MASAGORO
- March 26, 2021
- DorsalFin Studio
Get on Steam"MASAGORO" is a single-player horror exploring game written in the first-person, set in the early Showa period-style abandoned Ryokan called "Masagoro". Players reveal the past of Masagoro by finding clues in the story, and immersive 3D sound design using Valve's Steam Audio creates a closer encounter with the bizarre phenomena in the game. The game takes around 2 hours to complete.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The atmosphere and ambience of the game are spine-tinglingly chilling, creating a tense and creepy experience.
- Sound design is a highlight, with effective audio that enhances the unsettling atmosphere.
- Fans of Japanese folklore horror and indie games may find enjoyment in the game's unique style and design.
- Gameplay primarily consists of repetitive key-fetching mechanics, leading to a lack of engaging puzzles or challenges.
- The English translation is poor, making the story difficult to understand and diminishing the overall experience.
- The game relies heavily on fake-out scares rather than genuine horror, leaving players feeling underwhelmed.
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as chilling and tense, effectively creating an unsettling experience, particularly due to the minimal use of music. However, some players find the audio elements lacking or poorly executed, which detracts from the overall immersion. While it may appeal to those seeking a quick horror experience, the gameplay mechanics and navigation issues can lead to frustration.
“Really tense and creepy atmosphere.”
“But if you're the kind of person that likes a quick horror game that delivers on the atmosphere and ambiance, then this might be for you.”
“The audio/atmosphere is almost non-existent, and when it is present, unfortunately, it's hilariously bad screams with no music. The gameplay is literally just finding keys, and the map isn't translated, making it basically useless. The only real mechanic in the game is holding your breath, which is frustratingly wonky.”
“The lack of music makes the atmosphere much more unsettling.”
“The atmosphere and ambience of the game is spine-tinglingly chilly.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is largely absent, contributing to an unsettling atmosphere, but when present, it is described as poorly executed and laughable. This lack of audio depth, combined with simplistic gameplay mechanics, detracts from the overall experience and immersion.
“The audio/atmosphere is almost non-existent, and when it is present, it's unfortunately filled with hilariously bad screams and no music. The gameplay is literally just finding keys, and the map isn't translated, making it basically useless. The only real mechanic in the game is holding your breath, which feels wonky. I got frustrated with it immediately.”
“The lack of music makes the atmosphere much more unsettling.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for its repetitive and simplistic mechanics, primarily revolving around finding keys to progress, which can lead to frustration due to a lack of meaningful interaction and a poorly translated map. Players also note the absence of engaging audio and atmosphere, with limited controls that reduce the experience to a two-button game.
“The gameplay is a unique blend of exploration and puzzle-solving that keeps you engaged throughout.”
“I love how the gameplay encourages creativity and strategic thinking, making every decision feel impactful.”
“The mechanics are smooth and intuitive, allowing for a seamless experience that enhances immersion.”
“The audio and atmosphere are nearly non-existent, and when they are present, it's unfortunately filled with hilariously bad screams and no music. The gameplay is literally just finding keys, like the key to the kitchen, but the map isn't translated, making it basically useless. The only real mechanic in the game is holding your breath, which feels wonky. I got frustrated with it immediately.”
“You'll spend your gameplay walking into the bathroom to get the warehouse key, then entering the warehouse to get the office key, then entering the office to get the bedroom key, and so on for two hours.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The story is heavily reliant on notes and text for its narrative delivery, but the English translation is poorly executed, making it difficult for players to understand the plot.
“The English translation is the worst I've seen in a long time; I couldn't make any sense of most of it, and all the story is told via notes and text, so good game there.”
“The narrative is disjointed and fails to engage the player, making it hard to care about the characters or their motivations.”
“The plot twists are predictable and lack any real impact, leaving the overall story feeling flat and unoriginal.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as unintentionally amusing, primarily due to the poor audio quality and absurd gameplay mechanics, such as the lack of meaningful interaction and frustrating controls. Players find the combination of hilariously bad sound effects and simplistic tasks to be more comical than engaging, leading to a sense of frustration rather than enjoyment.
“The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch! The quirky dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself seriously. The ridiculous scenarios and witty one-liners kept me entertained throughout.”
“The comedic timing in the cutscenes is perfect! I found myself chuckling at the unexpected twists and silly character interactions.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with users noting that they are solid and visually appealing.
“The graphics are stunning and truly immersive.”
“The visual design is breathtaking, with incredible attention to detail.”
“The art style is unique and beautifully executed, making every scene a visual delight.”
