Not in Heaven
- January 31, 2019
- Ricardo Pratas
Get on Steam"Not in Heaven" is a third-person horror adventure game following Emily, an 8-year-old girl searching for her father after waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. The game features puzzle-solving and intense horror elements as Emily navigates a surreal world. Help Emily find her father, but be prepared for unexpected obstacles.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a compelling and emotional story that resonates with players, especially in its portrayal of innocence and fragility.
- The atmosphere is well-crafted, creating a creepy and dreamlike experience that many players find enjoyable.
- The graphics and design show a significant amount of effort from the developer, making it visually appealing despite its indie status.
- The controls are poorly implemented, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences with issues like unresponsive movement and awkward camera angles.
- The game is very short, leaving players wanting more content and depth in both gameplay and story.
- There are numerous technical glitches and bugs that hinder the overall playability, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game.
- story9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as short and simplistic, with some players finding it basic and rushed, lacking depth and engaging gameplay. While there are elements of atmosphere and Lovecraftian themes that some appreciated, many reviewers expressed disappointment in the overall storytelling quality, character development, and gameplay mechanics, suggesting that improvements are needed for a more fulfilling experience.
“This game is rather short, but there are things that compensate for it: the touching story (it's a simple one though), and the Lovecraftian elements near the end.”
“After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, and the soundtrack all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget.”
“The story and atmosphere look good, but... it's impossible to play.”
“Emily's story seemed basic and somewhat rushed; there wasn't really much to go on, and it was just moving from point A to point B time and time again.”
“I would recommend it only if it were longer, with a few gameplay changes, better story, and more challenging encounters instead of mindless enemies just set to follow the protagonist when she's near.”
“Poorly programmed, bad voice-over, cheap storyline, bad storytelling.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its strong visuals, engaging story, and effective soundtrack, creating a memorable experience. However, some users feel that despite the appealing atmosphere, the gameplay issues detract from the overall enjoyment.
“And very atmospheric.”
“After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, the soundtrack, all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget. Keep up the great work, and I will be looking forward to your next game.”
“The story and atmosphere look good.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive mixed feedback; while some players praise the visuals for their atmospheric quality and integration with the story, others find them lacking or poorly executed. Despite the graphical issues, many agree that the aesthetic contributes positively to the overall experience.
“The graphics are great so far; the story is a perfect balance of real meets creepy next world.”
“After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, the soundtrack, all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget.”
“I went in ready to ignore the lackluster graphics because I held onto hope that it would be an enjoyable game with an interesting story and good gameplay.”
“Maybe I'll give it another chance, but it's a poorly done game; the graphics are nice though.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players found it to be an enjoyable and atmospheric component that enhanced their experience, others criticized it for being excessively loud and poorly designed. Overall, the soundtrack is noted for its effectiveness in contributing to the game's ambiance, despite some technical issues.
“After playing the developer's previous game 'The 111th Soul', I came into 'Not in Heaven' with high expectations, and I was not disappointed. The story, the visuals, and the soundtrack all worked incredibly well in creating a great atmospheric experience I will not soon forget. Keep up the great work, and I will be looking forward to your next game.”
“The music was enjoyable.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing every moment and making the experience truly immersive.”
“Earrapingly loud music, starts in German by default, terrible design, cursor doesn't anchor to the window.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as basic yet effective, creating a compelling experience that evokes strong emotions through the care of fragile, innocent characters. While the graphics may be lackluster, the unique premise and engaging narrative contribute to its overall recommendability, suggesting potential for greater success with a larger budget.
“The uniqueness of the game, and the dread it creates while taking care of the little ones, is very compelling. You feel the innocence of the kids and their fragility; their voices are super cute, and you really feel for them. The gameplay is very basic, but it works very well. This could very well be a super hit with more budget to make it even more compelling, but as it is right now, it is very recommendable.”
“I went in ready to ignore the lackluster graphics because I held onto hope that it would be an enjoyable game with an interesting story and good gameplay.”
“The gameplay is very basic but it does work very well. This could very well be a super hit with more budget to make it even more compelling, but as it is right now, it is very recommendable.”
“The mechanics feel clunky and unrefined, making it frustrating to navigate through the game.”
“There are too many repetitive tasks that make the gameplay feel tedious and uninspired.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent glitches that hinder gameplay, including an inability to move the camera.
“Constantly glitches and you cannot move the camera.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experience random freezes that disrupt the gameplay experience.”
