Forgotten Hill Tales
- April 27, 2022
- FM Studio
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreForgotten Hill Tales is a series of horror-themed point-and-click games. The games follow a journalist's investigation into a cursed town, where they encounter a variety of supernatural creatures and dark secrets. Players must solve puzzles and make choices that affect the story's outcome. With its atmospheric setting and eerie soundtrack, Forgotten Hill Tales offers a chilling and immersive experience.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features five unique short stories that are well-crafted and engaging, enhancing the overall experience of the Forgotten Hill franchise.
- The ambiance and visuals maintain the series' signature macabre flair, providing a charming yet creepy atmosphere that fans will appreciate.
- The puzzles, while sometimes challenging, offer a good variety and are generally satisfying to solve, with an auto-completion mode available for those who may struggle.
- Some puzzles are considered weak or illogical, leading to frustration and requiring players to rely on walkthroughs to progress.
- The inclusion of a difficult timing-based achievement feels out of place and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Technical issues such as disappearing inventory and a lack of comprehensive audio settings can hinder the gameplay experience.
- story4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story aspect is praised for its engaging ambiance and the effectiveness of its short story format, despite some weaker puzzles. It features five standalone narratives that, while not directly connected to the main storyline of previous titles, still offer subtle links for dedicated fans. Most achievements are tied to the story, enhancing the overall experience within the world of Forgotten Hill.
“Even though the puzzles are weaker than the ones in Mementoes, the short story format propels this entry much further than the others.”
“This time we have 5 stories that apparently are not linked to each other nor with the main story seen in the other titles, but if you are a fan of the games, you will see the connections.”
“This time we have 5 stories that apparently are not linked to each other nor with the main story seen in the other titles (but if you are a fan of the games you will see the connections).”
“Even though the puzzles are weaker than the ones in Mementoes, the short story format propels this entry much further than the other ones.”
“In summary, if you want a good ambiance and story and don't mind some sometimes lame puzzles, then go for it.”
- music3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for being varied and fitting the sinister tone of each chapter, though it lacks voice-over. While some puzzles are criticized as derivative or overly challenging, the overall experience is considered to provide good value for money.
“There are other puzzles that are just off the hook ridiculous, like the musical wheel puzzle.”
“No voice-over, good sound effects, and a fitting, varied soundtrack that changes from chapter to chapter but always maintains a sinister tone.”
“The music is derivative; some of the puzzles are not so great, but you get good value for money.”
“There are other puzzles that are just off-the-hook ridiculous, like the musical wheel puzzle.”
“There is no voice-over, but the sound effects are good, and the soundtrack is fitting and varied from chapter to chapter, though always sinister.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is centered around intricate 'escape the scenario' mechanics, featuring inventory management, mechanical puzzles, and environmental clues. While some mechanical puzzles may be frustrating, the overall experience is engaging and consistent across different tales, enriching the game's lore.
“Each tale is a complicated 'escape the scenario' with inventory find-and-use, mechanical puzzles, and environmental clues.”
“I found a couple of the mechanical puzzles to be a bit irritating, but the overall experience more than made up for my few moments of frustration.”
“Play them all; they're more of the same from a gameplay perspective, with all the good and not-so-good stuff, continuously expanding the lore.”
“The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“Some of the mechanics are clunky and can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.”
“The pacing of the game is off, with long stretches of dull gameplay that detract from the overall experience.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with players expressing disappointment due to frustrating puzzles that detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of indifference rather than engagement.
“It's games like these that made me wish there was a neutral rating for Steam reviews, as that's really how this game made me feel.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as delightfully unique with a macabre flair, offering a familiar yet appealing aesthetic across the series. Players who enjoy puzzles and the horror concept will likely find the visuals engaging, especially considering the affordable price range of the games.
“Delightfully unique (and after so many installments – oh, so familiar) visuals with macabre flair.”
“The game's horror concept along with the main visuals seem appealing and create an engaging atmosphere.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
“Character models are poorly designed and lack detail, making them look lifeless.”
“The environments are bland and repetitive, failing to create an immersive experience.”
