Home Sweet Home EP2
- September 24, 2019
- YGGDRAZIL GROUP PUBLIC CO., LTD.
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Home Sweet Home Episode 2" is the continuation of the story where Tim, the protagonist, continues his search for his missing wife. In this episode, Tim finds himself in a mysterious forest pursued by evil spirits and a mysterious Thai dancer. The game introduces combat for the first time, allowing players to defend themselves against the supernatural threats. The game is inspired by Thai culture and myths, creating a unique and terrifying horror experience.
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Great story that continues and concludes Tim's journey effectively.
- Spooky atmosphere with unique monsters based on Thai folklore, enhancing the horror experience.
- Improvements in gameplay mechanics and graphics compared to the first episode.
- Controls are stiff and unresponsive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- Combat feels pointless and clunky, detracting from the horror elements of the game.
- Some sections drag on for too long, leading to boredom and a loss of tension.
- story96 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing elements and unique Thai cultural backdrop, providing a detailed and atmospheric horror experience. However, many players feel that the narrative suffers from pacing issues, episodic structure, and a lack of focus on key characters, leading to a less satisfying conclusion compared to the first installment. While some appreciate the exploration of Thai folklore, others find the story convoluted and disconnected, resulting in mixed reviews overall.
“Although very short, it was an intriguing and very effective horror game with genuine scares, fantastic atmosphere, and a good story.”
“This is a great horror adventure that gradually builds up, providing something unique and exotic in terms of environment, language, and culture surrounding both the characters and the story.”
“The story is interconnected logically and clearly explained between these two episodes.”
“The story is nothing to write home about.”
“The storyline is boring too.”
“The devs did a bad job making this an 'episodic' game because there isn't enough story to it.”
- gameplay72 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews for the game highlight a mix of improvements and frustrations. While some players appreciate the introduction of new mechanics, choices, and longer playtime in the sequel, many criticize the controls, pacing, and overall execution of gameplay elements, leading to a sense of inconsistency and frustration. The balance between horror, action, and puzzle-solving is noted, but issues like slow animations and unclear objectives detract from the experience, resulting in a generally mixed reception.
“The graphics are decent but the gameplay mechanics are very impressive with no bugs or glitches.”
“In episode 2, developers introduce more choices for the main character when confronted with ghosts or other creatures, adding an extra layer to the gameplay.”
“This game balanced action gameplay, jumpscares and overall tense atmosphere really well.”
“The mechanics and some of the puzzles also left much to be desired.”
“If you do go into this, keep in mind any features or gameplay parts you did not like in the first game get cranked up to 11 in this one.”
“Am I the only one who is having this issue or is it just a case of the game got updated and no one finished it right to the end? Any way, rant over; it's a shame as there is a lot of potential to this game, but sadly it is let down by lackluster gameplay, boring missions and quests, and just an overall unenjoyable and boring experience!”
- atmosphere44 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is generally praised for its spookiness and tension, with many reviewers noting effective scares and a well-designed world that enhances the horror experience. However, some players feel that the atmosphere has diminished compared to previous installments, particularly in terms of horror elements, as the game shifts towards action and puzzle-solving. Overall, while the atmosphere remains a strong point, opinions vary on its effectiveness and consistency throughout the gameplay.
“Although very short, it was an intriguing and very effective horror game with genuine scares, fantastic atmosphere, and a good story.”
“It is atmospheric and it produced a lot of jumps and 'oh shit moments' where you have to hide from creepy enemies with an amazing atmospheric world and soundtrack.”
“Atmosphere was solid, great scares, tense, overall great experience!”
“Home sweet home: episode 2, despite being classified as a horror game, left me with a feeling that the horror atmosphere dwindled compared to my expectations, particularly when reflecting on episode 1's more pronounced scares.”
“It's no longer a horror game; it just turned into a horrible puzzle game that has a horror atmosphere.”
“Limited visibility shouldn't be relied on instead of atmosphere implementation; yes, this game does lack the ambience of the first release.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the improvements over the previous episode, particularly in terms of atmosphere and detail. However, some players noted issues such as glitchy textures, poor lighting, and inconsistencies in quality, especially when compared to the first episode. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent and atmospheric, they are not without their flaws.
“The graphic and atmosphere were great as well as the puzzles.”
“Excellent horror game with various creepy environments, the graphics have been improved a lot in this episode; it's way better than episode one.”
“Strong graphics and sound and the story is beginning to unfold quite nicely.”
“The graphics aren't much different from the first episode, but the jump scares are much better and the puzzles are harder.”
“First, the 'E' button, which makes Tim, the main character, fight Ratri (the Thai dancer ghost), just doesn't function well unless you lower the graphics. You'd have to press it so much that your keyboard or your finger might break.”
“The graphics are decent, but the gameplay mechanics are very impressive with no bugs or glitches.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing tension and creating memorable "jump scare" moments. While some players desire less intrusive music and voice acting, the standout tracks, including a powerful metal song and a haunting traditional Thai dance piece, contribute significantly to the overall experience.
“It is atmospheric and it produced a lot of jumps and 'oh shit moments' where you have to hide from creepy enemies with an amazing atmospheric world and soundtrack.”
“Less unnecessary music, less voice acting, less excessive loud hits and stings for jump scares.”
“For refreshers sake, at the end of the previous installment, gamers were greeted with a teaser ending that had a woman, presumably Jane, cowering through tight, wooden corridors; armed with nothing but a small knife and a dim candle, as a traditional-yet-haunting Thai dance song rings through the background.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with impressive gameplay mechanics and minimal bugs or glitches that do not significantly impact the experience. However, some users have noted the presence of minor issues.
“The game does have its share of minor bugs and glitches, but they don't significantly detract from the overall experience.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and monotonous, characterized by slow and clunky combat that lacks challenge. The repetitive maze-like environments contribute to the overall sense of boredom, making the grinding experience feel more like a chore than an engaging part of gameplay.
“Slow, clunky, boring combat that isn't difficult, just tedious.”
“The whole game you are running in the same maze-style environment (wooden houses), which is very tedious.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a lack of emotional engagement, with players expressing feelings of annoyance rather than connection to the characters. The storyline is described as slow and boring, contributing to weak emotional ties from the outset.
“The storyline is slow and boring, with weak connections to Episode 1.”
“The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Many users perceive the monetization strategy of the sequel as a cash grab, particularly criticizing the lack of transparency regarding its episodic nature until after completion of the first game. This has led to disappointment among fans who enjoyed the original.
“I enjoyed the first game a lot, but I feel like this is more of a cash grab since the first game didn't even specify it was 'Episode 1' until you finished it!”
“The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
“It seems like the developers are more focused on making money than providing a quality gaming experience.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with frequent crashes occurring every 20 minutes and significant performance issues that disrupt the overall experience.
“Like immersion-breaking clockwork, the game decides to crash every 20 minutes on the dot, and it lets some abysmal performance issues rear their ugly heads.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a significant dissatisfaction with the character development and writing in the game, with multiple users expressing similar concerns about its shortcomings.
“I do have a problem with the character development and writing in this game.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game primarily through the quirky and bizarre nature of the enemies, which adds a lighthearted and amusing element to the gameplay experience.
“From the bit I've played, the enemies seem to be strange in a kind of funny way.”
