Midnight Scenes: From the Woods
- February 9, 2023
- Octavi Navarro
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Midnight Scenes: From the Woods" is a narrative-driven adventure game where you play as a detective investigating a series of mysterious events in a small town. Uncover secrets, interrogate suspects, and explore atmospheric environments in this immersive and suspenseful experience. With multiple endings based on your choices, every decision counts in this captivating tale of intrigue and mystery.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The story is engaging and emotionally resonant, with well-developed characters that players can connect with.
- Despite being less focused on gameplay, the narrative-driven approach offers a unique and immersive experience that fans of interactive fiction will appreciate.
- As a sequel, it relies heavily on the previous game, which may disappoint players looking for a standalone experience.
- The gameplay is minimal, consisting mostly of clicking through dialogue with very few puzzles, leading to a lack of interactivity.
- Some sound effects feel out of place and detract from the immersion, breaking the overall atmosphere of the game.
- story80 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story in "From the Woods" is a sequel that continues the narrative from "The Nanny," offering a more character-driven experience with a focus on storytelling over gameplay. While some players appreciated the depth and emotional engagement of the characters, others found the plot predictable and less original compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative, beautiful art, and effective sound design, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-centered games, despite some critiques regarding its pacing and horror elements.
“The story this time is a sequel, but at the same time is self-contained.”
“The story had me feeling deep emotions and was captivating and enthralling just as all of their work has been.”
“This developer has proven time and time again they have storytelling prowess and this one just cements that so freaking hardcore.”
“The storyline is as trite and threadbare as they come.”
“After 90 minutes of boring story and no horror, I gave up!”
“I wouldn't call it a game, more of a story.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay in these titles is generally described as minimal, often leaning more towards visual novel elements with limited interactivity, primarily consisting of clicking through dialogue. While some players appreciate the narrative focus, many express disappointment over the lack of engaging gameplay mechanics, suggesting that the experience would be better suited as a visual novel or film rather than a traditional game. A few reviews note that certain gameplay elements, like character-specific mechanics, could have been utilized more effectively to enhance interactivity.
“Each game also features fun and engaging gameplay with a good level of interactivity that is satisfying without distracting from the highlight of each game – its narrative.”
“Delivers exactly what it wants to, no fat, no wasted time or mechanics.”
“The other one is regarding a small cool gameplay element that concerns Elijah’s asthma, which I would have liked to do more than once during the game because it would have really made sense to use it more than once since it is quite an elaborate gameplay element.”
“The gameplay, unfortunately, is nonexistent, but it's not like the previous titles were at all challenging, so I'm not too bothered by it.”
“Little to no actual gameplay; you have to click your way through dialogue.”
“Overall good short story that would be better as a 'visual novel' or 'movie,' but there was very little to no actual gameplay to speak of, which was disappointing.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their excellent pixel art and stylized retro visuals, which enhance the eerie atmosphere and storytelling. While some players miss the simpler black and white aesthetic of earlier titles, the overall consensus is that the visuals are beautiful, with impressive animations and engaging character designs that complement the game's horror themes.
“They offer stylized retro visuals and sound design that perfectly matches the well-written and thoroughly eerie stories and their settings.”
“Fantastic pixel graphics and animation.”
“The art style is so pretty and the characters are all written so well!”
“The pixel art has improved greatly, though I do yearn for the simpler black and white aesthetic of the first two games; that's just a preference.”
“I love the pixelated graphics and the campy 90's teen horror film vibe it brings.”
“The art style is so pretty, but the overall graphics feel outdated and lack detail.”
- music9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 22 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and fitting atmosphere, with a standout 80s vibe that enhances the overall experience. While the background music is well-received, some users noted that certain sound effects detract from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is described as top-notch, complementing the game's art and story effectively.
“Spooky, cool art, and a great soundtrack.”
“The atmosphere and story is great - made possible by not only Octavi's lovely pixel art, but also by his almost pitch-perfect John Carpenter-esque soundtrack.”
“The 8-bit style and the analogue/dx7 soundtrack totally fit in.”
“Can't forget to mention the music, crafted to fit the story.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storytelling and ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players finding it both touching and heartwarming. While some noted a lack of intense horror compared to previous episodes, the overall narrative resonated deeply with many, despite a few expressing dissatisfaction with pacing.
“It was very close to my heart and it made me pretty emotional.”
“Longer than previous episodes and maybe not as intensely terrifying, but very touching.”
“Fantastic little game with a heartfelt story.”
“After 90 minutes of a boring story and no horror, I gave up!”
“The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
“I expected to feel something, but the game left me completely indifferent.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its unique pixelated graphics and a haunting soundtrack reminiscent of John Carpenter, creating a spooky and mysterious environment that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of unsettling elements and a compelling story, which effectively builds tension and intrigue throughout the gameplay.
“The atmosphere and the pixelated graphics have their own feeling, and it's still good.”
“The atmosphere and story are great - made possible by not only Octavi's lovely pixel art, but also by his almost pitch-perfect John Carpenter-esque soundtrack.”
“The atmosphere and the pixelated graphics have their own unique feeling, and it's still good.”
“Spooky as hell, I wasn't entirely sure what the character's deal was, or really what was going on at all until near the end - which just added to the mystery and general unease of the game's atmosphere.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as effectively creepy and amusing, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with other elements, such as the soundtrack and visual details, contributing to an enjoyable and memorable time.
“It's also very creepy and funny in all the right places.”
“Overall, I had an amazing time with this game and enjoyed everything from the soundtrack to the writing, as well as the many small scary, funny, and lovely visual details.”
