LOCKED
- December 14, 2023
- Grumpy Pony
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Locked" is a horror-themed 2D side-scrolling game, where you play as Debbie, trying to escape a serial killer's basement by solving intricate puzzles. This intense, gripping experience is inspired by classic horror movies and games of the PS1/PS2 era, featuring high-resolution 2D graphics and a chilling atmosphere. The goal is to unravel the lair's mysteries and unlock the path to freedom.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a unique and appealing art style that combines cartoony graphics with dark themes, reminiscent of classic flash games.
- Despite its short runtime of 1-2 hours, the game offers engaging puzzle mechanics and a fun escape room experience that feels rewarding.
- The atmosphere is effectively creepy, and the game successfully creates tension as players navigate the killer's house while solving puzzles.
- The controls can be clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay moments where actions do not register as expected.
- The game suffers from bugs and technical issues, including crashes and instances of getting soft-locked, which can disrupt the experience.
- The enemy AI can be overly intrusive, making it difficult to progress and often leading to cheap deaths that feel unfair.
- story9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around an unnamed woman trapped by a serial killer named Frantz, and while the cartoony graphics complement the dark themes, the narrative itself is considered underwhelming and simplistic. Players engage in typical escape mechanics, with minimal depth to the plot and a lack of substantial character development or mystery. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a missed opportunity, with many achievements tied to basic progression rather than meaningful narrative exploration.
“The well-crafted cartoony graphics do not clash with the dark subject matter of the game and underline the few surreal aspects of the story.”
“The backgrounds are nice as well and filled with a little story of what has happened before you became trapped.”
“Good storytelling with puzzles.”
“The story itself is nothing to write home about; you are an unnamed woman who was captured, undressed (but not naked, this is not that kind of game), and locked up by a serial killer named Frantz, from whose house you now have to escape.”
“While this is a bit weird story-wise (how did Frantz put you in this room when he can’t enter it?), there is a bigger problem going on with your one and only opponent.”
“The usual stuff: find an item, open a door, hide, figure out how to escape, etc. There are some hints of a creepy mystery, but nothing more in terms of story.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a well-crafted cartoony art style that effectively complements its dark themes and surreal elements, reminiscent of early 2000s flash games. This unique visual approach, combined with simple yet engaging design, enhances the overall experience while adding a touch of nostalgia.
“I thought the art style of the game was simple and good, and it reminded me of some 2000's flash games with a mix of good 3D.”
“Simple and interesting graphics style, a little bit of gore.”
“This in combination with the cartoony graphics and the 2D gameplay actually reminds me of old flash games, specifically the point-and-click game 'Free Ice Cream', in which a child has to escape the house of a serial killer.”
“The well-crafted cartoony graphics do not clash with the dark subject matter of the game and underline the few surreal aspects of the story.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay of [i]locked[/i] is primarily puzzle-based, featuring a simplistic and nostalgic 2D style reminiscent of old flash games. While it offers some engaging moments, players have noted frustrations with certain mechanics and unexpected challenges that detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings about its value.
“There are also two situations near the end where I was killed by Frantz because of temporary changes in the gameplay, but to be honest, I could have seen them coming, so this is partly on me.”
“At its core, [i]locked[/i] is a puzzle game, but the gameplay, much like our player character, is very stripped down.”
“I hate to thumbs down an obvious solo project, but the frustrating gameplay really isn't worth the cheap price of admission.”
“There are also two situations near the end, where I was killed by Frantz because of temporary changes in the gameplay, but to be honest, I could have seen them coming, so this is partly on me.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be poorly optimized for keyboard controls, with users experiencing issues such as the inability to use the action key effectively.
“Not really optimized for keyboard; can't use the action key.”
“The game suffers from severe performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
“Loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the overall experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is enjoyable and has a creepy atmosphere, but it suffers from numerous bugs that affect its stability.
“Fun creepy game, but it is very buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the gameplay.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's dark atmosphere is generally well-received, though some players feel that certain shock elements, such as nudity, are unnecessary and detract from the overall experience.
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, as the tasks required to progress are repetitive and unenjoyable, despite the game's relatively short length.
“Technically, you just do a few things and that's the end of the game, but actually doing those things is tedious and annoying.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became frustrating and unfulfilling.”
