Freud Gate
- December 4, 2019
- Sailors Moon Studios
Freud Gate is a single-player fantasy role playing game with phenomenal graphics. As a spiritual mentor, players help a depressed girl overcome her fears and anxieties by solving puzzles and exploring two distinct worlds. Player's choices and actions determine the outcome of the game, leading to potential bad endings. The game emphasizes understanding and empathy, reflecting the protagonist's struggle with troubling dreams and emotions.
Reviews
- The game features beautiful visuals and a touching atmosphere that effectively communicates the protagonist's struggles with depression.
- It offers an interesting and unique experience, with a story that resonates deeply with players who understand the themes of mental health.
- Despite its short length, the game is considered worth playing for its artistic value and emotional impact.
- The game suffers from poor translation and confusing puzzles, which can lead to frustration and hinder the overall experience.
- Controls are clunky and can result in players getting stuck or experiencing motion sickness, detracting from the gameplay.
- The story can be obscure and difficult to follow, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the narrative.
- graphics14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive high praise for their stunning visuals and artistic quality, often described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted graphical bugs and issues with object behavior, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere were appreciated, particularly in the context of the game's themes. Despite some criticism regarding the puzzles and gameplay mechanics, the graphical presentation remains a strong point for many players.
“The graphics are pretty amazing.”
“I never write reviews but my lord this game was amazing. Those that have an understanding of depression will see this game shows it quite well, and the graphics are a 10 out of 10 easily. The tone the game tried to set was extremely loud but done in the most subtle way I've ever seen!”
“Beautiful visuals, touching atmosphere.”
“Even going into the graphic options results in a puzzle I can't solve: how to get back out of them.”
“There are graphical bugs.”
“Some graphical objects in the game are erratic or do not behave the way they should.”
- story13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story, while short and centered on themes of depression and redemption, has received mixed reviews; some players appreciate its artistic and abstract approach, while others find it confusing and lacking clarity. The narrative is described as engaging but is hampered by gameplay mechanics that require specific interactions to progress, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a poignant message but may not resonate with everyone due to its heavy themes and brevity.
“Although short, this game is worth the four dollars it asks for with the lesson it tries to convey to the player through its story.”
“The story involves depression and suicide, so it's not for everyone.”
“Freud Gate is an interactive story game about the themes of dreams and redemption.”
“I played through the whole game and still don't quite understand the story, just key points.”
“It seems more like a piece of abstract art/poetry than a story to me.”
“The game is a point and click, so any progression in the storyline can only happen if you click the right answers or understand where to go.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, complementing the scenes effectively and culminating in a beautiful ending. However, some players find the volume too loud and unadjustable, while others note that the game is quiet for most of its duration, which can lead to confusion during gameplay.
“The music goes well with the scenes and the ending was beautiful and satisfying.”
“The music is nice as well.”
“The music is loud and I can't adjust it from the settings.”
“Game is really quiet until the ending; things can be a bit confusing, and it's not really easy to figure out alternate solutions to the puzzle.”
“The game is really short, as in it can be beaten in 2 minutes.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Users note that the gameplay is relatively short but express anticipation for upcoming higher resolutions, suggesting a potential enhancement in visual quality that may improve the overall experience.
“The gameplay is engaging and keeps you on your toes.”
“I love the fluid mechanics and how responsive the controls are.”
“The variety of gameplay options allows for a unique experience every time.”
“The gameplay feels too short and lacks depth.”
“Gameplay mechanics are clunky and unresponsive.”
“The overall gameplay experience is frustrating and not engaging.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its beautiful visuals and touching atmosphere, evoking strong emotions that led some players to tears, particularly during the impactful ending.
“Beautiful visuals, touching atmosphere.”
“I cried for the first time in a long time at the end of it.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is a walking simulator that could benefit from improved optimization, as users feel it does not perform as well as it could.
“The game runs smoothly with minimal lag, showcasing excellent optimization.”
“I appreciate how well the game is optimized for different hardware configurations.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job optimizing the gameplay experience.”
“Walking simulator; it could be optimized a bit better.”
“The game suffers from significant performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
“Loading times are excessively long, making it frustrating to get into the game.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by stunning visuals that enhance a deeply emotional experience, creating a captivating and immersive environment for players.
“Beautiful visuals, touching atmosphere.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in relation to the puzzles, which can detract from the overall experience despite the appealing graphics and engaging story. Additionally, the game's short length may exacerbate the feeling of grinding.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users report some minor stability issues, including buggy controls and occasional restarts during gameplay, but many feel these problems are manageable and do not significantly detract from the experience.
“The controls are a little buggy, and I did have to restart once during that scene with the dog, but honestly, I can overlook it.”