Love, Sam
- June 4, 2019
- Korean Linguistics Lab
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Love, Sam" is a visual novel game that follows the story of a linguistics student named Sam, who is trying to find their place in the world while navigating their feelings for their best friend. The game features a unique blend of Korean linguistics and slice-of-life themes, allowing players to make choices that affect the outcome of Sam's story. With stunning visuals and diverse character designs, "Love, Sam" offers an immersive and heartwarming experience.
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and well-written story that keeps players engaged throughout.
- It effectively builds tension and atmosphere, providing genuine scares without relying heavily on jump scares.
- The unique storytelling approach, primarily through diary entries, adds depth and immersion to the horror experience.
- Some gameplay mechanics, particularly puzzles, can be frustrating and unclear, leading to moments of confusion.
- The game may not appeal to those who dislike extensive reading, as a significant portion of the gameplay involves reading diary entries.
- Technical issues, such as crashes and performance problems, detract from the overall experience for some players.
- story175 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging twists, and emotional resonance, often described as a compelling blend of psychological horror and themes of love and obsession. While the narrative relies heavily on reading diary entries, many players found this immersive approach rewarding, with some noting that the storytelling rivals that of larger titles. However, a few critiques mention pacing issues and a reliance on jump scares that can detract from the overall experience.
“What an amazing little horror story.”
“The story is really interesting and I love the twist.”
“The story is compelling and dramatic.”
“I found myself bored most of the time reading meaningless dialogue to fill a backstory that wasn't apparent or necessary.”
“The jump scares weren't that scary, and felt like they were just interrupting the story.”
“I feel like the game is very boring; the story is good but the game itself only gets interesting right at the end. The actual jump scares in the game are very guessable after a while.”
- atmosphere23 mentions
- 74 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective sound design and a well-crafted narrative. Reviewers note that it strikes a perfect balance between horror and storytelling, creating a genuinely eerie experience without relying on cheap jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere is described as consistently unnerving and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Spooky atmosphere, good scares (not reliant on cheap jumpscares), good use of sound design, good saving system in case you freak out or want to take a break.”
“The atmosphere is amazing.”
“The writing is pretty good and the atmosphere is consistently unnerving.”
“A good basic idea, a surprisingly well written story, some cool scenarios, and occasionally an absolutely heavy horrific atmosphere.”
“Shitty atmosphere, cheap jump scares, god awful story, all the same.”
“This game is scary without thrusting stupid jump scares down your throat due to its frightening atmosphere.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Gameplay in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the story and fun mechanics, while others found certain elements janky and frustrating, particularly with puzzles and the sitting/standing mechanic causing motion sickness. Many noted that the game is relatively short, around 2-3 hours, and while it has engaging moments, it lacks polish and can feel uninspired in its horror elements. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant area for improvement, despite the narrative being well-received.
“Reading notes is the majority of the gameplay/story, but I had fun with this by reading it in different voices for my stream audience.”
“Some mechanics in the game can be puzzling and take a while to figure out, but in the end, it's worth it!”
“It was a little over 2 hours of gameplay for me and was very fun from start to finish.”
“Unfortunately, every time I launch the game, it crashes after a minute or less of gameplay.”
“What really keeps this game from realizing its full potential is the gameplay.”
“But the gameplay elements need refining to make this a truly great horror game.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting issues like lag and graphical glitches, while others appreciate the simple yet effective visuals that complement the storytelling. Overall, the graphics are described as decent but not groundbreaking, contributing to a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere rather than stunning realism.
“With nice visuals, good storytelling, and a really eerie atmosphere, you will find yourself feeling really stressed at times!”
“The audio and visuals really immerse you in a chilling experience.”
“Quality storytelling and quality visuals.”
“I had to turn down the graphics a lot to stop the lagging.”
“There were a few instances of graphical glitches, such as objects clipping into each other, or z-fighting.”
“The graphics aren't to be taken as breathtaking and realistic, but as simple and effective.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences several stability issues, including graphical glitches like object clipping and z-fighting, alongside gameplay and puzzle bugs. Despite these problems, players still find the game enjoyable and engaging.
“There were a few instances of graphical glitches, such as objects clipping into each other or z-fighting.”
“The gameplay itself is a bit buggy but fun enough, and the spooks are definitely there.”
“The puzzles in this game are extremely buggy.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its nostalgic graphics and a compelling narrative that explores the protagonist's mental and emotional journey, particularly resonating with high school experiences. However, some players found the experience marred by distracting visual elements and initial awkwardness in dialogue. Overall, the story's depth and character development evoke a strong emotional response, despite some technical drawbacks.
“Comforting graphics that made me feel nostalgic.”
“At first, it's a bit cringey, but this is an emotional high schooler; with that in mind, the dialogue and writing are much more understandable.”
“The story is interesting to follow, especially as you follow Sam and her mental/emotional path.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game often detracts from its intended horror experience, with designs and jumpscares eliciting laughter rather than fear. While some players initially find the comedic elements amusing, the repetitive nature of certain scenarios can lead to frustration rather than genuine tension.
“Some of the designs made me laugh instead of tense up, which is never what you want in a horror game.”
“The jumpscares were funny for me at first, but eventually they did make me jolt.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates strong potential but suffers from significant performance issues that detract from the overall experience. As this is the developer's first title, there is hope for improved optimization in future releases. Additionally, players have noted that options to disable motion blur could enhance performance, particularly for those with lower-end systems.
“This game excels in what it aims at. There is definitely a significant performance issue that detracts from a great experience; however, as the developer has expressed, this is their first game. Hopefully, going forward, we will get this story and similar experiences without performance issues.”
“Motion blur in a lot of the games I have played affects the performance, so it isn't anything out of the ordinary. However, if a setting to turn off motion blur could be added, I feel that would help a lot of players with lower-end computers, both new and future ones.”
“This game excels in what it aims at, but there is definitely a significant performance issue that detracts from a great experience. However, as the developer has expressed this is their first game, hopefully going forward we will get this story and similar experiences without performance issues.”
“Motion blur in a lot of the games I have messes with the performance, so it isn't anything out of the ordinary. However, if a setting to turn off motion blur could be added, I feel that would help a lot of players with lower-end computers, both new and future ones.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding mechanic acceptable for larger objects, like doors and drawers, but it becomes tedious and cumbersome when applied to smaller items, such as paper cutouts or hearts.
“There's a fair bit of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding as you see your character grow stronger.”
“The grinding in this game is balanced; it keeps you engaged without feeling tedious.”
“I appreciate the grinding mechanics; they add depth to the gameplay and make achievements feel earned.”
“This is okay for large objects like doors or drawers, but becomes tedious and cumbersome with tiny pieces such as paper cutouts or hearts.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users generally find the game to be highly replayable, indicating that it offers enough variety and engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
