Horror Tales: The Wine
- July 30, 2021
- Carlos Coronado
- 5h median play time
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Get on Xbox Games Store"Horror Tales: The Wine" is a survival horror game set in a Mediterranean archipelago abandoned after a pandemic. Players must explore the forsaken city, solve puzzles, and evade a relentless stalker. The game features intense challenges and jumpscares, aimed at horror enthusiasts. Note: The developer has confirmed the presence of jumpscares but emphasizes that the game is designed for horror enthusiasts and offers a challenging experience with a memorable storyline.
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Playstation 5
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Reviews
- The game features stunning graphics and beautiful environments that enhance the overall experience.
- The story is intriguing, with a unique setting and well-crafted lore that keeps players engaged.
- The game includes accessibility options, allowing players to tailor their experience, such as turning off chase sequences.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, with similar puzzles and chase mechanics throughout the game.
- The protagonist has very limited stamina, making it frustrating during chase sequences.
- Some players found the enemy design and chase mechanics to be more tedious than scary, detracting from the horror experience.
- story240 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Horror Tales: The Wine" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its environmental storytelling and intriguing backstory, which often requires piecing together information from scattered notes and documents. While some found the narrative engaging and well-crafted, others criticized it for being overly reliant on text and lacking depth, leading to a somewhat predictable and unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, the game presents a unique horror experience with a compelling atmosphere, though its storytelling approach may not resonate with everyone.
“This game does such a good job at telling a story with the environment and notes, of course.”
“The backstory and lore is super interesting, and there are tons of things with this game that makes it unique and not an average horror game.”
“I absolutely adored the story of this game and coming to understand what happened during this city's pandemic.”
“The story is essentially one giant hook with a boring and cliche payoff that negates everything that occurred.”
“The story does not advance far from 'these winery people were assholes and a bunch of people got sick and were quarantined' until the literal epilogue.”
“While the backstory is fairly elaborate, there is barely any plot to the game.”
- gameplay114 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on exploration, light puzzles, and chase sequences, with a mix of jump scares that create tension. While some players appreciate the puzzle mechanics and level design, others criticize the simplicity and lack of depth in the mechanics, suggesting that the game could benefit from more variety and refinement. Overall, the experience is described as enjoyable but flawed, with accessibility options that allow players to tailor the difficulty to their preferences.
“The gameplay involves exploration, some very light puzzles, finding collectibles, figuring the story out, and the chase sections, of course.”
“The puzzles are well balanced and well designed, and the level design is really well made; it gives you the illusion of a semi-open world even if the gameplay itself is linear.”
“Totally recommend giving it a try; it's not that scary in case you have problems with scary games. It's more like an interactive art piece with storytelling through notes and some gameplay puzzles.”
“I do applaud the decision to add a 'disable monster encounter' option post-release, although you shouldn't have to disable a major mechanic in your game to make it playable.”
“Inventory is unidimensional; you just need to find a key hanging on a wall to open a door nearby. Very bad autosave checkpoint placement, and unfair cheap horror chase mechanics.”
“I don't say this lightly, but this would've been better as a walking simulator, or preferably, a more focused puzzle game with a darker atmosphere and nearly none of the current gameplay.”
- graphics102 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and immersive quality, particularly impressive given that they were created by a single developer. Players have highlighted the stunning visuals, detailed environments, and effective use of themes, such as the deep burgundy wine aesthetic, which enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention average models and lighting issues, the overall artistic quality and environmental storytelling are considered remarkable, making the graphics one of the standout features of the game.
“The graphics are wonderful and immersive, the fact that this game was created by just one person (outstanding!), it's a horror and has cat collectibles... yes, I am really happy lol.”
“This game is maybe not exceptional, but it is very good nonetheless, especially for its stunning visuals (literally stunning, especially considering that they have been made by a single dev!!), and its melancholic and pretty original story, that, together with the haunting and gloomy atmosphere, manages to suck you into an incredibly fascinating dark world.”
“You will often find yourself stopping by and taking a moment to fully enjoy the masterpiece of stunning visuals.”
“I understand what the developer was going for, but the wonderful environment and visuals cannot overshadow the lack of expertise in basically every other aspect of the game.”
“Overall, it is clear that expertise shows in the environments and art style, but fails in a lot of other areas.”
“Often poorly lit interiors (both aesthetically and in terms of visibility).”
- atmosphere74 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and immersive environments that create a captivating and melancholic experience. While some players appreciate the oppressive and beautiful settings, others feel that certain gameplay elements, like jump scares and collectibles, detract from the overall atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully builds a unique and engaging atmosphere that resonates with many players, despite some critiques regarding its execution.
“I adore the environment and atmosphere in this game, and in most locations I spent at least a minute just admiring the view.”
“The atmosphere is absolutely oppressive and beautiful.”
“It's able to maintain an interesting atmosphere, with cool environments, while also at the same time keeping its own originality and feel which in turn separates it from other similar games.”
