LIRE
- March 24, 2021
- ZheroIsland
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamReveal the story behind the haunted mansion while looking for Sebastian. LIRE is a survival horror video game inspired by old horror RPG maker games "IB" and "The Witch's House".
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating atmosphere and engaging story that draws players in, reminiscent of classic RPGMaker horror games.
- The character design, particularly of Eve, is appealing, and the jump scares are effective, providing genuine moments of fright.
- The developer shows promise with ongoing updates and improvements, and players are excited for future chapters and content.
- The game is relatively short, with current gameplay lasting around 2-3 hours, which may leave players wanting more.
- There are several minor bugs and glitches, particularly with the inventory system and some interactions, which can disrupt gameplay.
- The puzzles are often too easy and straightforward, lacking the challenge that many players expect from survival horror games.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The story in Lire is described as a promising yet simple survival horror narrative centered around a girl searching for her cat in a creepy mansion. Players appreciate the atmospheric setting and the potential for deeper character development and plot progression as the game evolves, expressing eagerness to see how the story unfolds.
“I've enjoyed the story so far and look forward to seeing where it goes.”
“Lire (pronounced liʁɛ) is a quite promising mild survival horror, ghost story game about a girl ready to break into a creepy mansion just to find her cat (the routine for cat owners, of course).”
“The stage where the story takes place is atmospheric and scary, and the diary in the game is also terrifying.”
“It's a simple story to start with, but the RPG Maker horror games I played also started off with simple stories.”
“Lire teases such moments and hopefully will feature them in the future, once the ideas, story, and characters get more fleshed out.”
“Knowing that there is more of the game to come is great, though, as I want to carry on to find out more about the story.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its spooky and intense qualities, reminiscent of classic RPG Maker horror games. The inclusion of a diary enhances the eerie ambiance, contributing to a sense of dread and immersion. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be captivating and effectively unsettling, making it a strong draw for fans of the genre.
“The atmosphere is amazing, and the game can get intense in a matter of seconds.”
“While it's made on a completely different engine, Lire is able to capture the same fear-inducing atmosphere as RPG Maker horror games.”
“The stage where the story takes place is atmospheric and scary, and the diary in the game is also terrifying.”
“While it's made on a completely different engine, Lire is able to capture the same fear-inducing atmosphere as the RPG Maker horror games.”
“With a few more ambient sounds in some places, the atmosphere could quickly become overwhelming and tense.”
“I haven't gotten too far in it, but I love the atmosphere.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is noted for its interesting opportunities presented by the various types of ghosts, which enhance exploration and evoke a Resident Evil vibe.
“The different types of ghosts can make for some interesting gameplay opportunities when combined, and the exploration already captures some of that Resident Evil vibe.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are considered unpolished and clunky, with a surprising lack of cohesion given its use of Unreal Engine 4. The character design, particularly Eve's anime art style, feels out of place within the game's environments, leading to a disjointed visual experience.
“The game is a bit unpolished and clunky; the visuals are surprisingly underwhelming considering it's running on Unreal Engine 4.”
“Eve looks a bit out of place in the environments; her anime art style doesn't match well with the level design.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised for its beautiful design, particularly for the character Eve and several ghost characters, contributing to an immersive and visually appealing experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in both character and game design, enhancing their overall enjoyment despite the game's frightening moments.
“The character design for Eve is absolutely beautiful, as well as a few of the ghost designs!”
“The character design and game detail is also great, and though I have gotten scared a few times, I am really enjoying it!”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring significant time investment or a second playthrough to fully progress.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, while users reported some glitches, the developer is responsive to feedback and actively working on bug fixes, ensuring that these issues do not significantly impact gameplay.
“Although there were a few glitches, the developer was happy to receive this feedback to do bug fixes, and it does not make the game unplayable.”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music is characterized as both creepy and fantastic, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere.
“The music is creepy, but still fantastic.”
