Joana's Life
- August 31, 2016
- Old Shack Studio
Get on Steam"Joana's Life" is a suspenseful game set in a suburban town where a series of mysterious and gruesome deaths have occurred. Players are drawn into the mystery after finding an old, stained mirror in their home, which serves as a key mechanic in uncovering the truth. The game features a detailed game world, AI-populated environments, and a haunting atmosphere with an eerie soundtrack. As players progress, they must piece together clues and different perspectives to understand the horrors hidden behind the mirror.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a unique mechanic involving a mirror that adds an interesting twist to gameplay.
- It creates an eerie atmosphere and has effective jump scares that enhance the horror experience.
- Some players found joy and hope in the game during difficult times, highlighting its potential emotional impact.
- The game is plagued with bugs, glitches, and poor level design, making it frustrating to play.
- There is a lack of guidance and direction, leading to aimless wandering and confusion about objectives.
- Many players felt the game was unfinished and uninspired, with a story that fails to engage.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its inspirational themes and engaging narrative, while others criticize it for lacking coherence and direction. While a few highlight the emotional depth and connection to gameplay, many feel that the story is overshadowed by poor design choices and a lack of clarity, detracting from the overall experience.
“Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
“5 of 5: great story, great gameplay.”
“4 of 5: great story, average gameplay.”
“None of it makes any sense, and all semblance of story gets thrown out the window in favor of cheap jumpscares and nonsensical game design.”
“There's no real story here, not even a narrative, and it doesn't work as a haunted house type experience either, because there's little to no guidance.”
“As for the story and the world the game is in, I feel it needs more work.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a unique mechanic involving a mirror that reveals hidden elements behind the player, adding an intriguing layer to exploration. However, some players have noted challenges, particularly with navigating the environment, such as "exploring the house." Overall, the gameplay offers a mix of innovative mechanics and exploration hurdles.
“If you have time, I did a little gameplay without commentary.”
“I had this problem called 'exploring the house' during my gameplay.”
“The game has a fairly unique mechanic: you can use a mirror to see what's behind you, and it won't always be what you can see directly with your eyes.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely derived from the quirky NPCs and the absurdities of the expansive world, often leading to unintentionally funny moments that can disrupt gameplay. Players appreciate the comedic elements, particularly in the context of its bad horror game aesthetic, though some found the humor could lead to frustrating experiences requiring restarts.
“The NPCs and the vast outer world are pretty hilarious; I wish I could have progressed further in the game.”
“There were a few times I had to restart the game because it would do funny things.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often unrelated to the core gameplay, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall.
“My wife and I played through the game, and while we had a decent time in parts, other parts were tedious and unrelated to the gameplay.”
“Unfortunately, the game is rather tedious.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is noted for its calming and soothing qualities, providing a relaxing experience that can help players feel at ease.
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Joana's life is described as pleasant and immersive, contributing to an overall appealing experience.
“Joana's life looks quite nice and is very atmospheric.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from notable performance issues, including bugged scripts and triggers, which hinder overall optimization.
“On top of that, there are performance issues and bugged scripts and triggers.”
