Kidnapped
- May 10, 2014
- Gavin Powell
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Kidnapped" is a single-player horror action game with pretty visuals and a dense atmosphere, although it is full of bugs. As Sebastian Lee, you explore a terrifying manor and other environments from 1992 Scotland to uncover the mystery of your captivity. The game features a dynamic changing world and atmospheric environments to unnerve the player throughout the story-driven adventure.
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Reviews
- The story is gripping and keeps players motivated to continue through the game.
- The atmosphere is well-crafted, with eerie soundscapes and some effective jump scares.
- For its low price, the game offers a decent amount of gameplay and can be enjoyable if approached with the right expectations.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.
- Gameplay mechanics are poorly designed, particularly the combat and inventory systems, which can lead to frustration.
- The quality of the graphics and overall polish is lacking, making it feel like an unfinished product.
- story53 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it gripping and engaging enough to motivate them through the gameplay, while others criticize it as poorly executed, confusing, or nonsensical. Many appreciate the narrative's potential and atmosphere, but feel it suffers from a lack of coherence and depth, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, while some players recommend it for its story, others caution against expecting a well-structured plot.
“The narrative that takes place between levels is also very well done, in both writing technique and voice acting; to top it off, the story is actually worth paying attention to.”
“If you're looking for a game just for the story and exploration, then this is it.”
“Genuinely creepy in places and not too bad of a story.”
“It looks like randomly cobbled together assets; the story is lacking, and the puzzles do not make any sense.”
“Its 'story' is a jumbled up mish-mash of everything wrong with non-linear narratives, and is boring and unengaging on top of that.”
“The whole plot is just nonsense; the game claims that this is generally a story of kidnaps, so I assume the plot is that there's a sect or just an insane, mutated person who are responsible for every disappearance on planet Earth.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its creepiness and suspenseful design, with effective sound effects and eerie visuals that enhance the horror experience. However, some players note that the atmosphere can become dull or inconsistent, particularly in later chapters, where the introduction of gun mechanics detracts from the tension. Overall, while the initial levels create a strong sense of foreboding, the game's ability to maintain this atmosphere throughout is mixed.
“The atmosphere is great, the changing corridors confuse in a nice way, spooky sounds and unexpected happenings.”
“The atmospheric sound effects of breathing, swelling, and dark mansion ambience do at least give the impression that something is waiting around every corner...”
“The eerie sounds like the faint giggling of children and the pitter-patter of rain against the roof add to the creepy atmosphere of the game.”
“The controls feel stiff, the scares are few and far between, and even then, aren't much, and the atmosphere is so dull you probably couldn't even cut butter with it.”
“Horror games these days often miss one of the most important elements of a horror game: atmosphere.”
“Chapters two and three were the low points; gun use sort of ruined the atmosphere.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the poor mechanics, particularly the broken shooting system and numerous glitches that detract from the experience. While some found the story engaging enough to recommend the game, others felt that the inconsistent gameplay and lack of polish made it a frustrating experience overall. Overall, the gameplay is seen as unrefined and buggy, leading to a lack of enjoyment for many players.
“Liked the story and the gameplay, recommend!”
“Gameplay for me was around 3 hours to complete.”
“It's a fun mechanic and I was really getting into it.”
“They type of game seems to change randomly in each chapter, making it feel like some sort of mismatched story pieces strung together with little continuing gameplay.”
“I recommend playing something else; this game is buggy with unpolished gameplay.”
“Once the broken shooting mechanics and numerous gameplay glitches kick in, you're in for a miserable slog.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmospheric effects and style choices, while others criticized technical issues like floating objects and poor quality. Many emphasized that while the graphics may not be top-tier, they can still effectively contribute to the game's mood. Ultimately, the consensus suggests that graphics are not the primary focus for all players, as they prioritize story and gameplay over visual fidelity.
“Pretty amazing graphics for such a cheap game, and I love the pentagrams.”
“The graphics aren't big league good, but they do a great job of painting a foreboding atmosphere.”
“Decent graphics with light and shadow looking really nice.”
“Poor graphics and goofy attempts at jump scares.”
“Graphics are good, storyline is godawful and cheesy as hell.”
- stability10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, such as characters getting stuck, lagging, and unresponsive mechanics. Players have reported that achievements are often ununlockable, and the lack of updates since 2015 suggests the developers may have abandoned the game. Overall, the experience is marred by unpolished gameplay and frustrating technical problems.
“Game is overall buggy. If you're hunting for achievements, don't buy this; they are all bugged and will not unlock. The last update was August 14, 2015, so I assume the dev has abandoned the game.”
“I understand that making a game takes a lot of effort, but there were so many glitches of getting caught on edges of the environment that didn't make sense, or trying to run just to suddenly stop moving.”
“Once the broken shooting mechanics and numerous gameplay glitches kick in, you're in for a miserable slog.”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it decent and fitting for the atmosphere, while others describe it as unremarkable or even annoying. While certain elements of the soundtrack and sound effects are praised for enhancing the experience, overall, the music does not leave a strong impression on many players.
“The soundtrack is perfect for a game like this.”
“One positive note: the music and creepy sounds really deliver.”
“Interesting, looks decent initially, controls are pretty good as is sound and music in my opinion.”
“The music and general sound effects are lacking.”
“The sound and music that hurt the players' ears aren't scary, but rather annoying.”
“Music was kind of blah.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find enjoyment in retro references and the absurdity of poorly executed animations, others feel that the overwhelming challenges detract from the comedic elements. Overall, the humor can be hit-or-miss, with some aspects being entertaining despite the game's flaws.
“Exploration is fun and there are some funny retro references thrown around.”
“Should've bought Sonic Boom - at least in that one, the faults and horribleness are humorous and entertaining.”
“Enemy AI was non-existent and animations were trash tier but funny.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its poor optimization, with players reporting significant performance issues, including random drops in framerate that render it unplayable. Overall, it appears that the game is not ready for release in its current state.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
“I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimization, making the game run seamlessly across various platforms.”
“The game runs beautifully after the latest optimization patch, significantly improving the overall experience.”
“I had some performance issues where the framerate would just tank at random times.”
“The game struggles to maintain a stable framerate, especially in crowded areas.”
“Optimization seems to be an afterthought, as I frequently experience lag and stuttering.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game, particularly feeling a sense of dissatisfaction or discomfort upon completion, indicating that the game's conclusion left a lasting impact on their overall experience.
“The emotional depth of this game left a lasting impact on me long after I finished playing.”
“I was genuinely moved by the story and the characters; it felt like I was part of their journey.”
“The game evoked a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, making it a truly unforgettable experience.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing various modes, branching storylines, and unlockable content that encourage multiple playthroughs. Many appreciate the dynamic gameplay elements that change with each session, enhancing the overall experience. However, some feel that certain aspects may become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing long-term engagement.
“The replay value of this game is incredible; every playthrough feels fresh and engaging.”
“I love how each decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay the game multiple times.”
“With various character builds and story paths, the replayability keeps me coming back for more.”
“The game lacks significant replay value; once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
“After finishing the game, I found that the choices I made had minimal impact on the outcome, which really diminished the replayability for me.”
“While the game is enjoyable the first time through, I don't see myself wanting to play it again since there are no new experiences to uncover.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, with combat described as poor and hunting activities feeling tedious and unenjoyable.
“The combat, if you want to call it that, was atrocious and the hunting was tedious; easily my least favorite part of this game.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore, making the game more of a slog than an enjoyable experience.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding takes away from the overall enjoyment, turning what could be exciting gameplay into a monotonous task.”
