Last Days of Lazarus
- June 22, 2022
- GrimTalin
The battle of good and evil will be Lazarus's final challenge.
"Last Days of Lazarus" is a narrative-driven, atmospheric horror game set in a small, isolated village. As the player, you'll uncover the dark secrets of the town and its inhabitants while trying to survive and escape the supernatural horrors that lurk. The game features a unique art style, puzzles, and a haunting soundtrack to immerse you in its chilling world.
Reviews
- The game features fantastic graphics and detailed level design, creating a visually stunning experience.
- The story is intriguing and immersive, blending elements of horror, mystery, and religious themes effectively.
- Exploration is rewarded with collectibles and achievements, enhancing replayability and engagement.
- Character animations are lacking, with no facial movements and stationary poses, detracting from immersion.
- Some gameplay elements can be confusing, leading to aimless wandering and frustration when trying to progress.
- The voice acting is inconsistent, with some performances feeling amateurish and detracting from the overall experience.
- story150 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a complex blend of surrealism and religious themes, often described as confusing yet engaging, with a mix of humor and darker elements. While some players appreciated its unique narrative and emotional depth, others found it disjointed and lacking coherence, with pacing issues and unexplained plot points detracting from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, many reviewers noted the captivating atmosphere and intriguing character arcs, making it a memorable, if polarizing, journey.
“The story is amazing.”
“I found the story compelling, the music was beautiful, all in all a pleasant enough experience.”
“I highly recommend this to those who enjoy a twisting story that mixes a bit of mystery, horror, religious themes, and a man in search of the truth.”
“The story is confusing and awfully told.”
“Story-wise, this game is incredibly confused and appears to have been written in segments by separate groups without communication between any of them.”
“The story is all over the place and hardly makes sense.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising their beauty, detail, and vibrant colors, often describing them as superb or fantastic. However, some critiques highlight issues such as poor animation, excessive visual effects, and a lack of coherence in certain elements. Overall, while the visuals are a strong point for many players, there are notable inconsistencies that detract from the overall experience.
“The graphics are brilliant and the story was very captivating.”
“The graphics are quite beautiful; it is clear a lot of time and effort went into creating this game, and this part comes off as the main focus of the project.”
“Superbly beautiful graphics, animation, and environments... so much to look at, and it's all so very detailed.”
“Poorly coded, made PC fans run like crazy the entire time even though the graphics are nothing to write home about - they are vibrant, that's all, but people are not animated, they speak with their mouths shut, etc. The voice for the devil was funny because he was pronouncing everything with 'sh' instead of 's.'”
“I'm sure the author had a solid story to tell; it's a shame the graphics team couldn't pull it off.”
“Also buggy, the 'gore' looks like a post-Chipotle artwork.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for being fun, fluid, and well-paced, effectively complementing the engaging narrative without overshadowing it. Players appreciate the lack of forced mechanics, allowing for a more immersive experience akin to a 3D point-and-click adventure, with puzzles that are accessible yet satisfying. Overall, the gameplay strikes a balance between challenge and ease, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the story and atmosphere.
“The gameplay was fluid and unobtrusive, and I was able to keep the game’s events at the front of my mind, pondering their horror and wondering what would happen next.”
“The gameplay propelled me forward nicely, complementing and never overshadowing the narrative’s momentum.”
“No forced gameplay elements like running, hiding, shooting, etc. - just a captivating doomsday tale with excellent atmosphere and graphics... very recommendable...”
“The gameplay doesn't have as much horror as it may originally seem, playing more like a 1st person point and click adventure, only in 3D.”
“Puzzles are mostly 'find and use' with a handful of mechanical exercises that were not too difficult.”
“Gameplay fares better than most walking simulators, as this game basically lets you jog around and not waste time.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics and immersive environments, which encourage players to explore rather than rush through the story. Reviewers highlight the captivating doomsday narrative and the haunting ambiance, particularly in religious settings, making it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling. Overall, the game is recommended for its unique and engaging atmosphere, earning high marks from players.
“Usually when I play first-person story games, I'm just racing to the end, but because the atmosphere and surroundings were so beautifully rendered, I enjoyed taking my time looking for items and objects to interact with.”
“Interesting and immersive story, great atmosphere, it kept me glued to the screen till I finished it.”
“As much as I enjoyed the game and the sinister spooky atmosphere, I found myself in awe every time I was in a church, cathedral, or prayer booth.”
“As much as I enjoyed the game and the sinister, spooky atmosphere, I found myself in awe every time I was in a church, cathedral, or prayer booth.”
“Really like the atmosphere in this game.”
- music18 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beautiful and haunting qualities, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the compelling storyline. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is well-crafted, with particular emphasis on the emotional impact of the end credits song, which features a heartfelt performance by the developer's mother. Overall, the combination of sound and music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere and narrative depth.
“A good soundtrack and a surreal storyline.”
“I found the story compelling, the music was beautiful, all in all a pleasant enough experience.”
“The story as a whole was very good, combined with the music towards the end of the game it became very powerful for me at least.”
“Not to mention the developers' statement on Facebook: 'We were moved by my mom's interpretation while recording the end credits song for Last Days of Lazarus.'”
“- appropriate (and at times haunting) incidental music”
“To end on a positive note, I did not encounter any bugs and the soundtrack isn't too bad.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and randomness, often eliciting laughter through unexpected moments and quirky character interactions, such as the devil's amusing speech pattern. While the graphics are vibrant, the lack of animation and awkward presentation contribute to a goofy charm that some players find entertaining. Overall, the humor is hit-or-miss but can lead to genuine amusement in its most bizarre instances.
“They're some of the moments that are so absurd that it made me laugh.”
“All of them appear at random and some just magically appear (you'll know what I mean if you play the game) causing a 'how the heck did you get here?' response, and it is hilariously goofy.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a poignant journey that blends sadness and upliftment, particularly through the struggles of Lazarus, who grapples with his responsibilities and the emotional needs of his family. The narrative features touching moments and dark revelations that deepen the characters' complexities, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates with players.
“It's sad, uplifting, and the journey from where you start to the end is very heartfelt.”
“The eldest son Lazarus left the country and now does likely criminal work to support his family back home, but he seldom visits and doesn’t provide the emotional support his mother and sister need.”
“I also liked how some parts of the story in the last days of Lazarus referenced the story of Gray Dawn to tie up some of the loose ends, and there are touching emotional moments in the game as well as horrifying reveals of the dark secrets some of the characters have hidden in their life.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable, with optional puzzles for collectibles that enhance the experience without feeling tedious. However, some users noted moments where cutscenes and dialogue lacked clear guidance, leading to frustration in progressing. Overall, the game is considered enjoyable with minimal grinding issues.
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs and scripting glitches that can hinder gameplay, such as items not appearing when needed and doors sealing unexpectedly. Overall, these problems detract from the overall experience.
“There are also some scripting glitches, like one where I hadn't seen an item I needed to take with me down to a basement area, and once I got down there, the door sealed behind me.”
“Also buggy, the 'gore' looks like a post-Chipotle artwork.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the game's replayability, noting that it is structured in chapters, which allows for easy revisiting of specific sections. This design choice enhances the overall experience by making it convenient to replay parts of the game.
“The game is divided into chapters, making it easy to replay specific sections.”
“The chapter-based structure enhances replayability, allowing players to revisit their favorite moments.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have reported inconsistent optimization, experiencing stuttering and lag after an initial smooth gameplay period of a few hours. This inconsistency has led to frustration among users, highlighting a need for better performance stability.
“For some reason, the game just kept stuttering and lagging when I was able to play the first 3 hours without an issue.”