Into Blue Valley

About

Into Blue Valley is a single player action game. It was developed by Ryan Javanshir and was released on December 24, 2014. It received neutral reviews from players.

Into Blue Valley is a first-person exploration game set in a picturesque, mysterious valley. As the player, you must uncover the secrets of the valley and its inhabitants while solving puzzles and navigating through beautiful, immersive environments. The game features a rich narrative, unique characters, and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story4 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features beautifully rendered environments, particularly the village, which enhances the immersive experience.
The atmospheric music and sound design contribute significantly to the game's mood, creating a relaxing yet eerie ambiance.
The unique 'found footage' concept adds an intriguing layer to the storytelling, making it a memorable experience for players who enjoy exploration.

The game is very short, typically taking only 20 to 30 minutes to complete, which many players feel does not justify the price.
There are numerous technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and a lack of options for adjusting controls, which detract from the overall experience.
The narrative is sparse and leaves many questions unanswered, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with the story's resolution.

story
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
The story of "Into Blue Valley" is characterized by its sparse and ambiguous narrative, primarily conveyed through scattered notes and found footage, which some players found intriguing yet confusing. While the game creates a haunting atmosphere that evokes introspection, it lacks depth and a cohesive structure, leaving many players wanting more clarity and engagement. Overall, the brief storyline offers a unique experience but may not satisfy those seeking a fully fleshed-out narrative.
- “Into Blue Valley isn't a bad game per se; it effectively crafts a range of player reactions during its brief storyline, ranging from introspection to unsettled, via its foreboding atmosphere. If you are familiar with the slower pace of walking simulator games, you will likely want to see it through to its end to unravel more of its ambiguous, surreal setting.”
- “The premise of the story is that a friend of yours has come across an old VHS tape of a person who is exploring a town known as 'Blue Valley,' whose townspeople have mysteriously disappeared.”
- “The presentation of the game through 'found footage' in partnership with the mystery that underlies the plot and the subject of the footage gets your mind working, imagining what is going on and sensing a sort of calm yet creepy suspense.”
- “The story itself is sparsely told via notes found along the way, while the people who now have the tape also comment from time to time.”
- “There is no grand story either (as far as I'm aware); true to its theme, the game gives you a very much intentionally vague and 'unfinished' narrative.”
- “The game lasts 30 minutes tops, and tells a very short story with no beginning, no middle, but just a short build-up to the end, with no conclusion.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
27%
14%
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to set the mood, enhancing the immersive experience of the environment. However, some players noted that the lack of additional sound design elements, such as voice acting and sound effects, detracts from the overall storytelling. While the soundtrack is often described as relaxing and fitting, it can sometimes be overshadowed by environmental sounds, leading to mixed feelings about its impact on gameplay.
- “The music was great and very mood-setting.”
- “The soundtrack to Into Blue Valley is stunning, with very relaxing piano music that makes you want to take a stroll through the valley.”
- “The atmosphere is completely enhanced through its fantastic soundtrack, which really gives that lost wanderer feel.”
- “While the music is haunting and beautiful, the lack of things like voice acting, sound effects, or other sound design niceties ultimately detracts from the storytelling and immersion.”
- “I have played far better walking simulators. I collected all the artifacts in the town and then made my way out of town and got lost. The biggest problem of this game is staying awake as there isn't much going on, and the music is too relaxing. So for 79p, I say give it a go, but with its regular price of £3.99, I wouldn't touch it. It's not a very long game either.”
- “The music is your generic mysterious music with the piano and occasional guitar strums.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their artistic quality and aesthetic appeal, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the experience. However, some players note that while the visuals are impressive, they are marred by bugs and a lack of polish, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Despite these criticisms, many agree that the game's presentation is strong, even if the gameplay itself feels lacking.
- “The game world is small but a work of art.”
- “I also really like the aesthetic; I actually felt cold watching parts.”
- “The audio, the visuals, the presentation are impeccable and are exactly what I'd want from such a game.”
- “Likewise, while the graphics are top-notch, their effect has little positive impact since your experience will be constantly jarred by bugs and badly developed gameplay.”
