Nightmare Zapping
- July 17, 2023
- Maldo19
Get on SteamIn "Nightmare Zapping" , you tune into a mysterious TV showing stories of a cursed town, with two stories included in the game - one about mysterious disappearances in Canela Town and another of a summer festival in Laurel Town. The game features rotoscope animations and various mini-games, challenging you to watch, piece together, and uncover the horrors that threaten these towns.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Nightmare Zapping features a unique and creative concept that combines horror storytelling with interactive mini-games, making for an engaging experience.
- The game successfully creates a spooky atmosphere with its hand-drawn art style and effective use of sound, enhancing the overall horror experience.
- Players appreciate the well-written stories and the clever puzzles that encourage exploration and replayability, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of the genre.
- Some players felt that the horror elements were lacking, with a reliance on a single monster and repetitive scenarios that diminished the overall tension.
- The dialogue and character development were criticized for being immature and poorly written, which detracted from the storytelling experience.
- The game may leave some players feeling lost due to its non-linear narrative and the difficulty in determining character dialogue, which can hinder immersion.
- story18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its spooky atmosphere and innovative non-linear storytelling, where players piece together narratives through channel surfing. While some found the build-up lacking in depth regarding the antagonist's motives, the overall experience is described as chilling and engaging, with mini-games and choices that enhance the narrative. The unique format and integration of horror elements create a compelling and immersive storytelling experience that resonates well with fans of the genre.
“I absolutely loved this game for its spooky atmosphere, storytelling, and the sheer terror of an entity like the monster!”
“The non-linear storytelling combined with the helplessness of watching these events unfold is a fun little trip into these doomed cities and the forgotten horrors they held.”
“It tells a chilling and fascinating story of horror that leaves you on the edge of your seat.”
“With the lackluster buildup of repetitive deaths, I was hoping some meaningful backstory or motive would be shared for the main antagonist of the game.”
“Weird and messed up story goes on the whole time.”
“Most of the channels simply play out pixel-style images and dialogue for that story, while others will exist to just creep you out (which it does very effectively).”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a polarizing aspect among reviewers; some praise its spooky and immersive qualities, enhanced by effective storytelling and art style, while others criticize it for relying too heavily on a single monster and lacking the depth of previous titles. Despite mixed opinions, many agree that the hand-drawn visuals and minimal sound design contribute significantly to the overall eerie experience.
“I absolutely loved this game for its spooky atmosphere, storytelling, and the sheer terror of an entity like the monster!”
“I love how creepy it is; the atmosphere that is set up for the game is top-notch, and the lore around the monster that slowly comes to light is really good.”
“The impressive rotoscope animations and minimal sound also pile on the atmosphere, which is what makes this game so good.”
“Primarily, there was no horror atmosphere.”
“There were moments that were clearly meant to be tense, or scary, or saddening, but the developer relies on a single monster with a generic premise for the maybe 30 or 40 deaths you'll witness in the game, hoping that shock value alone is enough to provide the atmosphere conveyed in the trailer.”
“However, this game lacks any of the spooky yet charming retro atmosphere the last game achieved with its distinctive art style and controls.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of narrative-driven elements and puzzle mechanics, primarily revolving around reading dialogue and uncovering secrets within a horror visual novel framework. Players engage with a compelling story that combines horrifying scenes with minigames, all while maintaining a balance of tension and levity, enhanced by strong art direction. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its innovative integration of mechanics that support the narrative.
“It was so worth it! I love this game and how the mechanic of the channel gets used for some puzzles.”
“It's an excellent premise, and the gameplay loop of watching the horrifying scenes unfold, followed by trying to uncover the secrets behind what is happening, is excellent.”
“I genuinely think this was a genius narrative device to build around what is essentially a short horror visual novel with minigames included. It has weaved all of those mechanics quite deftly around what the story has developed into, carrying on the horror of the looming doom of an unknowable threat with some consistent levity and great art direction that fits the tone wildly well.”
“Reading dialog comprises the majority of gameplay.”
“Gameplay here: https://youtu.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a simple yet effective hand-drawn art style that complements its horror theme, allowing for disturbing content to be presented without excessive graphic detail. While some players feel it lacks the retro charm of its predecessor, others appreciate the upgrade and how the visuals enhance the overall atmosphere.
“Very simple, specific style of graphics that somehow fits the theme very well.”
“The hand-drawn art style allows for the incredibly messed up content to be portrayed without it being too graphic, which really adds to the atmosphere.”
“However, this game lacks any of the spooky yet charming retro atmosphere that the last game achieved with its distinctive art style and controls.”
“With simple graphics, the game gives us an update and overall upgrade from part one (released back in February).”
“The graphics are very simple and specific, which somehow fits the theme very well.”
- music1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The soundtrack has received positive feedback, with users noting that it effectively complements the game and enhances the overall experience.
