Nightmare Frames
- November 14, 2021
- Postmodern Adventures
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Nightmare Frames" is a point-and-click adventure game set in 1985 Hollywood, where struggling screenwriter Alan Goldberg seeks to find the rumored scariest film of all time by eccentric millionaire Helen Westmore. The game offers over 80 locations, 50 characters, and an original synthwave soundtrack. As Alan, you'll venture through B-film studios, visual effects workshops, religious cults, and a haunted town witnessing the horror escalate from eerie to gruesome.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a compelling and well-written story that pays homage to 80s horror cinema, with engaging characters and a captivating narrative.
- The pixel art and visuals are impressive, creating a nostalgic atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, complemented by an enjoyable synthwave soundtrack.
- Puzzles are logical and straightforward, allowing players to focus on the story without getting stuck, making for a smooth gameplay experience.
- The game lacks voice acting, which could have added depth to the characters and overall immersion, making the dialogue feel a bit flat at times.
- Some players may find the game too linear and easy, with few challenging puzzles that could lead to a less engaging experience for those seeking more complexity.
- There are occasional issues with pixel hunting and minor bugs, such as typos in the text, which can detract from the overall polish of the game.
- story143 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Nightmare Frames" is a compelling homage to 80s horror cinema, following a struggling screenwriter's quest to uncover a lost film that leads him into a dark and twisted world. While the narrative is rich with engaging characters and clever references, some players noted that the plot's conclusion felt abrupt and relied on clichés. Overall, the game is praised for its well-written dialogue, immersive atmosphere, and a story that captivates fans of the genre, despite its straightforward puzzle design.
“This is an intriguing, creative horror story with a well-defined protagonist and genuinely creepy atmosphere, and I look forward to trying out the studio's follow-up.”
“The story was fantastic, puzzles were just the right level of challenging and the best praise I can give it: horror movies have become garbage, with cheap shock value and a last minute 'bad guy wins' ending... this game, without any spoilers, has the single best ending of any horror property I've experienced in the last 3 years.”
“The story itself is a very well-developed homage to those 80's slashers and the 80's culture in general, but the references are well done and placed, so you always feel that there is a story and not only nostalgia.”
“It's just unfortunate that the writer didn't seem to have a particularly strong concept for the very end of the game, with the plot coming to rest instead on a messy pile of clichés.”
“The bad points: the beginning of the story feels weaker, you're given the whole story of your character at once and it's a bit confusing knowing who is who and what exactly is your relationship with everyone.”
“The story is ok; it serves its purpose but the characters, though likable, have very little actual depth, though they have their moments, which is why I would still recommend it if the game is on sale.”
- music53 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its engaging synthwave soundtrack, which effectively captures the 1980s atmosphere and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions and set the mood, with some highlighting the inclusion of original tracks and licensed music that fit seamlessly into the game's narrative. However, a few users mentioned minor issues, such as the lack of separate volume controls for music and sound effects, which detracted slightly from the overall enjoyment.
“The soundtrack is great; it features an original synthwave soundtrack with well-done tracks that are enjoyable to listen to and fit well with the emotions conveyed during the scenes they play.”
“The sound design and synthwave soundtrack are also a perfect fit for this story, and the latter is still stuck in my head a couple of days after finishing the game.”
“A fantastic point-and-click adventure with great visuals and music, a gripping plot, well-designed puzzles, and above all, exceptionally strong writing and characters.”
“Honestly, my only (minor) complaint is that there is no option for setting music/sfx volume separately.”
“It also features less synth-y 80s music than I would have hoped for.”
“The unskippable company logo and the main menu ignore it, so you'll face loud noises and music every time the game starts, and not even loading a save resets it properly; you have to go to the menu and adjust it again.”
- graphics28 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their retro pixel art style, effectively capturing the nostalgic 80s aesthetic and atmosphere. While some players noted minor issues with animation stiffness and hotspot visibility, the overall visual presentation, combined with a compelling soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that resonates well with fans of horror and classic adventure games. The artwork is described as beautiful and atmospheric, contributing significantly to the game's engaging narrative and gameplay.
“Beautiful graphics if you are into pixel art and painted portraits.”
“The game's artists did a fantastic job getting the pixel graphics to be nostalgic, atmospheric, and legitimately creepy.”
“Nightmare Frames continues this trend with a title sporting sharper graphics, interesting puzzles, and a surprisingly compelling story that invokes some of the best elements of the 1980's horror fandom.”
