Incubus: A ghost-hunters tale
- September 9, 2023
- Darkling Room
In "Incubus: A Ghost-Hunter's Tale," players embark on their first ghost-hunting case, mentored by the O.P.G paranormal team. Armed with real gadgets, they investigate a real London house with a reputation for paranormal activity and a history of abandoned owners. The goal is to uncover the truth behind the house's troubled past and malevolent forces, discerning what makes a house haunted. This immersive game offers a chilling experience at 6 Dread Pit Road.
Reviews
- The game successfully evokes nostalgia for classic point-and-click adventure games while incorporating modern ghost hunting mechanics.
- Players appreciate the eerie atmosphere, sound design, and the variety of ghost hunting tools that enhance the immersive experience.
- The storyline, while somewhat cliched, is engaging and keeps players invested, with moments that genuinely create tension and scares.
- The gameplay can become repetitive, with players often feeling like they are just going through the motions of finding and categorizing ghosts without much variation.
- There are several technical issues, including crashes and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, particularly towards the end of the game.
- The tutorial and controls are poorly designed, leading to confusion and frustration for players trying to navigate the game effectively.
- story16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story in "Incubus" is praised for its atmospheric build-up and engaging narrative, reminiscent of previous titles like "Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil." While it features some cliched elements, the plot unfolds through ghost-hunting mechanics and character references, providing a satisfying experience with a mix of mystery and spookiness. Overall, players appreciate the well-crafted storytelling, though some note it lacks the complexity found in earlier games from the developer.
“Loved the story and the darkling room type of atmosphere ;)”
“Thoroughly enjoyed playing... very well thought out short story, very fun, very spooky.”
“Shadow Tor games are quality horror storytelling, every time.”
“Eventually you'll get to the storyline and some mysterious phone calls.”
“It gets a little more interesting in the last part, but still has nothing like the complexity of both puzzles and plot found in their other games.”
“To make progress in this quest involves finding and categorizing three types of ghost in different areas of the house before a section of the story is then revealed.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Incubus" diverges from previous titles by focusing more on ghost hunting mechanics rather than puzzle-solving, reminiscent of "Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil." While it features familiar characters and references to past stories, the experience is noted to be less repetitive but not significantly more immersive or engaging, making it a solid, if different, addition to the developers' portfolio.
“To summarize, another good game by Boakes and Clark, not their best, not their worst, a bit different from the rest (less puzzles, more ghost hunting mechanics), but still very much worth your time.”
“Incubus, in particular, is quite different from the rest, being a lot less about solving puzzles and leaning much more into the ghost hunting mechanics.”
“The gameplay is less repetitive here, but not much more immersive or engaging, feeling as it does like part of a different game.”
“In most aspects, it's closer to Dark Fall: Ghost Vigil than to their other games: the main characters are the same (adding video recordings of them was a nice touch), the previous story is referenced a few times, and that game had a preliminary version of the same ghost hunting equipment mechanics now employed here.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively blending sights and sounds from different time periods to enhance the ghost hunting experience. Reviewers appreciate the original and engaging ambiance, which complements the story and mystery elements, although some express a desire for a more focused approach in future sequels.
“Loved the story and the dark, eerie atmosphere!”
“Eerie atmospheres with sights and sounds belonging to other time periods, as well as clues to find and a mystery to solve.”
“It's always an atmospheric romp that ends up feeling extremely original, this game included.”
“If you make a sequel, please don't add anything like that again and put the work into the atmosphere and actual ghost hunting.”
“Eerie atmospheres with sights and sounds belonging to other time periods as well as clues to find and a mystery to solve.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences some stability issues, including occasional glitches that prevent access to the inventory and crashes later in gameplay. While these bugs can be frustrating, they are generally not game-breaking, and frequent saving can mitigate potential setbacks.
“There are a few glitches where I wasn't able to access the inventory, which made me think I was stuck in a scripted event.”
“Good game idea and creation, but it gets a little buggy later in the game with crashes. As long as you save often, it won't set you back far.”
“I did find a couple of buggy bits where I couldn't access my inventory for a couple of rooms (only in the temple), but they were not game-breaking and didn't cause me too much pain.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by memorable scenes, such as a particularly funny moment set in the desert, which has left players laughing long after the experience.
“I've been laughing about this concept since that one scene in the desert.”
“The witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions kept me chuckling throughout the game.”
“I love how the game uses absurd humor to turn everyday situations into laugh-out-loud moments.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are well-received, complementing the interesting storyline and enhancing the overall experience of the easy point-and-click gameplay.
“The graphics are stunning, bringing the game world to life with incredible detail.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, making every scene a joy to explore.”
“The art style is unique and captivating, enhancing the overall gaming experience.”