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 storyline that resonates with players.
- The graphics, while not perfect, show effort and creativity from a solo developer, with some visually pleasing environments.
- The game offers a unique and eerie atmosphere that can be engaging for those who enjoy horror themes.
- The controls and camera mechanics are poorly implemented, making the game frustrating and difficult to play.
- There are numerous bugs and crashes that disrupt the gameplay experience.
- The game is criticized for being too dark and having a lack of clear instructions, leading to confusion during puzzles.
- story15 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its emotional depth and atmospheric elements, while others criticize it for being simplistic, rushed, and lacking in depth. Despite its short length and some gameplay issues, many found the narrative engaging, particularly its blend of real and eerie themes. Overall, while the story has potential, it often feels underdeveloped and overshadowed by gameplay flaws.
“Overall, the game has a great story.”
“I really loved the idea behind the game and its eerie atmosphere; the plot is pretty good too.”
“It's like reading a creepy story, which you know won't take too long but is still enjoyable.”
“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, a 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.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric visuals, lighting, and certain appealing areas, while others criticize the overall quality and inconsistencies. Despite being developed by a solo developer, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, though technical issues like camera control and interaction glitches detract from the experience. Overall, while there are commendable elements, many players feel the graphics fall short of expectations.
“Graphically, for a solo developer it's really good.”
“I liked the dev's previous game and this one starts out promising enough with some interesting visuals.”
“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.”
“While other gamers might have more luck than I did, the premise of this game is spoiled by a very low quality implementation and poor graphics.”
“On one hand, the skies are very nice and certain areas of the game are visually pleasing, but the game has a lot of graphical inconsistencies splattered throughout.”
“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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as basic yet effective, involving third-person exploration and problem-solving centered around a young girl, which creates a compelling sense of dread and emotional connection to the characters. While some mechanics may not fully complement each other, the overall playability remains intact, making it a recommendable experience despite its graphical shortcomings. With a higher budget, the game could potentially elevate its unique premise into a standout hit.
“The uniqueness of the game, and the dread it makes you feel 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.”
“Gameplay consists of bumbling around in third person and solving horror problems of a young girl or something.”
“However, the flaws don't take away from the game's playability as it isn't too bad, but a lot of the mechanics do not complement one another.”
“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.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the effective combination of story, visuals, and soundtrack that creates a memorable experience. However, some users express disappointment regarding gameplay issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game's eerie and engaging atmosphere stands out, despite some criticisms.
“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.”
“I really loved the idea behind the game and its eerie atmosphere; the plot is pretty good too.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game received mixed reviews; while some players found it to be an enjoyable and atmospheric complement to the visuals, others criticized it for being excessively loud and poorly integrated with the game's ambience. Overall, the soundtrack was appreciated by some for enhancing the experience, but there were notable complaints regarding its design and volume.
“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.”
“Music was enjoyable.”
“The ambience combined with the music doesn't go too well together; I feel as if the developers should have picked one or the other.”
“Earrapingly loud music, starts in German by default; terrible design, cursor doesn't anchor to the window.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs that hinder gameplay, such as low mouse sensitivity and difficulty interacting with objects. Players report persistent glitches that disrupt camera movement and overall experience, making certain sections nearly impossible to complete.
“But the game is buggy, and the mouse sensitivity was so low that it made one part impossible for me to get through.”
“In the cells, the key you had to pick up was really buggy and hard to actually pick up. I had to mash my keyboard and hope something would eventually work, which it did... but I don't know what.”
“Constantly glitches, and you cannot move the camera.”
