In Fear I Trust
- September 22, 2016
- Black Wing Foundation
- 6h median play time
In Fear I Trust is a first-person psychological thriller set in Soviet Russia, where you play as Nikolay, also known as Patient #17, who wakes up in a small cell with no memory of how he got there. To escape and uncover the mystery of your past, you must solve elaborate puzzles and uncover clues hidden throughout the decaying facility. Only four out of five episodes are currently available.
Reviews
- The game features a variety of puzzles that some players may find enjoyable, despite their inconsistency in quality.
- Each episode contains interesting stories on their own, even if the overall narrative is confusing.
- The voice acting and writing are generally well done, contributing to a decent atmosphere.
- The game is unfinished, with the fifth episode never released, leaving players without a resolution to the story.
- The narrative is disjointed and confusing, making it difficult for players to follow the plot.
- Graphics and sound design are often described as mediocre, failing to create a truly immersive horror experience.
- story28 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story in the game is often criticized for being incoherent and disjointed, with many players finding it difficult to follow due to vague connections between chapters and significant plot holes. While some appreciate the intriguing premise and the use of various storytelling methods like notes and audio recordings, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, leading to frustration and a sense of incompleteness. Despite its flaws, a few players still find enjoyment in the concept and atmosphere, though many express disappointment with the lack of narrative progression.
“The story of the game revolves around a conspiracy by a vague yet menacing company whose true motives are unknown.”
“I've only currently played the first episode, so I can't comment on the overall story arc, but what I've seen so far is intriguing to say the least.”
“So far, the story seems somewhat intriguing, but is mostly told through notes and pages you find around on tables.”
“A story that's been told to death, and with an atmosphere that's about as frightening as a coffee shop.”
“The storytelling is less than coherent, and even if you go out of your way to find all of the notes and uncover all of the memories, there are still massive plot holes.”
“The story is delivered mostly via short reading segments (diaries, newspaper articles, etc.), some audio recordings of memories, and cutscenes, which are very cheaply done.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered mediocre, with many reviewers noting that they feel dated and generic, reminiscent of late 90s or early 2000s titles. While some aspects are acceptable, the low-resolution textures and limited graphic options detract from the overall experience, particularly for a horror game that relies heavily on atmosphere. Overall, the visuals do not meet modern standards and leave much to be desired.
“Games in general and horror titles in particular always benefit from good graphics and sound design, and especially a horror title which has practically no action bits in it, you'd imagine it must have a very thoughtful creepy environment.”
“The graphics are good, for a game from the late nineties or early 2000.”
“Graphics were okay but felt very generic.”
“As the game was originally ported from mobile devices, textures are pretty low and graphic options in the main menu are very limited, but the game still looked okay, though a bit dated.”
“And graphically the game is not great.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on puzzle-solving, involving the collection of notes and items, but is criticized for being linear, uninspired, and overly simplistic. Players can expect around 4-6 hours of gameplay, with basic animations and slow loading times detracting from the experience. Overall, the gameplay lacks depth and resolution, leaving many users feeling underwhelmed.
“Most gameplay will involve you picking up notes, items for puzzles, and recordings that are littered throughout the locations.”
“The cutscenes still render at 30 fps, although the actual gameplay is 60 fps.”
“The gameplay is okay but very slow.”
“For $10, all you really get is roughly 4-6 hours of gameplay with no resolution.”
“The entirety of the gameplay is based around puzzle solving, but the puzzles themselves are uninspired and ridiculously easy.”
“The gameplay is very linear, animations are very basic, after room traversal textures take several seconds to load and even after loading, they look very blurry.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is polarizing; while some users find it lacking in fear and originality, comparing it to a mundane coffee shop, others praise it for its superb ambiance, effective sound design, and engaging puzzles that create an enjoyable experience despite its narrative shortcomings.
“If you can overlook its incomplete story and low resolution, the atmosphere, sound, and easy puzzles made for a good walk in the dark.”
“+superb atmosphere”
“A story that's been told to death, and with an atmosphere that's about as frightening as a coffee shop.”
“The game fails to create any sense of tension or dread, leaving the atmosphere feeling flat and uninspired.”
“Despite its horror theme, the atmosphere lacks any real immersion, making it hard to feel engaged or scared.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered to play a minimal role, with some reviewers noting that it doesn't significantly enhance the experience. However, the environmental sounds and subtle background music are appreciated, contributing positively to the overall atmosphere, particularly in visually striking episodes.
“I was really impressed with the scanned images and propaganda/marketing posters that adorn each of the locations, and the environmental sounds and subtle music included are quite enjoyable.”
“I thought the 4th episode stood out and was the most pleasant to the eye, but the sound and music didn't feel like they played any significant part in the whole.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players generally find the game's replayability to be high, thanks to its diverse character options, multiple endings, and varying difficulty levels that encourage different playstyles. Many reviewers appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and seasonal events, which add fresh experiences upon subsequent playthroughs. However, some note that certain gameplay elements may become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing long-term engagement.
“The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
“With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again to try something new.”
“The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting and unpredictable.”
“Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change, and the side quests feel repetitive.”
“After finishing the main storyline, I found myself with no desire to replay it. The choices I made didn't seem to impact the outcome enough.”
“The game lacks variety in its missions, making it feel like a chore to replay. I was hoping for more dynamic content on subsequent playthroughs.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its good performance, indicating that it runs smoothly and efficiently on various systems.
“The game's optimization is impressive, allowing for smooth performance even on lower-end hardware.”
“I love how well-optimized the game is; it runs flawlessly without any noticeable lag.”
“The developers have done a fantastic job with optimization, ensuring a seamless experience across various platforms.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's monetization strategy appears heavily focused on promoting upcoming content, particularly episode 4, even before players have finished the previous episode, which may detract from the overall experience.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
“I feel pressured to spend money just to keep up with the game, which takes away from the fun.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits some minor glitches and issues, but they are not significant enough to disrupt gameplay or hinder the overall experience.
“The game has a few glitches and problems, but nothing game-breaking.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that made it hard to enjoy the game.”
“There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay and hinder progress.”