Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling
- March 9, 2023
- silver978
- 1h median play time
Get on Steam"Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling" is a first-person exploration game where players uncover the story of a missing scientist. Navigate through a research facility, solving puzzles and discovering clues to reveal the truth behind the disappearance. The game features a unique narrative, atmospheric visuals, and immersive sound design, providing a memorable experience for fans of the exploration genre.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Linux
Reviews
- The game features a charming art style and atmospheric music that enhances the overall experience.
- It effectively explores themes of stress and anxiety, resonating with players who can relate to the protagonist's struggles.
- The game is short but offers a meaningful narrative, making it a worthwhile experience for its low price.
- The writing can feel shallow and overly simplistic, lacking depth in character development and storytelling.
- Some players may find the game too short, leaving them wanting more content and exploration.
- The gameplay mechanics can be repetitive, with some interactions feeling tedious and not adding much to the experience.
- story162 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and relatability, particularly in addressing themes of stress and mental health, with many players appreciating its unique storytelling approach and beautiful art style. However, some critiques highlight that the narrative can feel simplistic or overly explicit, lacking the subtlety that could enhance its emotional impact. Overall, while the story is engaging and well-crafted, many players express a desire for a longer experience that could further explore its themes.
“I absolutely love how this short indie masterpiece has a much deeper and meaningful story than any recent Ubisoft game.”
“The story kept me on the edge of my seat and kind of hit harder than expected in my personal life.”
“The story of 'stress' was told uniquely and the message it gave was just lovely!”
“By the end of the DLC, the repetition kicks in, and the story loses some of its earlier impact.”
“The story feels senseless and lacks any sense of lore.”
“However, the game, being a short point & click visual novel, relies very heavily on its writing and story, and personally those aspects just didn't hold up to what I was expecting.”
- graphics81 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming hand-drawn art style, which combines cute and eerie elements to create a captivating atmosphere. Many players appreciate the aesthetic appeal and how it complements the game's narrative, despite its short playtime. Overall, the visuals are described as solid, artistically pleasing, and integral to the game's emotional impact.
“The visuals are made up of cute, hand-drawn illustrations.”
“I loved the art style; it fit the storyline perfectly, and I ended up taking many screenshots of it so I could look at them as I please.”
“I adore the art style and how it produced excellent atmospheres by using limited color palettes.”
“Graphics are solid and that’s it.”
“The art style simply isn't finished.”
“I was confused by the ratio of the visuals.”
- music49 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, often drawing comparisons to the eerie soundscapes of Silent Hill. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the art style and narrative, creating a captivating experience that evokes a range of emotions, from relaxation to tension. While some found the music to be merely "fine," the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and engagement.
“The music fits nicely and it sets the tone; the more 'dark' the storyline gets, the more serious the music gets.”
“Really good, love how the soundtrack and visual design work in tandem and create this atmosphere - a vibe, that keeps you entertained and interested throughout the whole game.”
“The art is beautiful and the music really sets the mood.”
“The music in the background made me kinda stressed and unsure about my own actions.”
“The music of the game isn't personally anything special for me, but given the short playtime this didn't bother me that much.”
“The music made me very tense during the later half of the run, and the art style made me all giddy lol.”
- atmosphere45 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to iconic titles like Silent Hill and featuring a charming 8-bit retro aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music and sound design to enhance the emotional depth and tension, creating a unique blend of cozy yet unsettling vibes. Despite some critiques regarding the brevity of the experience and occasional narrative shortcomings, the overall ambiance is described as captivating and thought-provoking, resonating particularly with themes of anxiety and self-care.
“The scenes are original and beautiful, with a charming 8-bit retro atmosphere.”
“Really good, love how the soundtrack and visual design work in tandem and create this atmosphere - a vibe, that keeps you entertained and interested throughout the whole game.”
“I loved the suffocating atmosphere and all the really smart ideas to represent stress in its various forms and how heavily we can burden ourselves.”
“One pro is the sound design which fits the atmosphere they are trying for but failing to realize.”
“The muted colors add to the lifeless atmosphere, reflecting the main character's exhaustion from pushing herself in her studies.”
“It's a fairly short experience at about half an hour for a single play-through, but it absolutely nails the atmosphere with intensely oppressive ambiance that keeps you on edge the whole way through.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a short but enjoyable experience, reminiscent of classic point-and-click titles, with a strong atmospheric influence akin to Silent Hill. While the art and music are praised, the mechanics and writing are seen as underdeveloped, leading to a lack of narrative engagement. Overall, it offers a compact experience that may appeal to those looking for a brief, simple game with a meaningful message.
“Such a cool game where the music and atmosphere is reminiscent of Silent Hill vibes, while the feel of the gameplay reminds me of Scriptwelder's Deep Sleep games!”
“The base game is quite short, playing through the story as well as exploring a bit later on took me around an hour of gameplay, but it was an hour full of joy!”
“While the game's writing and mechanics aren't as fleshed out, they don't overstay their welcome, so to say, with how short the game is and I think all in all it creates a nice compact point & click experience.”
“The art is really good, but the gameplay and writing kinda sucks.”
“I like its message and its story is interesting to say the least, it's just that its gameplay isn't all that.”
“Like I said, there isn't much gameplay, but I would still recommend it if you have about 30-45 minutes of free time and seem curious about this one.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to immerse players in the protagonist's struggles, particularly through timed combat that reflects her turmoil. While some players found the experience relatable and uplifting, others criticized the resolution as lacking emotional depth and stakes. Overall, the game evokes a mix of heartbreak and hope, resonating with themes of stress and personal growth.
“The timed combat sections really capture the protagonist’s emotional turmoil, adding a layer of immersion that makes you feel the pressure she’s under.”
“Despite the appearance, it's not one of those games about bad situations that just want to show how bad it is and only end up making you feel worse; it's an experience that made me feel a bit better and slightly more positive.”
“A short but emotional game about the things stress can cause in a student.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's charming character designs and relatable story, particularly resonating with the experiences of a stressed-out student. While the ending may not meet everyone's expectations, the overall character development and ambiance contribute to a positive gaming experience.
“I completely fell in love with every single thing this game has put on the table: the cute art style and character designs, beautiful music, relatable story about a stressed-out student.”
“Love the character design, worth giving a shot regardless of the kind of meh ending.”
“My experience of the game was pretty good; the ambiance is nice, the story is also very interesting (I love games with underlying meanings), and I really liked the character designs!”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever and unexpected interactions, such as amusing text variations when re-checking objects, and playful visual gags like the developers being depicted working under a closet. These elements contribute to a lighthearted and engaging experience.
“Funny enough, I got the good ending before the bad ending because I liked to check every little thing, and most stuff actually had different text during that time.”
“Re-checking the sink after having cleaned it automatically says scissors are now clean, which I found kind of interesting and funny.”
“The fact that you can see the devs working under the closet was funny.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and engaging, particularly appreciating the storytelling method that keeps the experience fresh and avoids tedium. However, some users suggest that achieving all endings may require significant time investment, likening it to needing a "second life" for extensive grinding.
“Getting all endings wasn't tedious at all.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the monetization model for its accurate advertising, indicating that the ads presented are relevant and well-targeted, enhancing the overall user experience rather than detracting from it.
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
“I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
“The game is fun, but the paywall is frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users appreciate the game's optimization, highlighting its well-designed user interface and appealing aesthetic, including a pleasing color palette and minimal visual clutter.
“I think it was optimized, and I liked the UI and overall aesthetic of the game, especially the color palette and visual noise.”
