I Saw Black Clouds

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 173 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • atmosphere
I Saw Black Clouds Game Cover
New FMV game brings the drama but stumbles in final act
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"I Saw Black Clouds" is an interactive psychological thriller game, where player's choices impact the narrative. The story revolves around a young woman, Kristina, who starts seeing black clouds over people's heads, indicating their impending death. As the game progresses, Kristina uncovers dark secrets, facing moral dilemmas that challenge her sanity. The game features a unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack, creating an immersive and haunting experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Phone
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Play Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 173 reviews
story43 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling and suspenseful thriller vibe, making it an engaging experience for fans of the genre.
  • The plot includes significant twists that enhance the storytelling, providing a fresh perspective as the narrative unfolds.
  • Replayability is high due to multiple endings and the ability to skip previously viewed scenes, allowing players to explore different choices.
  • Many choices feel inconsequential, often leading to the same outcomes regardless of player decisions, which can diminish the sense of agency.
  • The editing and transitions between scenes are jarring, with abrupt cuts and audio issues that disrupt immersion.
  • The story can be confusing and disjointed, leaving players unsure of character motivations and the overall narrative direction.
  • story191 mentions

    The story of the game is described as disjointed and confusing, with many players feeling that their choices have little impact on the overall narrative. While some appreciated the multiple story paths and plot twists, others criticized the execution, citing poor pacing, unclear motivations, and a lack of coherence. Overall, the narrative offers intriguing elements but suffers from significant flaws that detract from the experience.

    • “I enjoyed the plot, and the game throws you a massive plot point about midway through that will piece a lot of what's going on together, which I really enjoyed as it started to make sense and really throws a new perspective on the story.”
    • “All in all, the story was entertaining, and having a quite different story in the second playthrough (with the same characters but in different roles) was refreshing, saving this FMV from the 'nanard' category.”
    • “There are lots of branches to the story, lots of different ways of discovering what's going on, and it can be genuinely unnerving at times. I touched about 1/3 of the scenes in the first playthrough, so I'm looking forward to diving back in and seeing just how different things are.”
    • “The plot is absolute disjointed nonsense, the cause and effect of your choices is obscure, the dialogue is inane and delivered over hours of joyless monotone, editing is nonexistent, basic direction like blocking and sight-lines are all over the place, the cinematography and camerawork is basic, and the subject matter (rape, suicide, and mental illness!) is handled about as sensitively as a goose stuck in a toilet.”
    • “The story was generally muddled and confusing.”
    • “Many of the choices in the game don't seem to actually change anything in the story.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game is noted for its imaginative and original compositions, particularly the song "Oh Baby" featured in bar scenes, which enhances the atmosphere. However, many players criticize the abrupt cuts and resets in the audio during scene transitions, which disrupts immersion and tension. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, the execution of audio transitions detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It is not really a very scary game; there are some jumpscares, but it is more about the thrilling pressure of the unknown, and this is done pretty well with the story and music.”
    • “Other elements that stood out for me were the music, which I thought was imaginative and original. I especially liked the song 'Oh Baby' that appears in the bar scenes.”
    • “Those titles possessed fantastic actors, decor, often a very cinematic atmosphere, fantastic soundtracks, and inventive storytelling rarely found in other games.”
    • “A lot of scenes use that ominous, gradually increasing musical tone to build tension, but if (within the same scene) the camera quick cuts to another POV, the audio resets!”
    • “Many times when making a choice, the transition to the next scene isn't seamless - there's a noticeable change in the music which kinda takes you out of the story for a moment.”
    • “The editing is done so poorly that when you make a choice the background music doesn't even connect.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive and well-crafted environments, particularly in locations like Dominique's house and the old mental asylum, which effectively evoke a sense of unease. However, some players feel that certain gameplay choices detract from the overall experience, leading to moments of stagnation that disrupt the otherwise engaging atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully creates a creepy and cinematic ambiance that enhances its storytelling.

    • “Not a game for the faint of heart; it certainly has some topics that could make people uneasy. Overall, I really enjoyed this game. I got creeped out a lot, and the atmosphere of the game was amazing.”
    • “A great atmosphere is set up and sustained in this game, not wasted like you see in countless films.”
    • “Some choices are well embedded in the story and atmosphere (at the therapist's office) just to be ruined by bland choices like turning left or right, followed by going left or right, etc. It kind of reminded me of my first 13-year-old D&D dungeon master.”
    • “The scenes do drag on a little bit (though some of it is for atmosphere), but combined with the choices-that-aren't-really-choices problem above, it's noticeable, like when you're walking through the mental institution that nothing really happens for a good while until finally one thing happens and you leave.”
    • “Everything is shot so well that you can feel the atmosphere of what is happening in detail.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics in the game are described as disjointed and inconsistent compared to previous titles by the developer, with a strong British aesthetic that may resonate with fans of British television. While the visuals and acting are deemed decent, technical issues such as glitches and abrupt transitions detract from the overall experience.

