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
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art and a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- It effectively tackles themes of stress and anxiety, resonating with players, especially students.
- The short playtime makes it accessible, and the price is very reasonable for the quality of the game.
- The writing can feel flat and overly simplistic, lacking depth in character development and storytelling.
- Some players found the game too short, leaving them wanting more content and exploration.
- The gameplay mechanics can be repetitive, especially when trying to achieve full completion.
- story324 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally 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 overly simplistic or on-the-nose, and the brevity of the game leaves certain elements underexplored. Overall, while the story resonates with many players, there are calls for a more fleshed-out narrative to enhance the emotional impact.
“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 kinda hit harder than expected in my personal life.”
“10/10 this game is incredible, the story will make you experience a lot of emotion (sad, joy, etc.) I recommend this to everyone, it's an experience not to be missed.”
“By the end of the DLC, the repetition kicks in, and the story loses some of its earlier impact.”
“The story itself is a little too short and often felt too bland or too vague.”
“There's practically no creativity here and it feels more like playing the outline instead of the actual game, and the plot is just one huge, poorly disguised metaphor that ends with the biggest cliché imaginable.”
- graphics162 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, featuring cute, hand-drawn illustrations that blend adorable and eerie elements. Many players appreciate the aesthetic's ability to enhance the storytelling, despite the game's short duration. Overall, the visuals are described as artistically pleasing, with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and character design, making it a recommended experience for fans of distinctive art styles.
“The visuals are made up of cute, hand-drawn illustrations.”
“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, oh and it's also pretty cheap!”
“I adored the art style and I think the sound design added to the overall atmosphere.”
“The art style simply isn't finished.”
“I was confused by the ratio of the visuals.”
“I believe there possibly were some graphical and creative restrictions but the devs made do with what they got, and the outcome?”
- music98 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % 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 noted that the soundtrack effectively complements the game's emotional and narrative depth, creating a fitting backdrop for both tense and relaxing moments. While some found the music to be less impactful personally, the majority agree that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and engagement.
“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, oh and it's also pretty cheap!”
“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 music in the background made me kinda stress 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.”
- atmosphere90 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive qualities, drawing comparisons to iconic titles like Silent Hill, and is characterized by a blend of beautiful art, effective sound design, and a unique 8-bit retro style. Many players appreciate the way the atmosphere complements the themes of anxiety and personal struggle, creating a captivating experience despite the game's short playtime. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, the writing and narrative execution could be improved to better align with the overall tone.
“Overall the atmosphere is really cool, and the story feels personal and metaphorical, similar to games like 'Milk Inside a Bag of Milk'.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“Those tasks made me bored quickly enough and stop playing in the middle even though the game has a chilling atmosphere.”
- gameplay36 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as a short but enjoyable experience, reminiscent of classic point-and-click games, 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 can be completed in about an hour, making it suitable for those looking for a quick, simple game with a meaningful message.
“Such a cool game where the music and atmosphere is reeking 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 kind of sucks.”
“I like its message and the story is interesting to say the least, it's just that the 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.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively captures the protagonist's emotional struggles, particularly through its timed combat sections, which enhance immersion and convey the pressure of student life. While some players found the narrative's resolution lacking in emotional payoff, many appreciated the game's ability to evoke feelings of nostalgia and reflection on personal experiences, ultimately leaving them with a sense of hope despite its heavy themes. Overall, it is described as a short yet impactful experience that resonates with the stress and challenges faced by students.
“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 development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players have praised the character development in the game, highlighting the relatable story of a stressed-out student and the charming character designs that enhance the overall experience. The combination of a captivating narrative and appealing art style contributes to a strong emotional connection with the characters, despite some criticism regarding the ending. Overall, the character development is seen as a significant strength of the game.
“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 in itself is also very interesting (I love games with underlying meanings) and I really liked the character designs!”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever and unexpected interactions, such as the amusing text changes when re-checking cleaned items and the humorous sight of developers working under a closet. Players appreciate these lighthearted touches that add a layer of charm and wit to the experience.
“The fact that you can see the devs working under the closet was funny.”
“Re-checking the sink after having cleaned them automatically says scissors are now clean, which I found kind of interesting/funny.”
“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.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be manageable and not tedious, as the storytelling method enhances the experience. The use of items to convey narratives keeps the gameplay engaging, despite some comments suggesting that extensive grinding may require significant time investment.
“Getting all endings wasn't tedious at all.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users note that the monetization strategy features accurate advertising, suggesting that the ads presented are relevant and well-targeted to the audience.
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, users feel that the game is well-optimized, appreciating its user interface and aesthetic elements, including the color palette and visual design.
“I think it was optimized, and I liked the UI and overall aesthetic of the game, with the color palette and visual noise.”
