Horror Story: Hallowseed
- October 28, 2021
- Jeff Winner
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games StoreIn "Horror Story: Hallowseed," players explore a frightening, AI-driven world after waking up alone in a mysterious place following a camping trip. As they search for their friends and uncover the dark secrets of Hallowseed, they must evade malevolent spirits and solve puzzles in this story-driven psychological horror adventure. The game features a rich narrative and beautiful, atmospheric environments.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a great atmosphere and impressive graphics, especially for a solo developer.
- Some players found the jump scares to be well-timed and effective, contributing to the overall horror experience.
- The piano save mechanic was praised as a creative and fun feature.
- Many players criticized the game for its tedious key-hunting mechanics and lack of direction, leading to frustration.
- The chase sequences were poorly designed, giving players little time to react before being killed by enemies.
- Motion blur and camera shake effects caused discomfort for some players, making the game unplayable for those with motion sensitivity.
- story102 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Horror Story: Hallowseed" is described as intriguing and well-crafted, with a solid horror narrative that includes unexpected twists and effective scares. However, some players find it linear and cliché, often feeling slow-paced or lacking direction. Overall, while the game shows promise and has a dedicated fan base, opinions vary on its execution and originality, leaving players eager for future developments in the series.
“The story is interesting and from what I've read is the first part of a horror series, which is awesome.”
“Loved how the story unfolded and I definitely recommend this one to all my horror-loving friends!”
“The story goes in a direction that I didn't foresee, and changes the genre up a bit with a refreshing take on a faith-filled protagonist.”
“No direction, no mission, just wandering around until something happens.”
“Unfortunately this game is a big key and page hunting with a weak story.”
“There is no story going on in the game at all.”
- atmosphere80 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic horror films and creating a sense of suspense and dread. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful graphics and sound design, which contribute to a dense and oppressive environment, although some note that gameplay mechanics, such as slow movement and frustrating puzzles, can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes a chilling atmosphere that keeps players on edge, reminiscent of iconic horror experiences.
“The atmosphere is overwhelming; you think there is someone next to you every step of the way.”
“They have made a truly immersive and terrifying game that has all of the atmospheric creepiness based on real horror events from the movies.”
“The visuals and overall atmosphere were absolutely fantastic!”
“Within 30 minutes, I was bored with them because they were constantly happening, so they sort of blended in with the background noise and hurt the atmosphere.”
“It's actually really disappointing as what I could get through had me hooked, but the moment the motion blur kicks in, it ruins the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is dark and disturbing, adding in the survival horror aspects; hiding, conserving matches.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their realism, attention to detail, and beautiful atmosphere, often described as impressive for an indie title. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, particularly in forest settings, and the effective use of lighting and sound effects that enhance the overall experience. However, some users noted minor graphic glitches and expressed that while the visuals are captivating, they do not compensate for other shortcomings in gameplay.
“The graphics are very impressive for an indie game, I must say.”
“The graphics in the game were beautiful and the music/atmosphere just kept me on edge throughout!”
“The visuals and overall atmosphere were absolutely fantastic!”
“There are some noticeable graphic glitches, as well as non sequitur visual effects, but overall, I feel the assets look very pretty.”
“Graphics are flesh putrifying detailed in morbid unholy glory pulsing with that which is not alive yet not dead.”
“I don't really think it's the game's fault that I have a supernatural ability to break every game, so I won't rate anything but the graphics.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its frustrating mechanics, including enemy ambushes that lead to frequent deaths and repetitive tasks centered around opening doors to progress. While some players appreciated the unique piano save mechanic, overall feedback highlights poor level design, glitchy performance, and a lack of engaging content, suggesting that the game may not be worth its current price. Despite some improvements noted by players, the gameplay loop remains tedious and lacks depth, detracting from the overall experience.
“The developer managed to unite the basics of any horror game here, making you easily familiar with the mechanics.”
“Now there is a noticeable growth in how the game and its gameplay have improved.”
“Enemies spawn at triggers really close to you, so you die the first time and have to redo 1-2 minutes of gameplay without messing up again.”
“20€ for ~4-5 hours of gameplay is not really worth it.”
“Yes, in the current state, the whole gameplay loop boils down to opening doors: you open one door and go into the room, there you find a key to another room, that has a key to another room, which has a means of opening another room, and another room, and you get where this is going.”
- music14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its eerie and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall tension and immersion. Reviewers note that the soundtrack complements the visuals and sound effects, contributing to a compelling indie horror experience reminiscent of "The Conjuring." Additionally, there is a playful element where players can use a children's song on the piano as a saving mechanism, adding a unique twist to the gameplay.
“There are some great things in this game, namely the visuals, soundtrack, use of sound effects, and use of light and shadow.”
“From the story to the jumpscares to the music - all around a good short indie horror.”
“The graphics in the game were beautiful and the music/atmosphere just kept me on edge throughout!”
“The soundtrack is eerie.”
“Still, like the atmosphere and music, it has the conjuring feels to it.”
“The soundtrack is lacking in variety and fails to enhance the gameplay experience.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a range of visual glitches and bugs, which are typical for an in-progress title, leading to some amusing moments, such as lanterns appearing to be caught in strong winds. Despite these issues, players generally find the graphical assets to be visually appealing.
“Buggy as hell.”
“There are some noticeable graphic glitches, as well as non sequitur visual effects, but overall, I feel the assets look very pretty.”
“Visual glitches are to be expected, especially with an in-progress game, so the lanterns that seemed to be caught up in hurricane force winds were amusing.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to the inability to run while inside the house, leading to slow backtracking for doors and keys. The walking speed is considered too slow, further contributing to the overall sense of monotony in gameplay.
“Once you're in the house (where you spend most of your time), you can no longer run, which makes all the constant backtracking for doors and keys feel painfully tedious.”
“The non-running walking speed is a bit too slow and makes the gameplay a little tedious.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received consistently negative feedback, with multiple users highlighting significant issues that detract from the overall experience.
“The game's optimization is pretty awful.”
“The game's optimization is pretty awful.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected and comedic moments, such as the sudden appearance of a demon that provides a brief, amusing pause in the action. This blend of tension and humor adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“To break it up, you’re granted a hilarious split second of reaction time as a demon appears and starts chasing you.”
