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 black and white pixel art style creates an evocative atmosphere that enhances the themes of loneliness and obsession.
- The story, while short, is intriguing and offers a sardonic take on the life of a lighthouse keeper, with two different endings that provoke thought.
- The game is very affordable, making it a worthwhile experience for those interested in experimental narratives and visual novels.
- The English voice acting is often criticized for being distracting and poorly pronounced, which detracts from the overall immersion.
- The gameplay is minimal, with only two interactive moments and a very short runtime, leading some to feel it lacks depth and substance.
- Many players feel that the game is more of a short film than a traditional game, leaving them wanting more content and engagement.
- story76 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % 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 to a perception that it feels more like a narrated story than a traditional game. While some appreciate its unique storytelling approach, others feel it lacks depth and could have benefited from a more engaging gameplay style.
“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.”
“A short, concise, and well-made interactive audio-visual story.”
“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.”
- graphics62 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and stylish pixel art, creating an eerie atmosphere that complements the narrative. Many reviewers appreciate the monochromatic and retro-inspired visuals, noting that they enhance the storytelling experience, despite some criticism regarding the game's interactivity and pacing. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, making the game visually appealing and memorable.
“The visuals in my opinion really make this game nice looking and unique.”
“Honestly, very stylish and cool visuals though, kudos for that.”
“Short but interesting experience, the game has some really unique visuals that play well with the unreliable narrator and his fractured sense of self and world view.”
“I love the art style and the premise, but this seriously could've been a YouTube video and it would have made no difference.”
“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.”
- atmosphere28 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark, eerie, and melancholic qualities, effectively immersing players in a sense of loneliness and madness. The combination of stark visuals, somber music, and a compelling narrative creates a unique and unsettling experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the game's atmosphere is highlighted as a standout feature, earning high marks for its ability to evoke strong emotional responses.
“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.”
“Simple graphic expression, storytelling voice, 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.”
- music14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create an eerie and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience with its somber tones and unique sound design. While the game is short, many players found themselves captivated by the fantastic soundtrack, which complements the stark visuals and contributes to the unsettling ambiance. Overall, the music and sound effects are considered a strong point, adding depth to the game's bleak and lonely themes.
“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.”
“- Stark visuals, droning voice, and somber music create a thick eerie atmosphere.”
“Stark visuals, droning voice, and somber music create a thick eerie atmosphere.”
“The music and the sounds complete the unsettling atmosphere; the writing is good, and the visuals are unique.”
“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.”
- humor8 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 quirky pronunciation of words. Players find the experience hilariously entertaining, even if it wasn't the intended effect, making the short gameplay duration feel much longer due to laughter.
“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'.”
“Which is funny in a sardonic way.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel format with minimal point-and-click puzzles, resulting in a basic experience that lacks depth. Players noted the absence of a save mechanic and felt that the intriguing plot could have been better served with a more engaging gameplay style. Overall, the gameplay is straightforward and may leave players wanting more.
“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 as it's a relatively short game; the gameplay was basic in the end.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, with achievements that feel more like a chore than a rewarding experience. While the story has potential, the overall presentation detracts from the enjoyment, making the grind feel even more burdensome.
“The story is interesting, but it's hard to look at; the voice acting is not very good, and the achievements are just tedious.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the narrator's compelling storytelling, which adds depth and heart to the overall experience, making the player's connection to the narrative more profound.
“The strain of the narrator's telling of the story made their purpose wonderfully compelling and more heartfelt.”
