Massacre At The Mirage
- October 28, 2024
- TaintedPact Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreIn "Massacre at the Mirage," a relaxing movie night takes a dark turn as a masked killer wreaks havoc in a small-town cinema. Playing as both staff and patrons, you'll experience the terrifying event from multiple perspectives and work to uncover the killer's identity while ensuring the safety of those around you. Balance the demands of your role with the desperate fight for survival in this immersive horror experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game perfectly captures the 80's horror slasher film vibe, blending comedy and camp with horror elements.
- Players enjoyed the creative and gory kill scenes, along with the engaging mini-games that added to the overall fun.
- The voice acting and music were praised for enhancing the campy atmosphere, making it a highly recommended experience for fans of the genre.
- Some players found the game to be repetitive and slow-paced, particularly during certain mini-games that felt drawn out.
- There were reports of bugs and optimization issues, including crashes and resolution problems that detracted from the experience.
- Critics noted that the story lacked depth and resolution, with a linear progression that left some feeling unsatisfied by the ending.
- story36 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is a campy homage to 80s slasher films, featuring a linear narrative that some players found engaging and well-paced, while others criticized it for being repetitive and lacking resolution. Although it offers interesting lore and character perspectives, many reviewers felt that the potential for a deeper story was not fully realized, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its flaws, the game is recommended for horror enthusiasts looking for a fun, atmospheric experience.
“The story is engaging and well-paced, with a satisfying mystery to uncover.”
“Massacre at the Mirage is pure nostalgia, and the storyline fits it so well!”
“The gameplay is genuinely fun, the story is good, the pacing is good, it's a solid homage to 80's slasher flicks, the voice acting was excellent across the board, and it was a joy to play - start to finish.”
“I wish there was more to the story than just a crazed maniac killing people.”
“Finally, the story didn't really go anywhere and had zero resolution, which is a shame since it seemed like it was building up to something only to conclude with no payoff.”
“It had potential, but unfortunately the story just fell flat and was very repetitive; I couldn't bring myself to finish it.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their polish and creativity, effectively contributing to a creepy atmosphere and an engaging 80s aesthetic. While some users noted a few areas lacking in lighting and polish, the overall visuals are considered impressive for an indie title, with smooth gameplay and a cohesive art style. However, there are mentions of inconsistencies, such as the use of AI art, which detracted from the overall experience for some players.
“The antagonist is creepy, the atmosphere, setting, and graphics are all something this game does well.”
“The dialogue is great, the graphics are very polished, and the kill scenes are very creative.”
“With some excellent graphics and lighting, although a few areas were a little dark, in general, it looks great overall and ran superbly without any performance issues.”
“At times, Massacre at the Mirage feels as though it relies on the B-movie aesthetic and style to try and excuse a noticeable lack of polish.”
“Graphics-wise, the game is at the level I expect from an indie team.”
“There's a game trying to find some personality, and while the finished product has voice acting, graphics, assets, and the like, it's got a lot of empty space in between.”
- humor12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as campy and fitting, enhancing the overall experience with creative and funny kills, goofy voice acting, and entertaining mini-games. Players appreciate the blend of horror and humor, noting that the comedic elements provide welcome relief amidst the tension, making it a fun and engaging experience. Overall, the game successfully balances its gory and suspenseful moments with lightheartedness, appealing to fans of both horror and comedy.
“The kills are the star of the show; they're creative, funny, and very fitting given the game's B-movie intent.”
“I streamed this for my community on Twitch and they all had a great time laughing at the silly side of this game and freaking out over the horror aspect.”
“Super fun game with goofy and hilarious voice acting, creative and surprising jump scares, and the concession stand sim alone is reason enough to try it out.”
- music11 mentions
- 82 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its haunting quality and overall excellence, often describing it as "top tier" and "fantastic." While the voice acting received mixed feedback, the soundtrack is highlighted as a standout feature that enhances the game's atmosphere, leading some players to purchase the entire soundtrack as DLC. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive and campy slasher vibe.
“The intro, music, and voice acting are top tier.”
“In particular, the music is so haunting and phenomenal that I couldn't refrain from buying the entire soundtrack as DLC.”
“Music is awesome, the killer is amazingly disturbing, voice acting is very good in a slightly cheesy way, and the overall vibe makes you feel like you're in a campy slasher flick, which I loved.”
“The music was solid, but it didn't leave a lasting impression.”
“While the opening credits had a film-style presentation, the overall music felt underwhelming compared to the impressive visuals.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its masterful blend of tension, dark aesthetics, and a nostalgic 80s slasher vibe, effectively capturing the essence of classic horror. Reviewers highlight the immersive setting, quality graphics, and effective use of jump scares, making it particularly appealing to fans of story-driven horror. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered top-notch, reminiscent of iconic slasher films and enhancing the overall horror experience.
“Tainted proves himself once again as a true master of horror with a real knowledge of what a tense and dark atmosphere should look like.”
“Such a good 80s slasher vibe, and it does a really good job of blending atmospheric horror and quality jump scares into the usual gore-centric horror of the slasher genre.”
“To start with the good stuff, first and foremost, the atmosphere of the game is top-notch and does an incredible job of emulating the great slashers of the 80s and 90s, as well as the Terrifier franchise which has been a clear inspiration.”
“Massacre at the Mirage is, technically speaking, a walking sim focused entirely on story, atmosphere, and immersion.”
“If it was a VHS-style game, it would be totally fair to compare it to a Puppet Combo game in terms of atmosphere.”
“The antagonist is creepy; the atmosphere, setting, and graphics are all aspects that this game does well.”
- gameplay8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is praised for being fun and engaging, with a solid homage to 80's slasher films and excellent voice acting. However, some players noted minor issues with specific mechanics and suggested that improvements are needed for future projects. While the experience is enjoyable, there is a desire for more gameplay content.
“This gameplay is missing in the indie horror game market, so thank you for an amazing experience!”
“The gameplay is genuinely fun, the story is good, the pacing is good, it's a solid homage to 80's slasher flicks, the voice acting was excellent across the board, and it was a joy to play - start to finish.”
“Can't believe the coffee mechanic is used more than once, either.”
“My biggest issues were relatively minor gripes, mostly centered around one particular sequence and game mechanic right at the end.”
“But there's also a lot of improvements that need to be made on the mechanical and back end before the next project should be worked on.”
“Maybe a bit more gameplay in the game.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed; while some users report excellent graphics and smooth performance without bugs, others have encountered resolution issues and general unoptimization. Overall, the game appears to run well for many, but there are notable inconsistencies in performance.
“With some excellent graphics and lighting, although a few areas were a little dark, it looks great overall and ran superbly without any performance issues.”
“No bugs or issues, and it runs smoothly.”
“Annoying resolution bug and very unoptimized.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the high replayability of the game, particularly due to the inclusion of a simulator mode that encourages exploration and discovery of missed elements during the initial playthrough. This aspect enhances the overall experience, making players eager to revisit the game.
“The simulator mode adds a cool element that enhances the replay value.”
“For me, the replay value is high, and I look forward to catching things I may have missed on the first run.”
