Octave

About

Octave is a point 'n click horror-adventure game with elements of action. Dark woods, monsters, paranormal activity, nice puzzles - all this is present in the game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 55 reviews

atmosphere14 positive mentions

story6 negative mentions

The game features an absolutely great visual style and atmosphere, creating a creepy and immersive experience.
Some puzzles are pretty decent and provide a logical challenge, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The sound design effectively contributes to the horror atmosphere, with creepy audio that fits the theme well.

The game is very short, often completed in under an hour, leaving players wanting more content.
There is a lack of coherent story and dialogue, making the narrative feel disjointed and confusing.
Gameplay mechanics are poorly explained, leading to aimless wandering and frustration during puzzles and action sequences.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
64%
24%
The reviews overwhelmingly indicate that the game "Octave" lacks a coherent or engaging story, with many players expressing frustration over its minimal narrative elements and confusing execution. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities of the game, the absence of a clear storyline or character development leaves players feeling disconnected and unmotivated to explore further. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver a meaningful story experience.
- “The story speaks for itself.”
- “Short, but very atmospheric horror point & click which needs no language to explain its story.”
- “Explanations, dialogues, more item interaction, and more story would make this game a really good one.”
- “That little description is about all you can muster from the opening scene, as Octave doesn't really have any story whatsoever.”
- “If you're looking for any sort of story, immersion, challenge, or substance: don't play this game.”
- “The game tells you nothing whatsoever about the game itself, the story, the character, why you're doing what you're doing, the reasoning for the monsters; not even the start is explained.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
57%
22%
The gameplay of "Octave" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it mediocre and frustrating due to poorly explained mechanics and clunky controls, particularly the "double click to run" feature. While some appreciate the point-and-click mechanics and the horror elements, others criticize the overall execution, citing issues like pixel hunting and minor visual glitches that detract from the experience. Despite its potential, the gameplay often feels disjointed and fails to deliver a compelling experience.
- “I would play another game from this dev because if they could couple the visuals with excellent gameplay, we've got a serious new point n' click threat on the playing field.”
- “Although being a 2D title, it didn’t get slightly affected by it, as both design and mechanics came out perfectly to create a fantastic horror experience.”
- “Mechanically speaking, octave works just like many other point & click games, where with just the mouse, players can fully enjoy the game.”
- “So let's get straight into it, Octave's gameplay is incredibly mediocre.”
- “Alas, the gameplay is where the game tumbles and falls on its face.”
- “It's obfuscating and frustrating gameplay turned me off immediately.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
11%
16%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, enhanced by a phenomenal art style and well-suited audio tracks. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound and visuals to create a menacing environment that captivates players, despite some criticism regarding filler content and the game's brevity. Overall, the atmospheric experience is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the horror elements of the game.
- “It has an absolutely phenomenal art style and it just oozes atmosphere; each location looks great and my only wish was that there wasn't this much filler.”
- “The footsteps breaking the silence in the woods, the far-off sounds of bugs, the wind settling up the crows; it’s a complete mix of atmospheric well-placed feelings that come together to stop you from being comfortable.”
- “The atmosphere drips with menace, punctuated by intriguing music and sharp, creepy visuals.”
- “Had high hopes for it as the atmosphere seemed creepy.”
- “Even if it's stock free music, it actually did fit the theme of the game well and definitely helped with the atmosphere, so the developers picked tracks that suit their game the best, but quite a few are also not that great either, just sort of there.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their phenomenal art style and atmospheric depth, creating a menacing and immersive experience. Reviewers commend the attention to detail, from realistic textures to the eerie character designs, which enhance the horror elements without resorting to a cartoonish aesthetic. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere, despite some criticism regarding the game's length.
- “It has an absolutely phenomenal art style and it just oozes atmosphere; each location looks great, and my only wish was that there wasn't this much filler.”
- “From your own sprite to the absolutely sinister, slimy-looking fiends that chase you through its swamps, forests, and caves, Anate Studios deserves nothing less than praise for pulling off such visuals with such a skeleton crew dev team.”
- “[i]Anatolii Koval[/i] made sure everything had a very distinct feeling, but at the same time, as realistic as possible, with details such as rust, dirt, and even nail scratch marks on the walls that can be visible and appreciated, while avoiding a cartoonish art style.”
- “They are about the only bad thing about the visuals.”
- “The events go on, up to the underground, where evil awaits for those who dare, but horror isn’t just visuals, there’s a lot more to it.”
- “Graphics, sounds & the atmosphere are on the positive side.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
13%
38%
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with some tracks effectively enhancing the atmosphere and fitting the game's theme, while others feel lackluster or generic. Although there are indications that some sound effects and music may be stock, many players appreciate the overall ambiance created by the soundtrack, which contributes to the game's menacing tone. Overall, while not universally praised, the music is noted for its ability to complement the gameplay experience.
- “Even if it's stock free music, it actually did fit the theme of the game well and definitely helped with the atmosphere, so the developers picked tracks that suit their game the best, and I did like quite a few of them.”
- “The atmosphere drips with menace, punctuated by intriguing music and sharp, creepy visuals.”
- “Awesome music & very atmospheric.”
- “Now while I'm not really sure about this, I'm pretty certain a good chunk of the sound effects and maybe even some music are all stock free.”
- “I'm only pretty sure about the sound effects, because it has some effects I've definitely heard in other games too; however, the music I'm not too sure on, but even then it's nothing special.”
- “Even if it's stock free music, it actually did fit the theme of the game well and definitely helped with the atmosphere, so at least the developers picked tracks that suit their game the best. However, quite a few are also not that great either, just sort of there.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for having no replay value, with users noting that the initial playthrough was already frustrating due to missing components. Overall, it appears that players do not find any incentive to revisit the game after completing it.
- “And after all this, it is obvious that this game has zero replay value; hell, the first walkthrough was hell as well due to its missing components.”
- “No replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users find the emotional aspect of the game compelling, noting that the protagonist's design evokes a sense of depth and complexity, reminiscent of iconic characters like Agent Mulder. This connection enhances the player's engagement with the narrative and the challenges faced throughout the game.
- “The design of the protagonist made me feel like there was some tough-fought detective work and puzzling going on; he appeared to be a distant relative of Agent Mulder.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel incredibly real and relatable.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the storyline; it tugged at my heartstrings and left a lasting impact long after I finished playing.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, often relying on witty guides from the community to enhance their experience.
- “I got through it with a very funny and helpful guide by someone on Steam.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it often involves repetitive tasks in environments that quickly lose their appeal. This can lead to frustration, especially when faced with illogical puzzles that hinder progress.
- “It's just a matter of permutations, and grinding against the environments—which lose their charm when you've had to look at them too long, while feeling frustrated about not being able to solve another illogical puzzle.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's stability is marred by a weaker interface and pixel-hunting gameplay, accompanied by minor visual glitches that detract from the overall experience.
- “The interface is clunky, and the pixel-hunting gameplay is frustrating, compounded by minor visual glitches.”
- “Animations are much weaker than expected, leading to a less immersive experience.”
- “Overall stability issues detract from the enjoyment, with frequent minor visual glitches interrupting gameplay.”