“The scares are fairly mild, usually just some unexpected noises - but since they also feel pretty random, they don't contribute much to the atmosphere.”
“Jump scares do not fit the atmosphere at all, and distract me from the game.”
“Sound design wise it's decent, but I think some more ambient sounds might help the overall atmosphere; I kind of feel it was lacking in that area, the music is a bit uninspired as well in my opinion.”
- music22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant lack of musical content that detracts from the immersive experience. While some appreciate the tension created by the chase music, others find it overpowering and tedious, overshadowing important audio cues. Overall, there is a consensus that a more original and ambient soundtrack could greatly enhance the game's atmosphere.
“On top of it all, the musical track that accompanies their giving chase amplifies the tension up to eleven.”
“There is almost no music in the game, and I felt that this actually contributed to the atmosphere and enhanced the feeling of being a lonesome survivor exploring abandoned places.”
“The audio volume for effects and music can be set separately.”
“There was very little music in the game and it's unfortunate, because it could've greatly enhanced the overall immersive experience.”
“When the monster chases you, intense chase music will kick in and it is very loud and overpowers the audio of your character's breathing, which is the only indicator that you are running low on stamina.”
“Sound design-wise it's decent, but I think some more ambient sounds might help the overall atmosphere; I kind of feel it was lacking in that area, and the music is a bit uninspired as well, in my opinion.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding elements of the game, particularly the chase sequences combined with puzzle-solving, to be excessively tedious and frustrating. The mechanics often lead to repetitive resets upon failure, diminishing the tension and turning initially engaging scenarios into monotonous exercises. Overall, the experience is described as an assault on the senses that ultimately feels more embarrassing than thrilling.
“The chase sequences where you also have to solve a matching puzzle are more tedious than tense. There's a menu option to disable being chased during them, but overall it's not a great game element.”
“It wasn't too difficult to get through that scene, but it was unnecessarily tedious, especially since the creature can easily corner or stun-lock you in a way that you have no chance of getting away. When you die, the entire puzzle gets reset, including objects that you already applied and doors that you already opened.”
“What starts as effortless art ends as a parody of itself: an assault on the senses consisting of flashing lights, loud noises, pitch-black environments you are expected to navigate with a lantern with a ten-second crank battery. The 'puzzles' are nothing more than tedious exercises in frustration while being chased by an antagonist that started menacing and ended as a Scooby-Doo monster of the week.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply impactful, with players feeling a strong sense of devastation and immersion throughout the experience. While some reports evoke terror and heartbreak, they often lack a personal touch due to their reliance on public notices, which can make them feel dry. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate indie walking simulators that combine beautiful imagery with optional lore, but players should be prepared for an emotionally intense journey.
“Definitively worth a buy if you enjoy indie walking simulators with optional lore and beautiful, heart-wrenching imagery.”
“Before starting this review, be emotionally prepared to be devastated.”
“I'm personally emotionally devastated after being engaged and immersed in the entire experience, and the best part is that it's replayable.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its impressive optimization, running flawlessly at high settings (165hz @ 1440p) without any performance issues. Reviewers highlight its vibrant visuals and solid performance, noting that it surpasses many other indie titles using the same engine, significantly enhancing the overall immersive experience.
“It's visually a lot more colorful than I expected, it's a nice looking experience, and the game runs flawlessly even at 165Hz @1440p on epic settings. Nice to see an indie horror game with some optimization; it helps with immersion so much.”
“I'm blown away by how good it looks, but with rock solid performance.”
“I am a little shocked by how good this game looks, with no performance issues on my end, better than most indies that use this engine.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability, particularly through the photo mode unlocked after completion, but some players feel this feature creates a sense of "forced replayability" rather than organic engagement. Despite this, many reviewers express a strong emotional connection to the experience, enhancing their desire to replay the game. Overall, while the game is relatively short at about 3.5 hours, it provides enough incentive for players to revisit it.
“The game took me about 3.5 hours to complete, and there is some replay value, given the photo mode you unlock after completing the game.”
“I'm personally emotionally devastated after being engaged and immersed in the entire experience, and the best part is that it's replayable.”
“The game offers a unique experience that encourages players to return and explore different aspects, enhancing its replayability.”
“Would have preferred if the game gave me all the tools to begin with (this feels like a 'forced replayability' design).”
“The game took me about 3.5 hours to complete and there is some replay value, given the photo mode you unlock after completing the game.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience without bugs or glitches, others express disappointment due to persistent issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
“A real shame about the glitches.”
“The game runs well and I didn't experience any bugs or glitches while playing, but I can't recommend this one.”
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized for being minimal, with players noting that the lore and world-building are primarily conveyed through basic text documents, resulting in a lack of immersive storytelling and character depth.
“The lore and the world-building of this game is not that immersive; it's mostly obtained through simple text documents with little to no character development.”
