Le Dernier Don
- May 13, 2024
- Warpboy9
In "LE DERNIER DON", you play as Lucie, a young orphan at the end of the First World War, in France. After disobeying the mistress at the orphanage she resides in, she gets thrown into the broom closet to spend the night, whilst the rest of the children celebrate the end of the war. As she breaks out from isolation, discover what sinister secrets are being held in this scary and stressf…
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and atmosphere, making it a visually stunning experience for a student project.
- The creature designs and overall art direction are highly praised, contributing to a unique and engaging horror experience.
- Despite its short length, the game leaves players wanting more, indicating strong potential for a full-length version.
- The game suffers from optimization issues, causing lag and performance problems even on capable hardware.
- Many players found the game too short, with playtime averaging around 15 minutes, leaving them wanting a more substantial experience.
- The lack of graphics settings and brightness adjustments made it difficult for some players to fully enjoy the game due to visibility issues.
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 84 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, with many reviewers noting its impressive sound design, detailed environments, and strong narrative elements. Despite being a short experience, it effectively creates a tense and creepy mood that rivals larger titles, leaving players eager for more content. Overall, the game's atmospheric execution stands out, especially considering its origins as a student project.
“Great atmosphere, detail and surprises!”
“The atmosphere was really engaging, and I'd love for it to be a full game.”
“The atmosphere is amazing... the sound design constantly making you look back behind you... because you never truly feel like you're in a safe place.”
“I wanted more of the atmosphere, and I wish that this was longer.”
“It may be short, but for what it is, the atmosphere is there.”
“From the offset, Le Dernier Don creates an atmosphere that rivals games such as BioShock, Alone in the Dark, and Layers of Fear.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the beautiful visuals, atmospheric design, and impressive creature artwork. However, some players expressed frustration over the lack of graphics settings and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's visuals contribute significantly to its immersive and chilling experience.
“10/10 graphics, I wish for this to be a full-scale game.”
“Great graphics (looks excellent on an OLED monitor), creature design, and sound.”
“Very atmospheric game, the graphics are amazing for a project of this size and the gore looks... gory.”
“Well done artwork and scenery but unplayable in my case...”
“No graphics options, unplayable on hardware that still meets the minimum requirements.”
“I would have loved to see more graphics settings (if I missed them, my bad). My toaster was really struggling to play the game.”
- story16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its engaging plot and atmospheric elements, with many reviewers noting its intensity and unique horror style. While the narrative is described as rich and well-crafted, some players express a desire for a longer and more developed storyline. Overall, the storytelling is considered impressive, especially for a short interactive experience, leaving players eager for potential expansions in the future.
“The story is rich and intense, and the visuals are visceral.”
“A very short but wonderfully crafted interactive horror short story.”
“Super impressive for a student project, great designs, creepy atmosphere and cool story.”
“Bad optimization, and really shouldn't be a paid game, not unless it gets a lengthier story to it.”
“Great atmosphere and characters, but the story is too small.”
“Other than that, I hope that you expand the story and universe in the future.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a great environment and good atmosphere, complemented by a simplistic design that appeals to players. Many users have shared their gameplay experiences through various platforms, highlighting the engaging nature of the game.
“Great environment, good atmosphere, and very simplistic gameplay!”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant stuttering and a lack of video settings, making it feel unfinished for a paid title. While some players still find it enjoyable and hope for improvements in future updates, the overall consensus is that the optimization issues detract from the experience.
“Great game, but it needs some updates for better optimization. I hope you finish the full game.”
“There are obvious critiques such as optimization and character models, but I expect these issues to be resolved if this becomes a full game.”
“Bad optimization, and really shouldn't be a paid game, not unless it gets a lengthier story to it.”
“Optimization is abysmal and there are no video settings!”
“The game is not optimized fully and has some stuttering, but it is still playable.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the humor in horror-themed games and movies often stems from the absurdity of the situations and characters, with elements like exaggerated gore and comically portrayed villains contributing to a lighthearted tone. The use of French language is noted to add an amusing layer to the overall experience.
“I didn't see anything that would scare me; it's just guts everywhere and somewhat silly, even funny-looking 'bad guys'.”
“Also, French sounds funny in horror-themed games and movies!”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been heavily criticized, with users reporting significant freezing and lag issues that affect overall computer performance, even on high-spec machines.
“The game frequently freezes and lags my entire computer.”
“I experience constant crashes that make it unplayable.”
“The stability issues are so severe that I can't progress in the game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its unique and imaginative designs, with some characters featuring particularly eccentric and unconventional appearances that stand out.
“The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, making each character feel unique and memorable.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their backstories and motivations being revealed in a compelling way.”
“The growth of the characters is not only believable but also adds significant emotional weight to the overall narrative.”
“Some of the character designs are absolutely bonkers.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
“I found it hard to connect with the characters due to their one-dimensional personalities.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight the orphanage's design as a significant emotional element, effectively immersing players in the haunting atmosphere of a bygone era, evoking feelings of nostalgia and melancholy as they explore its remnants.
“The orphanage itself is designed very well and made me feel like I was perusing through the remnants of an old turn-of-the-century building.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The music in the game primarily consists of license-free old-timey tracks featured on the radio, while most other audio elements are reportedly created from scratch.
“I think just about everything is made from scratch, apart from the license-free old-timey music on the radio and the stock art assets for the framed pictures on the walls.”
“The music feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The soundtrack doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”