- “I don't think that the story of watching events through a VHS video camera lends itself to a graphically good game; it becomes a boring eyestrain after a while.”
- “If the Blair Witch Project, a broken graphics card, Outlast, and Skyrim had a love child that lost all its gameplay limbs and just laid around and recited poetry, this would be it.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is typical of the walking simulator genre, focusing on exploration and item collection, but lacks innovation and immersion due to frequent text reading interruptions and the absence of voice acting. While some mechanics, like the found footage style, show potential, they are poorly executed, and the overall experience is marred by basic gameplay and minor bugs. Despite these shortcomings, the game offers a unique experience for those willing to appreciate its indie charm and narrative approach.
- “I really like the mechanic of being found footage.”
- “The gameplay is as basic as it gets, and as is to be expected of almost any games, whether indie or not, there are some bugs and imperfections, though none that I felt ruined the experience.”
- “Honestly, don't expect the longest amount of gameplay from Into Blue Valley; however, do keep in mind that this is a first for the developer (that consists of one coder, might I add!) and that the magic is really in taking it at a slow pace, allowing yourself to immerse a little!”
- “The gameplay itself is nothing revolutionary for the walking simulator genre; you slowly plod your way along to read various notes scattered throughout the desolate city, search for a handful of items to be 'used' (placed) at a later location near the game's finale, while occasionally seeing creepy, dark silhouettes of figures in the distance who will always disappear before you get too close to them with the same 'flash of white' effect.”
- “It would have been much better if there were narrations rather than text - it ruins the immersion of gameplay having to stop what you're doing every few seconds to read...”
- “If the Blair Witch Project, a broken graphics card, Outlast, and Skyrim had a love child that lost all its gameplay limbs and just laid around and recited poetry, this would be it.”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its stylish, creepy, and foreboding qualities, effectively evoking a range of emotions from introspection to unease. Players appreciate the beautiful and mysterious setting, which enhances the overall experience, despite some noting its brevity. While opinions vary on its execution, the atmosphere remains a standout feature that leaves players wanting more.
- “Into Blue Valley isn't a bad game per se; it effectively crafts a range of player reactions during its brief storyline, ranging from introspection to unsettled, via its foreboding atmosphere. If you are familiar with the slower pace of walking simulator games, you will likely want to see it through to its end to unravel more of its ambiguous, surreal setting.”
- “However, it is a beautiful game with a wonderful atmosphere, and if there was more game, I would love it.”
- “Maybe a little short, but the atmosphere really shines through and leaves you wanting more.”
- “The game's atmosphere is generally creepy.”
- “Works to push forward the atmosphere of the game, which is desolation and mystery.”
- “Maybe a little short, but the atmosphere really shines through, and leaves you wanting more.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with users reporting extremely loud and poorly balanced audio, as well as significant performance issues including frequent frame rate drops and stuttering, even in visually unimpressive scenes.
- “The audio is terribly optimized, extremely loud, and the developer doesn't seem to understand how to level sounds differently.”
- “The game has terrible performance, and it isn't even that good-looking, yet it suffers from FPS problems and stuttering.”
- “Heavy performance drop in a scene shortly before the end.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express disappointment regarding the game's replayability, with some stating that it offers little to no incentive to play again after the initial experience, particularly for the price paid.
- “When I first saw this, I thought it was really bad as I paid $10 and it has no replay value.”
- “- No replay value”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being very buggy, with players reporting issues such as getting stuck in environments and encountering strange graphical glitches, like unexpected bright objects appearing in the game world.
- “Cons: very buggy - I got stuck on a staircase for a few minutes. I walked into a room and saw a random 'bright pink square' in the middle of the floor.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that the emotional impact of the game can be overwhelming, with some feeling discomfort or nausea, and there are mentions of a perceived lag that detracts from the experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is characterized by the lighthearted banter between the two observers, who provide playful suggestions and critiques based on their experiences, adding a layer of comedic interaction to the gameplay.
- “The two characters watching often chime in with hilarious suggestions or witty criticisms about your choices, adding a delightful layer of humor to the experience.”
- “The humor in the game shines through the interactions between the characters, making even the simplest moments entertaining.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor through the dialogue, keeping the atmosphere light and enjoyable while you play.”