Lighthouse Keeper
- November 22, 2020
- Nikita Kaf
Get on Steam"Lighthouse Keeper" is a short, artistic visual novel that explores the psychological experiences of a lighthouse keeper during his twenty-year shift. With a unique graphic style, voice acting, and authentic audio solutions, players can uncover two alternative endings in this 10-15 minute game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The unique 1-bit graphics create an evocative atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
- The writing and themes explore loneliness and obsession in a compelling way, making for an interesting narrative experience.
- At its low price point, the game offers a brief yet intriguing experience that may appeal to fans of experimental storytelling.
- The English voice acting is often distracting due to mispronunciations and a lack of immersion.
- The game is extremely short, with only about 10-15 minutes of content, which may leave players wanting more.
- Many players feel it lacks depth and gameplay, resembling more of a short film than a traditional game.
- story38 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as interesting and captivating, often described as a short, interactive narrative that explores themes of loneliness and routine. However, many reviewers criticize the voice acting and visuals, which detract from the overall experience, leading some to feel that the game lacks depth and could have benefited from a more engaging gameplay style. While it offers a unique storytelling approach, it is often seen more as a brief narrative experience than a traditional game.
“Short game but tells an interesting and captivating story that has a hint of darkness to it.”
“Lighthouse keeper is a lonely, fascinating story that will leave you wondering about how you view where you are in life and your relationship with your world.”
“Well-written little story with somewhat oppressive atmosphere.”
“As far as I understand the story, it isn't doing much new or well, either.”
“It's okay for what it is, but in the genre the game is in, the story is pretty much the most important piece of the puzzle, so I'd expect something better.”
“Unfortunately, in practice it's not a game, but only an automatic story, told by a narrator using several animations and pictures.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and stylish pixel art, creating an eerie and atmospheric experience. Many reviewers appreciate the monochromatic and retro-inspired visuals, which enhance the storytelling, although some feel that the limited interactivity detracts from the overall engagement. Overall, the art style is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite its short narrative format.
“The visuals, in my opinion, really make this game nice looking and unique.”
“Very cool and unique art style.”
“The music and the sounds complete the unsettling atmosphere, the writing is good, and the visuals are unique.”
“Is this 1-bit graphics?”
“Instead of accentuating the emotion, it instead makes the game as a whole feel underwhelming as you watch repeated visuals and don't feel like an important factor of the experience.”
“I played through this game 3-4 times and still couldn't properly adjust to the visuals; I was unsure about the story and the achievements were truly the only reason I completed the game.”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark, eerie, and melancholic qualities, enhanced by stark visuals, somber music, and a haunting voice performance. Players appreciate the immersive experience that evokes feelings of loneliness and madness, with many noting the effective use of sound and storytelling to create a compelling emotional depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature, earning high marks from reviewers.
“Interesting and well written, good visuals and eerie atmosphere.”
“Simple graphic expression, storytelling voice, experimental game style all help create an atmosphere of loneliness.”
“The music and the sounds complete the unsettling atmosphere, the writing is good, and the visuals are unique.”
“Simple graphic expression, storytelling voice, and experimental game style all help create an atmosphere of loneliness.”
“- Stark visuals, droning voice, and somber music create a thick, eerie atmosphere.”
“[i]Lighthouse keeper[/i] is more about atmosphere, immersing the player in a feeling of intense melancholy, loneliness, and a bit of madness.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an eerie and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite the game's short length. Reviewers highlight the fantastic soundtrack and sound effects, which complement the unique visuals and contribute to a somber, unsettling tone. Overall, the music is considered a standout element that enriches the gameplay, even if the interaction is minimal.
“The music and the sounds complete the unsettling atmosphere, the writing is good, and the visuals are unique.”
“It is very short - I got every achievement in twenty minutes, and spent an extra five meditating to the music (which is fantastic) - but it is also extremely cheap.”
“Music and sound effects are also good, and add to the bleak, lonely atmosphere.”
“The music and the sounds complete the unsettling atmosphere; the writing is good, and the visuals are unique.”
“- Stark visuals, droning voice, and somber music create a thick, eerie atmosphere.”
“And maybe one day Nikita Kaf would manage to create another visual novel that takes more than a couple of minutes to complete, so that I can actually immerse myself in it and listen to the unproportionally long soundtrack of his games.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its sardonic tone and unintentional comedic moments, particularly highlighted by the amusing voice acting and the actor's humorous mispronunciations. Players find the experience laugh-out-loud funny, despite the game's brevity and limited endings.
“Which is funny in a sardonic way.”
“I found the voice acting to be very funny, which isn't the intent, but that made the game hilarious.”
“Only has 2 endings, takes less than 15 minutes to go through if you can do it without laughing for several minutes at the voice actor literally guessing at how to pronounce words like 'calendar' and 'both'.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel format with some point-and-click puzzles, but it is considered basic and lacks a save mechanic. While the plot is intriguing, many players feel it could have been enhanced with a more engaging gameplay style. Overall, the experience is short and may leave players feeling unfulfilled.
“The plot is really interesting and could have been developed in a much more pleasant way with a different style of gameplay.”
“I finished the game and didn't even realize.”
“Gameplay is simply visual novel style with two point-and-click puzzles added.”
“To be honest, I didn't listen to the audio aspect of the game as it didn't interest me. Also, there's no save mechanic in the game since it's relatively short; the gameplay was basic in the end.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with achievements that feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience, despite an interesting story. Additionally, the subpar voice acting detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“The story is interesting, but it's hard to look at; the voice acting is not very good, and the achievements are just tedious.”
“Grinding feels like a never-ending chore that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
“The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel more like a job than a fun gaming experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers highlight that the narrator's emotional strain enhances the storytelling, making the narrative's purpose more compelling and heartfelt.
“The strain of the narrator's telling of the story made their purpose wonderfully compelling and more heartfelt.”
