I'm on Observation Duty 6
- September 1, 2023
- Dreamloop Games
- 10h median play time
Get on Steam"I'm on Observation Duty 6" is a horror-themed "spot the difference" game, consisting of six levels with increasing difficulty. Players monitor live security footage and report any anomalies such as moved objects or intruders, with the goal of surviving until 6:00 AM. Anomalies appear at random, keeping the player on their toes as they attempt to maintain order and avoid game overs.
Mac OS
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The new reporting system is intuitive and engaging, allowing players to click directly on anomalies, which enhances the gameplay experience.
- The graphics and sound design have significantly improved, creating a more immersive and eerie atmosphere that adds to the tension.
- The game offers a good balance of challenge with the addition of hard mode, making it enjoyable for both new players and veterans of the series.
- Many players feel that the game is too easy compared to previous installments, with anomalies being more obvious and less challenging to spot.
- Some anomalies lack creativity and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and predictability in gameplay.
- The absence of a multiplayer mode or co-op feature has disappointed fans who enjoyed playing together in previous games.
- graphics39 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their significant improvement over previous entries, featuring stunning visuals, vibrant colors, and well-designed environments that enhance the overall atmosphere. However, some players feel that while the graphics are impressive, certain monster designs lack detail and creativity, detracting from the experience. Overall, the graphical enhancements contribute positively to the game's aesthetic, though opinions vary on their impact on gameplay and atmosphere.
“The graphics are amazing and the game makes me laugh sometimes and of course crap my pants.”
“Graphically it looks amazing, I like the environments and lighting, and the variety of settings to investigate and observe.”
“Graphics are beautiful, new anomaly reporting is really cool, hard mode is.. hard, and generally a very awesome game.”
“The graphics are a huge step up, but the anomalies seemed lazy, obvious, and repetitive; I saw a severed head 5 times in the same run.”
“Now, let's talk about 6... this game is a downgrade. It has some overall improvements in color, graphics, and even sound effects, but gameplay-wise, it was boring, predictable, and has absolutely 0 replayability.”
“While the graphics are a huge step up, it almost feels like many of these anomalies were spoon-fed to me compared to the previous games.”
- gameplay31 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "I'm on Observation Duty 6" draws inspiration from the "Five Nights at Freddy's" series but introduces unique mechanics that enhance the experience, such as a new reporting system and challenging hard mode. While many players appreciate the improved observational tasks and graphics, some criticize the game for being slower and less engaging than its predecessors, leading to concerns about replayability. Overall, the game offers a mix of addictive fun and tactical gameplay, though opinions vary on its execution and value compared to earlier titles in the series.
“There is a certain amount of DNA from Five Nights at Freddy's in this game, but the actual gameplay loop is sufficiently different enough from FNAF that it feels less like a 'copy' and more like it's building upon the original concept of monitoring security cams to create something more interesting and relatively unique.”
“I particularly enjoy this game's mechanics of reporting anomalies.”
“The new reporting mechanic is such a major improvement; please keep it!”
“Now, let's talk about 6... this game is a downgrade. It has some overall improvements in color, graphics, and even sound effects, but gameplay-wise, it was boring, predictable, and has absolutely 0 replayability.”
“Or, you can get this one, and beat every level on the first try and then uninstall it after 2 hours of boring gameplay.”
“Comparing this game to other observation duty games, it features a slower gameplay loop.”
- music18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are highly praised for their effective use of silence and eerie melodies, particularly the impactful transition to music at 5am, which heightens tension and panic. Reviewers appreciate how the absence of background music builds psychological horror, while the addition of somber tunes during critical moments enhances the overall atmosphere. The improvements in sound design contribute to a memorable and immersive experience, especially during the final hour, where the music intensifies the sense of urgency and dread.
“The fact that there's no background music until 5am is masterful, as the silence and only occasional sound means that there's so much dead air for your brain to inject the horrors into. When the 5am music does kick on for the first time, the psychological effect can easily send you into a spiral of pure panic.”
“Loved the addition of music during the final hour; that really increases the tension.”
“Sometimes I feel like certain horror games underestimate the power of pure dead-aired silence as a way of building tension, but this game perfectly understands how maddening silence can be, and how equally maddening the presence of creepy music can be once you become adjusted to the silence for so long.”
“The somber nature, the lack of a soundtrack during most parts of the game, and the simplistic point-and-click style all contribute to an experience that causes me to squirm in my chair and take frequent 'water breaks' just so I can calm myself down.”
