Oculto
- March 8, 2019
- Eteru Studio
Get on Steam"Investigate a silent mining station in the zero-gravity thriller, Oculto. As space derelict investigator Jon Gauss, you must navigate unfamiliar hazards, hack electronic devices to uncover the crew's fate, and escape if danger becomes too great, all without access to weapons. With only your wits and courage, can you solve the mystery of the abandoned Ironclaw on asteroid Umbra-133?"
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Reviews
- The game effectively builds tension and creates a creepy atmosphere, making encounters with the monster thrilling and scary.
- The minimalistic design and sound contribute to an immersive experience, allowing players to focus on the story and atmosphere.
- The gameplay offers a unique challenge with various hazards and puzzles, making it engaging for those who enjoy horror in a space setting.
- The lack of a save system and checkpoints leads to frustrating trial-and-error gameplay, where one mistake can force players to restart entire levels.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the character's paranoia and the need to backtrack for health kits, can be irritating and disrupt the flow of the game.
- The graphics and level design lack variety, which can make the experience feel repetitive and uninspired over time.
- story14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story is a central element that keeps players engaged, with many praising its intriguing plot and atmospheric delivery. However, some reviewers found the narrative underwhelming despite its potential, feeling that gameplay mechanics and a lack of certain features detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the story has its strengths, it is often overshadowed by gameplay frustrations and mixed impressions.
“I liked the story and it was what kept me playing.”
“Loved the creepy atmosphere and this had a really good plot under the scare factor.”
“This isn't a bad thing; it, in fact, gives its main quality, the story, to take center stage.”
“Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed finding all the breadcrumbs (oh wow... I just noticed this is Pac-Man meets Dead Space), the story was underwhelming.”
“The story is decent, but the atmosphere is what carries this game.”
“My attention was more focused on the story than on anything else.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a minimalistic yet oppressive atmosphere, with mechanics that create an obstacle course of challenges, particularly when evading a powerful enemy. While the story and damage mechanics are generally well-received, frustrations arise from the lack of a save system, inventory, and map, which can detract from the overall experience. Some players find certain gameplay features irritating, leading to a mixed reception based on personal preferences.
“Simple yet effective game mechanics.”
“The mechanics of this game seem oriented around making the level an obstacle course of annoyance which you must avoid so that your character isn't debuffed, which is clearly the intent for when you're chased by the goofy black smoke monster later in the game.”
“The mechanics of this game seem oriented around making the level an obstacle course of annoyance which you must avoid so that your character isn't debuffed, which is clearly the intent for when you're chased by the [spoiler]goofy black smoke monster[/spoiler] later in the game.”
“I spend not much time with the game because of two mechanics that break the game for me.”
“Some gameplay features can be irritating, especially later, but it's a fairly minimal experience where all aspects of the game are needed to allow a chill yet oppressive atmosphere to creep up on you.”
- graphics10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally well-received, with a score of 7/10, praised for their quality within the genre, particularly the effective light and shadow effects. However, there is a lack of variety across levels, with minimal graphical options available beyond vsync and film grain. Overall, the retro art style appeals to fans of horror games.
“The graphics aren't bad, but they are the same on all levels except for one change in environment.”
“Graphics: 7/10, nice, but very little difference between levels; light-shadow effects are on point though.”
“This is a great game and I recommend it to anyone and everyone who loves either the retro art style or horror genres!”
“There are no graphics options aside from VSync and film grain.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a chilling and oppressive vibe, effectively enhanced by a haunting soundtrack that amplifies the horror elements. Players appreciate the palpable sense of foreboding and paranoia, which complements the minimalistic design and supports the underlying plot. Despite some gameplay irritations, the overall atmosphere is a standout feature that contributes significantly to the experience.
“The foreboding atmosphere is palpable, and the soundtrack does a great job of selling the horror when the death blobs are on the prowl nearby.”
“Loved the creepy atmosphere, and this had a really good plot under the scare factor.”
“Some gameplay features can be irritating, especially later, but it's a fairly minimal experience where all aspects of the game are needed to allow a chill yet oppressive atmosphere to creep up on you.”
“Dark atmosphere and paranoia.”
- music8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game effectively enhances the foreboding atmosphere and horror elements, particularly during tense moments with the "death blobs." However, while the soundtrack is praised for its contribution to the mood, it is noted to be limited in variety, receiving a mixed rating of 6/10. Overall, the sound design is described as understated, which may not appeal to everyone.
“The foreboding atmosphere is palpable, and the soundtrack does a great job of selling the horror when the death blobs are on the prowl nearby.”
“The background music also helped with this.”
“Sounds/music: 6/10, also great, just very few different ones.”
“The controls are simple, the music and sound are dialed back, and the design is kept uninspiring with the odd splash of color from red alarms.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players consistently find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, viewing it as a cheap tactic that wastes their time.
“It's tedious, it's cheap, and it's a waste of the player's time.”
“It's tedious, it's cheap, and it's a waste of the player's time.”
