Lakeview Cabin Collection
- March 24, 2015
- Roope Tamminen
Lakeview Cabin Collection is a pixel art horror game where you must survive successive waves of killers in 80's inspired settings. Each cabin has unique mechanics, weapons, and items to discover. With permadeath and limited resources, can you uncover the secrets of the Lakeview Cabins and escape the clutches of death?
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of classic horror movies with its campy atmosphere and humor.
- Each episode offers unique gameplay mechanics and challenges, providing a fresh experience.
- The pixel art style and sound design effectively create a nostalgic and creepy ambiance.
- The lack of clear instructions and tutorials can lead to confusion and frustration for players.
- Many puzzles require trial and error, which can be tedious and may necessitate the use of guides.
- The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay68 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the reviewed game series is polarizing, with some players finding it frustratingly cryptic and lacking clear direction, often requiring guides to navigate effectively. Others appreciate the unique sandbox mechanics and the challenge of solving puzzles, noting that while the gameplay can be difficult and sometimes unfair, it offers depth and encourages exploration. Overall, the game is recognized for its originality and engaging horror-themed elements, despite its steep learning curve and occasional mechanical issues.
“This is a sandbox puzzle game done really well; solutions aren't fixed, but are instead solved using the mechanics the items and the environment offers.”
“The lakeview cabin collection is an exploration of the world of cult horror movies through sandbox gameplay.”
“While it may look simple, the gameplay is actually pretty complex and requires planning, tactics, and timing.”
“I'd heard this was an interesting horror game series, but there's no real tutorial and the gameplay is impossible to figure out without a guide.”
“The gameplay makes absolutely no sense; I would recommend you read a walkthrough of one of the levels before purchasing because there is absolutely no indication given of what you are supposed to do at any given time, and even after reading a walkthrough, it still doesn't make sense.”
“The gameplay is so cryptic; the very level progression is flawed beyond repair.”
- humor58 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is a standout feature, blending absurdity and dark comedy with classic horror tropes, resulting in a quirky and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke laughter through its ridiculous scenarios and clever nods to 80s horror films, while still delivering genuine scares. Overall, it offers a unique mix of humor and horror that appeals to fans of both genres, making it a memorable and enjoyable title.
“Goofy and hilarious homage to just about anything related to classic slasher horror.”
“The detail in the game's environment is incredible; the author obviously thought of hundreds of things the player might try to do, with just as many hilarious ways to die as there are ingenious ways to win.”
“Lakeview Cabin combines the right amount of humor and scares for a challenging yet rewarding experience.”
- story53 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and complexity, weaving together various horror themes and references while offering a rich narrative experience across multiple episodes. Players appreciate the intricate lore and the challenge of piecing together the plot through environmental storytelling and hidden secrets, although some find the narrative convoluted and occasionally repetitive. Overall, the story is seen as a standout feature that enhances the gameplay, despite some technical issues that can detract from the experience.
“A small gem from the old YouTube horror let's play era, it's got a cool story spanning all games, good puzzles, and neat references.”
“The story is what I would like to know.”
“This game is simply awesome, the gameplay, the graphics which are perfect for this kind of horror game, the mystery behind the story of each chapter, the references to old horror movies; this is the most incredible indie game I have ever played.”
“It's a pretty fun game, but some episodes suffer from bugs and it also suffers from the 'not knowing when to stop the plot twist' problem.”
“Really dumb game with no actual gameplay value; the 'story' is mysterious, but I have no idea who would like this sort of game.”
“To thoroughly enjoy this game, you must have an imagination to craft a story for these characters, who are basically blank canvases meant to have a personality crafted for them by the player.”
- graphics52 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming retro pixel art style, which effectively contributes to the overall atmosphere and humor, despite some players finding them simplistic or lacking detail. Many reviewers appreciate the attention to detail and the immersive quality of the visuals, which enhance the horror-comedy theme, while others note that the graphics align well with the game's nostalgic homage to classic horror films. Overall, the pixelated graphics are seen as a fitting choice for the game's tone, even if they may not appeal to everyone.
“Brilliant aesthetic and atmosphere.”
“The pixel art style in this game is absolutely beautiful, especially shining through in the 3rd level.”
“The level of detail for pixel graphics and the sound is impressive.”
