Now You See
- September 30, 2019
- Screaming Void
- 2h median play time
A hand painted horror adventure game, played in first-person perspective. Seeking shelter from a thunderstorm, the house you've entered is not the sanctuary you'd hoped for. Uncover horrible secrets within as you use your wits and the items you find to escape this immersive blood soaked nightmare.
Reviews
- Beautifully hand-painted artwork and immersive atmosphere enhance the horror experience.
- Innovative and intriguing puzzles that are well-integrated into the storyline.
- Great sound design and voice acting contribute to the overall creepy vibe of the game.
- Some puzzles can be vague and require external guides, leading to frustration.
- The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 1-2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Pixel hunting and unclear interaction points can make navigation tedious and detract from immersion.
- graphics31 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautifully hand-painted 2D visuals, which create a striking and atmospheric experience. While the artwork is described as graphic and grimy, contributing to a creepy vibe, some players noted that the visuals are complemented by strong voice acting and an engaging atmosphere. Overall, the unique art style and aesthetic are considered standout features, enhancing the game's appeal despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics.
“Beautiful game with great atmosphere and gorgeous artwork.”
“The hand-painted 2D visuals are suitably graphic and grimy.”
“The artwork style of the game is absolutely amazing; I love the characters I've encountered so far too.”
“The game does contain a lot of body gore for those sensitive to those kinds of visuals.”
“The graphics are all hand-painted and do the job.”
“Has some pixel hunting with very little in the way of hints or guidance, but the puzzles aren't frustratingly difficult and the grindhouse aesthetic lasts for its breezy playtime.”
- story28 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its immersive atmosphere and art style, likening it to classic horror narratives like "Texas Chainsaw Massacre." However, many found the plot to be simplistic and underdeveloped, lacking depth and explanation, which left them wanting more context and lore. Overall, while the game excels in atmosphere and visuals, its narrative is often described as bare-bones and insufficient for a satisfying experience.
“The story was one that may be familiar to many horror fans, but the eerie voice acting and absolutely beautiful score really set it apart.”
“The atmosphere, visuals, music, and story were all fantastic.”
“I really enjoyed the art and the story.”
“The one thing that was actually disappointing was the story.”
“There are a few different elements of story thrown at you from the start, but nothing is ever explained or even expanded on.”
“You boast story, but instead deliver a standard horror tale that does not really explain anything that is going on beyond 'you are trapped, there is bad stuff here, you need to escape.' It's remarkably bare bones with absolutely zero lore presented beyond imagery explaining what happened, who the victims are, what is happening to the current characters available, and in general a resolution.”
- atmosphere25 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and spooky qualities, enhanced by beautiful artwork, effective sound design, and a sense of dread that permeates the experience. Players appreciate the combination of ambient sounds and music that contribute to a feeling of constant threat, making the atmosphere impactful even during predictable jump scares. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, creating a tension-filled environment that complements the puzzle-solving gameplay.
“I loved the art style; it really added to the creepy atmosphere.”
“What you get is a very atmospheric game that does a great job with setting and sound to give you a very tension-filled experience as you are navigating the house.”
“The score and ambient sound combine to give an atmosphere of dread and impending doom, leaving me feeling like I was under constant threat even though I know this kind of point-and-click adventure will (usually) give a player all the time in the world to solve its puzzles.”
“Even the jump-scares - so often the lamest and cheapest of visual frights - proved impactful because the atmosphere and soundscape are so expertly conceived that not even predictability can dilute them.”
“If atmosphere was worth money, this would be worth it, but as a customer I am purchasing a game, and this game simply does not have the content, in story or gameplay to merit the full price of admission.”
- music11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, fitting well with the visuals and overall mood. Many reviewers highlight the quality of the soundtrack and sound effects, noting that they complement the gameplay effectively, although some found it necessary to turn the music off at times. Overall, the combination of music, voice acting, and art contributes to a captivating experience.
“Music, sounds, and general atmosphere are incredible.”
“The soundtrack and ambiance fit the mood very well.”
“Really liked the puzzles, music was really well done and really enjoyed the hand-drawn art style.”
“But I had to turn the music off to solve it.”
- gameplay5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily focused on exploration and object interaction, requiring players to meticulously search their surroundings for items and clues. However, the reliance on non-subtitled audio puzzles without visual cues detracts from the experience, leading to a perception that gameplay is secondary to atmosphere. Overall, many feel the game lacks sufficient content to justify its price.
“For the price, this is more than worth the hour of gameplay.”
“Big problem - yet another game that uses the mechanic of a non-subtitled audio-based puzzle that doesn't have any sort of visual clue to represent the audio being played.”
“Gameplay comes secondary.”
“In order to progress in the game, the gameplay consists mostly of inspecting every corner of the current view to find objects to pick up or spots to interact with.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with many noting that while the art is impressive, the game design leads to repetitive and frustrating experiences, particularly with puzzles and item retrieval. Overall, the grinding feels more like a chore than an enjoyable challenge.
“Great art, tedious game design.”
“Achievement hunters: they're easy but pretty tedious.”
“A little weak, a little short, a little tedious, not all that interesting.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players report a stable experience with no significant glitches or bugs, leading to a positive recommendation for the game.
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability due to its linear storyline, and the collectibles are easily found, reducing the incentive to replay.
“Not a lot of replayability as it's just one linear storyline and the collectibles don't take a lot of effort to find.”
“The game lacks replayability due to its predictable plot and limited choices.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play through it again since the outcomes are the same.”