“Never mind the palette and post-processing of a modern AGS adventure, the audio-visuals positively reek of cigarettes, grease, special-effects corn syrup, and typewriter ink.”
“The dialogue does get really wordy and the art style makes it hard to view certain small items.”
“Much has been said about the graphics and the setting, which I think work very well and amount to a real leap forward from previous games.”
- atmosphere19 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and creepy qualities, enhanced by excellent sound design, nostalgic pixel art, and compelling storytelling. Reviewers highlight the effective use of environmental details, such as rain and crumbling buildings, to create a haunting ambiance reminiscent of 80s horror. Overall, the combination of artistic elements and engaging writing contributes to a captivating and authentic atmosphere that draws players in.
“This is an intriguing, creative horror story with a well-defined protagonist and genuinely creepy atmosphere, and I look forward to trying out the studio's follow-up.”
“The atmosphere is top-notch; I wish more games could do horror so well, especially in a genre where you can't actually die.”
“Here the atmosphere truly shines: the never-ending rain, the unhelpful inhabitants of the town, the crumbling buildings, unresolved cases, old tragedies that no one let go...”
“Hundreds (maybe thousands) of carefully selected references build an absolutely bewitching atmosphere.”
- gameplay13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, featuring fair and logical puzzles, primarily simple fetch quests, and a strong emphasis on story and dialogue. While some design choices may feel cumbersome, the engaging narrative and immersive world compensate for these issues, making the overall experience enjoyable. Players appreciate the straightforward mechanics and the game's low-resolution aesthetic, which aligns well with the genre's conventions.
“Very traditional point-and-click gameplay; puzzles are generally fair and logical.”
“The story was gripping, and the gameplay was really fun.”
“Gameplay was standard adventure point-and-click, heavy on the story and dialogue.”
“Gameplay-wise, the puzzles were mostly relatively simple 'find the thing for the thing' fetch quests, but I did not mind that.”
“The gameplay is very typical of AGS games.”
“The game mechanics here are quite traditional for the point-and-click genre, although in some places it is worth noting the heavy emphasis on the dialogue part.”
- humor7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in "Nightmare Frames" is described as a well-balanced blend of charm and creepiness, effectively interspersed with lighter moments amidst darker themes. The game avoids breaking the fourth wall and relies on clever interactions, particularly through an omniscient narrator, to deliver genuinely funny moments without resorting to cliché or uninspired humor typical of many indie titles. Overall, it successfully combines humor with horror, creating a captivating experience.
“The balance of the horror was perfect: some parts were surprisingly dark and disturbing, but they were surrounded by lighter moments and fitting humor.”
“A really tightly made horror point and click that manages to be funny, captivating, and spooky in an amazing balancing act that I haven’t seen from the genre in a long time.”
“Alan is the main character, but there is some kind of omniscient narrator who will tell us the stories of the characters we will meet in our way, and who Alan will interact with sometimes, providing very funny moments.”
“In postmodern adventures, they know the theory behind the best games of the genre and put it into practice, avoiding the commonplaces of other indie developers, such as inbred references, unfunny jokes, and uninventive puzzles.”
- character development4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its natural progression and strong writing, with each character, including minor ones, receiving meaningful backstories and growth. Reviewers highlight the memorable and complex nature of the characters, noting that even flawed individuals contribute significantly to the overall narrative depth.
“The character development progresses naturally and isn't forced or nonsensical.”
“Every character has character development and an interesting backstory, including what would be considered 'extras' if this were a movie and not a game.”
“The character development progresses naturally and wasn't forced or nonsensical.”
“Besides, a memorable disillusioned twerp who gets a share of character development is worth an army of agreeable duds and tactful scumbags.”
“Nightmare Frames has some strong writing and character development.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game's approach effectively elicits strong emotional reactions, enhancing the overall experience.
“This approach evokes a lively emotional response.”
“The game masterfully captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel impactful.”
“I was deeply moved by the character's journey, which resonated with my own experiences.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 200 % negative mentions
Users report issues with stability related to audio settings, noting the absence of voiceovers and a problematic volume slider that fails to adequately balance sound effects, music, and ambiance. The volume setting is described as buggy, impacting the overall audio experience.
“The volume setting is buggy, making it difficult to balance sound effects, music, and ambiance.”
“There are no voiceovers, which is disappointing, and the single volume slider doesn't suffice for managing different audio elements.”