    • “There's a strong British feeling to this game - the setting, the surroundings, even the lighting and aesthetics of the scenes and the manner of acting will probably be more familiar to those who are used to British television.”
    • “The acting and visuals are decent, and the story is kind of interesting.”
    • “But this game is worse than others by this developer in the fact that much of the game's visuals seem disjointed.”
    • “There’s almost always a hard cut on the visuals and even a short glitchy pause, a stutter in the audio (soundtrack and background noises as well) during the transitions.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as very dark and unconventional, lacking the campiness found in other FMVs, yet it is also considered hilariously entertaining by some players. The mix of horror and comedy creates confusion about its genre, but many enjoyed the absurdity and humor throughout the experience. Overall, it elicits laughter despite its serious themes.

    • “Not scary in the slightest... one of the most hilarious things ever made.”
    • “And my friend and I absolutely loved laughing at it every step of the way.”
    • “Several endings, a funny plot, and the play of actors... (what?)”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability due to its multiple parallel storylines and a large number of video clips, allowing players to experience different outcomes and character roles. However, some users noted that this can lead to awkward narrative moments and cutscenes. Overall, while replayability is present, players are encouraged to enjoy the experience rather than expect extensive variation.

    • “There are about 600 video clips, and so far I’ve played through the game twice and only seen 355 scenes… so there's a lot of replayability.”
    • “The same characters appear in different roles, and the game is longer than others because it has significant replay value.”
    • “Having different parallel storylines is great for replayability but inevitably creates bad fittings and strange cutscenes.”
    • “Being able to tab through scenes that have already been watched is very helpful for replayability and allows players to concentrate on the changes they might be making to the story.”
    • “In that way, there is some replayability, but again, don't expect too much; just enjoy the ride.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the story intriguing and the ending impactful, others criticize it for being short and featuring poor acting. Despite clichés, many appreciate the emotional depth of the main character and the overall journey, suggesting that those open to an emotional experience may enjoy it.

    • “This is an excellent and emotionally captivating movie, one of the best ones I've played.”
    • “While having some cliché scenes and dialogues, I found the ending to be very strong in an emotional way.”
    • “If you're prepared to go on an emotional journey, then you should like this game.”
    • “The story was incredibly boring and the acting was subpar.”
    • “The emotional depth was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I felt no emotional engagement throughout the game.”
  • gameplay5 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily limited to making scattered dialog choices, resembling the simplistic interaction of old interactive DVD movies. This lack of engagement may disappoint players seeking more dynamic elements, such as quick-time events.

    • “This can be a deal breaker for those looking for a bit more engaging gameplay, such as quick time events.”
    • “The only gameplay interaction is some scattered, nonsensical dialog choices.”
    • “The gameplay is reminiscent of old interactive DVD movies where you just click a choice and the story continues.”
    • “It's just gameplay.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid technical stability with no major glitches, but players have noted issues with ambient sound inconsistencies and a buggy decision-making mode. Additionally, the narrative suffers from plot holes and continuity errors, detracting from the overall experience despite the game's engaging intentions.

    • “Technically the game works well with no major glitches; however, the break between decisions takes you a bit out of the experience as the ambient sound stops and changes volume at times.”
    • “The mode that has the game pause at decisions seemed a bit buggy.”
    • “This shouldn't be a bad thing, but the story has too many plot holes and incomprehensible glitches: characters mention others you haven't talked about; you run away from one place in perfect condition and in the next scene you come out bleeding. I've played through the game twice, and I'll probably play it several more times to discover all the endings, but I think it's a shame that a game with such good intentions has so many seams.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of character performances in the game has received mixed reviews, with some users criticizing the main and supporting actors for overacting and lacking authenticity, while others praise the actors for delivering wonderful performances. This disparity suggests that optimization in terms of voice acting may vary significantly among players' experiences.

    • “The optimization is a mess; the game frequently drops frames and stutters, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I was really disappointed with the optimization. The loading times are excessively long, and it feels like the game wasn't properly tested before release.”
    • “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which is frustrating given the graphics aren't even that impressive.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or additional lives to progress effectively.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
    • “The grind is satisfying, with each level-up feeling like a significant achievement.”
    • “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels tedious and always offers something new to strive for.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

51% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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