some shortcomings in execution.
“The story was engaging, and I liked gathering the clues. I didn't expect the ending, which was pretty dark.”
“File Destined is a fantastic game - it's straightforward, has a great spooky atmosphere, and a fascinating story behind it.”
“The story is well done because you think it's one thing, and when you start to get to the end, you see that it wasn't anything that you thought it was in the beginning.”
“If you want to play yet another walking sim, ahem, 'very slowly walking' sim with a mediocre story in which you must boringly trigger a series of events only by walking or looking somewhere and then get a cheap jump-scare blasting in your face, here is your choice!”
“However, this story is littered with horrible horror tropes and clichés that make the story laughable.”
“And they use the worst trope of them all: mental health as a crux and exploit it within their story, which is just horrible writing on their part.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their high quality, stunning visuals, and attention to detail, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Many reviewers noted the impressive lighting, textures, and animations, with some even rating the graphics as 9/10. While the visuals are a highlight, opinions on gameplay and storytelling vary, with some players feeling that these aspects could be improved.
“The atmosphere and graphics were top notch, and the storytelling was highly enjoyable.”
“The graphics are obviously amazing, but the attention to detail in the environments and sounds is what's really important, and this game nails it.”
“Graphical fidelity is out of this world.”
“The graphics are decent and also the environments, but the lighting killed the game a lot.”
“And for games like 'File Destined', that make me excited with their graphics, not being able to disable the reticle on your screen or the interaction buttons on items, just ruins it.”
“Nice effects, graphics, horror, but bad storytelling and for the gameplay, personally I didn't like it.”
- atmosphere36 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience through excellent sound design, stunning graphics, and a compelling storyline. Many players noted that the game successfully creates tension and suspense, with some jump scares that, while occasionally predictable, contribute to the overall chilling ambiance. However, a few reviews mentioned that certain gameplay mechanics could detract from the immersive atmosphere, suggesting that the experience is best enjoyed without prior knowledge of its scares.
“Amazing atmosphere and interesting storyline.”
“The atmosphere and graphics were top notch, and the storytelling was highly enjoyable.”
“The game has a creepy atmosphere and you will definitely be scared :)”
“This killed the atmosphere and immersion for me.”
“The lock picking mechanic felt unnecessary and took away from the spooky atmosphere and made it feel more like Fallout.”
“Slow-burn, albeit intense in the right spots, and so the chilling atmosphere gets dampened and paused when you have to always look for lighter fluid; or risk searching in the dark and missing scares.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal mechanics, focusing on exploration and simple puzzles, which some players found effective for immersion and tension. However, many reviews criticize the lack of engaging gameplay elements and memorable scares, describing it as a forgettable experience that doesn't push the boundaries of the horror genre. While the graphics and voice acting received praise, the overall gameplay experience is seen as basic and lacking depth.
“At its core, if you can afford to miss the $7, it will give you a solid hour and a half of horror gameplay.”
“The gameplay mechanics were easy to learn, and navigating the game was not only fun and tense, but simple.”
“Graphics are very good, and the gameplay is your basic walking sim with some easy puzzles to figure out, which is good for progressing with the story.”
“Since there is no real gameplay and the game is a walking simulator, any scares the game has are cutscenes.”
“The biggest weakness that the game has is sadly the most important one in a game - the actual gameplay.”
“The gameplay is minimal.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game runs smoothly with impressive graphics and no significant performance issues reported. While some users feel it could benefit from further optimization, the experience remains largely positive, contributing to its status as a favorite in the horror genre this year.
“Runs smoothly and graphically looks just perfect!”
“The graphics are really good, the story is amazing, the atmosphere is on point, no performance issues or bugs. All in all, this is one of my favorite horror games this year.”
“I do believe it could be a bit more optimized, but overall I didn't have any serious performance issues.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game features a scripted background melody that cannot be completely disabled, which some players find intrusive, preferring a more immersive experience without musical assistance. Overall, the sound and music received a rating of 8, indicating a generally positive reception despite the mixed feelings about the background music.
“The sound and music in the game are impressive, scoring an 8 out of 10.”
“The scripted background melody enhances the atmosphere of the scenes.”
“You can't completely disable the music, since there is a scripted background melody supporting some of the scenes.”
“I prefer not to be 'assisted' with music in this kind of game.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily characterized by lighthearted and amusing content, providing players with a generally entertaining experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious and keeps me laughing throughout.”
“I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and clever puns that never get old.”
“The comedic timing and absurd situations make every playthrough a joy.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply immersive, as the realistic and detailed environments evoke a strong sense of presence and engagement, making them feel as though they are genuinely experiencing the tension and intrigue of a crime scene investigation.
“Every item you pick up feels clean and lifelike, as if you are actually there in that run-down hospital murder crime scene, touching strange objects and engaging in detective work.”
“The emotional weight of the story lingers long after you've finished playing, leaving you with a profound sense of connection to the characters.”
“The game masterfully evokes feelings of nostalgia and loss, making every moment feel impactful and deeply resonant.”