“Con: on Linux, there is no in-game music until 5:00 and clicking on some places on the map will register in a completely different location.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is heavily influenced by the SCP Foundation, creating a creepy and immersive experience that enhances the challenge of searching for anomalies. While some players feel that the clean graphics and sparse map design detract from the overall ambiance, improvements in sound and lighting contribute positively to the unsettling environment. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its ability to evoke tension and stress during gameplay.
“In terms of atmosphere and implied lore, it genuinely feels closer to the SCP Foundation, with lots of talks of anomalies and things like that, but I don't think that's a bad thing.”
“I love the creepy atmosphere and the challenge it provides when searching for anomalies.”
“The atmosphere is amazing though, creepy and gives off a lot of stress when you find an intruder or when a lot of anomalies are active.”
“The maps you can play just seem super clean, which takes away from the atmosphere, and when we were playing, I noticed that it would be easy as there are simply so few objects in most maps.”
“While the game has improved in visuals with better textures and lighting, it still lacks a truly immersive atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere feels lacking, as the sound and music design improvements don't fully compensate for the overall experience.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story in this game is praised for its depth and richness, enhancing the overall experience compared to previous titles in the series. Players appreciate the impactful choices that allow them to shape their own narrative, along with the added backstory that contributes to world-building and an eerie atmosphere.
“I've long loved trying to piece together a storyline between the games, and this made it so much more rich and fulfilling.”
“The story of my lifetime.”
“And they told me that you have to make choices that affect the story, so it's like you're writing your own adventure.”
“Thanks for adding backstory to the levels for some world building and creepiness factor.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers good replayability due to its variety and engaging horror elements, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs. However, some players feel that certain challenges can be overly difficult or simplistic, which may limit its long-term replay value. It is particularly fun for casual gaming sessions with friends and family.
“Very good horror, very replayable and never boring.”
“It's good because of the variety and the replayability, but I admit the stuff that you are expected to catch is ridiculous, at least in the hospital where I got stumped.”
“Other games were great; I hope hard mode will have harder anomalies to spot so it has more replay value and you can't finish it in one go.”
“I would say that it does not have massive replay value, but the simplicity of the game makes it approachable and fun to play with friends and family who may not do as much gaming as you do.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in Observation Duty 1-6 is described as a mix of lightheartedness and occasional jump scares, making it more entertaining as a party game when played with friends. While some moments can be genuinely scary, many of the monster designs come off as funny, contributing to a comedic atmosphere rather than a purely frightening experience. Overall, the game is best enjoyed in a social setting, where the humor can shine through the gameplay.
“Observation Duty 1-6 oddly makes amazing party games. I've had the most fun with this game when screen sharing on Discord with 2-4 other people, with one person on camera malfunction duty and others focusing on specific parts of the rooms. If you're wanting to be scared, you're probably going to be disappointed. There are rare occasions of the monsters actually hiding in the environment that made me panic once I witnessed them, but the rest are obvious and at best make a cheap jump scare, and at worst are funny looking, temporarily turning the game into a comedy.”
“Thank you for your humor.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, with many expressing that it evokes strong feelings such as fear and sadness, particularly on harder difficulty settings. The intense experiences can lead to tears, highlighting the game's ability to connect with players on a deep emotional level.
“Really scary; it made me cry.”
“The hard mode made me cry.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable yet occasionally tedious and frustrating, particularly when minor details are missed during completion. However, these issues tend to become clearer in subsequent playthroughs.
“100%ing was also fun but a little tedious and frustrating at times when I missed a small thing or two; those became obvious on later playthroughs.”
“The grinding feels endless and often becomes a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
“I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which made the experience feel more like a job than a game.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth and quiet performance on Mac, making it an ideal choice for users seeking a subtle distraction without disturbing their environment. The ability to control the camera with arrow keys further enhances its usability, contributing to a seamless gaming experience.
“This game runs smoothly and, most importantly, quietly on my Mac. The ability to operate the camera system with the arrow keys rather than clicking makes it a noiseless, subtle activity that provides the stimulation I need without disturbing anyone.”
“I love how this game perfectly captures my focus. It's an excellent way to engage my mind when I'm feeling understimulated during my med school classes, and the optimization allows for a seamless experience.”
“The optimization in this game is impressive; it allows for a smooth and quiet gameplay experience, making it easy to play without distractions, even in a busy environment.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is tied to its immersive graphics and music, which enhance the overall experience, particularly during high-stress moments. However, the presence of ads may contribute to a sense of urgency and anxiety among players.
