Grotesque Beauty
- October 3, 2019
- Digital Bento
Get on Steam"Grotesque Beauty" is a horror-themed visual novel that tells the story of a group of friends exploring an abandoned mansion. The game features a branching narrative with multiple endings, as well as unsettling atmospheric horror and mature themes. Players must make choices that will determine the fate of the characters and uncover the dark secrets of the mansion.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story with multiple endings, providing great replayability and keeping players engaged.
- The art style and sound design are well-executed, creating an eerie atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- The writing, while having some minor grammatical issues, is generally good and effectively conveys the suspenseful narrative.
- The game is relatively short, with some players feeling that the length does not justify the number of endings.
- There are technical issues such as limited save slots and occasional bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- Some players noted a lack of character development, making it difficult to connect with the characters during critical moments.
- story41 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and well-crafted, effectively utilizing its visual novel format to deliver a captivating narrative filled with eerie and nostalgic elements. While the plot is relatively short, it offers 30 different endings, encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover all possible outcomes. However, some players feel that the fragmentation of the story into numerous endings can detract from its overall impact, with a few expressing a desire for a longer, more cohesive experience.
“The story was pretty interesting and it kept me hooked.”
“With great style, and an almost perfect delivery of the story it wants to tell, it's definitely a fun way to get into the Halloween spirit.”
“The minimalist approach to the visuals shouldn't dissuade you, as each illustration is lovingly crafted and framed to maximize the accompanying text; this same approach is taken with the soundtrack and sound effects, both of which are admittedly sparse, but still manage to marry well with the story as it's being revealed.”
“However, a story that starts promising - subtle and eerie - can quickly devolve into an action-packed survival experience that requires picking the right choices to survive... and I think that's where it started to slip for me.”
“While I don't mind branching paths in video games, I think fragmenting a short story into 30 different conclusions (some being early 'bad endings') is a bit too much.”
“The story is short but with 30 different endings, it will take some time to finish the game.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a striking black and white hand-drawn art style that evokes a sense of atmosphere and intensity, reminiscent of classic comic book aesthetics and darker anime influences. This minimalist yet beautifully crafted visual approach, combined with a fitting soundscape, enhances the overall experience, making it particularly appealing to fans of horror and atmospheric storytelling. The art style, while simple, effectively captures the game's themes and adds depth to its narrative.
“All of that is emphasized by a simple black and white hand-drawn sketching art style which is beautifully animated in certain sections of the game, along with squeaking and humming sounds making it intense for me throughout the whole game, even whilst I was replaying it.”
“Grotesque beauty is a visual novel that stands out from the norm of the genre with its monochromatic and quasi-simplistic art style.”
“The art style reminds me of the classic 'comic book' art style mixed with small dashes of 'darker' anime characters.”
“Grotesque beauty bears little aesthetic resemblance to the developer's colorful predecessor, this time being presented in a muted—though no less striking—palette of black, white, and grey.”
“The minimalist approach to the visuals shouldn't dissuade you, as each illustration is lovingly crafted and framed to maximize the accompanying text; this same approach is taken with the soundtrack and sound effects, both of which are admittedly sparse, but still manage to marry well with the story as it's being revealed.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its effective use of dark visuals and simplicity, creating a spooky and immersive experience reminiscent of classic horror films like "The Babadook." Reviewers highlight that the combination of psychological horror elements and a compelling plot enhances the overall ambiance, making it a standout in atmospheric gaming. Overall, it is considered a strong example of how minimalistic design can evoke powerful feelings of unease and curiosity.
“The art style mentioned above is intertwined with this game's greatest strength - its atmosphere.”
“It reminds me of a horror movie called 'The Babadook', as it shares the exact same atmosphere as that particular film in my opinion.”
“Every ounce of atmosphere that should be present in a horror movie is present within this game with minimal effort.”
“This game is proof that simplicity, atmosphere, and psychological horror elements are still extremely powerful when used correctly!”
- music10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The music in the game is described as minimalist and sparse, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and story despite its simplicity. While some users find the sound effects unsettling and scary, they appreciate how well the music complements the visuals and narrative. Overall, the soundtrack serves its purpose in creating a tense and immersive experience.
“The minimalist approach to the visuals shouldn't dissuade you, as each illustration is lovingly crafted and framed to maximize the accompanying text; this same approach is taken with the soundtrack and sound effects, both of which are admittedly sparse, but still manage to marry well with the story as it's being revealed.”
“The art for the characters and the music/sound effects were made really well!”
“The music was mostly sounds and not pleasant ones.”
“The music in the game, while not complex at all, serves its purpose.”
“Trust me, it's very scary and it doesn't help when the music makes you scared more.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Grotesque Beauty" features a unique approach where players must complete multiple playthroughs to uncover deeper plot details, with each session lasting approximately 20 minutes. While some players found this aspect intriguing, others noted it as a minor observation during their experience.
“An interesting approach to gameplay and plot.”
“An interesting thing about Grotesque Beauty's gameplay is how there are plot details that you must uncover by playing the game more than once.”
“A single playthrough offers about 20-ish minutes of gameplay.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability, with many surprising moments that keep players engaged. Its eerie, Twilight Zone-like atmosphere enhances the desire to revisit the experience.
“Definitely lots of replayability, and some moments that leave you with your mouth agape.”
“Lots of replay value, and it has a creepy Twilight Zone feel to it.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed response to character development, with some praising the dialogue for its human-like quality, while others criticize the lack of meaningful character growth throughout the game. Overall, the writing is acknowledged for its authenticity, but the absence of character development is a notable drawback.
“The dialogue and character development in this game feels very 'human,' and I absolutely applaud the writers for not making the characters sound like robots.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the narrative, making their growth throughout the game feel authentic and engaging.”
“I love how the choices I make influence the characters' development, creating a personalized experience that makes me feel invested in their journeys.”
“- no character development.”
“- no character development.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight the game as an emotional and thought-provoking experience, expressing gratitude for the impactful journey it offers.
“And I'm grateful for this emotional, thought-provoking ride.”