“The controls are awkward, the graphics are just sad (yeah, I know, it's a pixelated homage to the old days, but the palette and screen composition also sucks) and there is no narration of any kind.”
“Lakeview is nothin' but bare-bones pixel graphics.”
“All in all, Lakeview is a pretty fun game that has a surprising amount of depth and gameplay, albeit with it lacking in graphics and being incredibly difficult.”
- atmosphere32 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and creepy qualities, effectively capturing the essence of classic horror films through its art style, music, and immersive environments. Players appreciate the game's ability to create tension and a sense of dread without relying solely on jump scares, although some noted that the atmosphere can diminish over time. Overall, the game is described as oozing with atmosphere, making it a compelling choice for fans of spooky and atmospheric gameplay.
“Brilliant aesthetic and atmosphere.”
“The game is oozing with atmosphere.”
“After the initial atmosphere wore off, I found myself more irritated with the episodes than entertained.”
“Maybe I'd feel differently if I had time to goof around, or a clear way to trigger the monster/killer portion of it, or had gotten more of the atmosphere.”
“It creates a tangible and tense atmosphere.”
- music23 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the overall experience, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the pixelated art style and horror-comedy theme. Reviewers highlight the haunting and perfectly timed musical cues that evoke a sense of dread and nostalgia, reminiscent of classic horror soundtracks. Overall, the sound design, including both music and effects, is considered a standout feature that elevates the gameplay.
“The music is great and really adds to the whole experience.”
“The art style is cute and the music really elevates the game from just being fun to feeling immersive like watching a movie.”
“The well-placed musical stings perfectly accent the aural ambience that gives every part of this collection of micro-terror titles a constant sense of dread and suspense.”
“As such, it's nothing you'll want to play in your car on the way to work--no more than any other horror soundtrack.”
“...and that there's no soundtrack.”
“Back ground music, atmosphere are just fine.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its high replayability, featuring randomization in episodes, diverse gameplay mechanics, and numerous ways to engage with enemies, which encourages players to return frequently. While some users note a lack of compelling elements that draw them back consistently, many highlight the fun, humor, and varied experiences that contribute to its replay value. Overall, it offers a rich sandbox environment with alternate endings and easter eggs that enhance the replay experience.
“Randomization to some of the episodes, along with numerous ways to injure and kill your enemies, allows for replayability to see what you can come up with.”
“Really fun game, lots of replayability, tons of different stuff to do, fun art style, nice references to old horror movies.”
“The easter egg achievement and alternate endings add good replayability.”
“Sure, it's got some replay value; I come back to this game every so often, but there's nothing that truly draws you in.”
“The only downside is that it's low in replayability.”
“The second episode feels like an entirely different game, due to the fact that the creator chose to go with a Texas Chainsaw Massacre approach instead of his usual Friday the 13th feel, but still proves to be as incredibly, if not even more, replayable.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, break levels, and hinder progress. While some appreciate the concept and atmosphere, the frequent technical issues detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and a lack of recommendation from many players.
“Steaming pile of buggy shit that almost never works. Do not recommend.”
“The 5th game is an exception; it has goals, puzzles, and a story, but it's sadly buggy (sometimes game-breaking so - I had to reset a few times as the 'marks' didn't change for me/a key didn't seem to spawn).”
“Glitches and bugs can completely ruin levels or lead to cheap deaths.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is a significant drawback, with players noting that it often feels overly tedious and reliant on trial and error. The levels are described as long and frustrating, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the puzzle horror experience.
“So here is where the main problem with the game arises: the game could be renamed to 'Padding City: The Paddening', because all of it relies on overly long and tedious levels with nothing but trial and error and fighting with the game's finicky controls and inconsistent logic.”
“A pretty fun if extremely tedious and at times frustrating puzzle horror game.”
“The entire fifth 'movie' is rather tedious with its puzzles.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the emotional impact of certain games can be significant, with some players expressing that they find the psychological tension and fear too intense, leading to lasting emotional effects. Additionally, there are concerns about the portrayal of emotional strength in characters, suggesting that some players feel certain demographics may struggle with the emotional weight of these experiences.
“I don't usually go for games like Slender, Five Nights at Freddy's, etc., because of the emotional scarring I got from Clock Tower.”