Ontotis
- October 6, 2023
- Xenoplasis Games
Get on Steam"Ontotis is a single-player action game set in a haunting, atmospheric environment. As the caretaker Robert, grappling with his wife's death, you investigate strange occurrences in a remote property. Solve puzzles, discover clues, and unlock secrets to uncover the past and shape the story's outcome."
Reviews
- The atmosphere and sound design are immersive, creating a creepy and engaging experience.
- The game offers an interesting story with multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
- For a solo-developed title, it showcases commendable effort and improvement based on player feedback.
- The flashlight mechanic is frustrating, with batteries depleting too quickly, leading to immersion-breaking moments.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to poorly designed puzzles and lack of clear objectives, making progress difficult.
- The game suffers from optimization issues, including frame rate drops and uninteresting voice acting.
- story20 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its dark, atmospheric narrative and the depth provided by in-game clues, leading to multiple endings and a sense of engagement. However, others criticized it as cliché and lacking in originality, with minimal scares and underdeveloped characters. Overall, while the story can be intriguing for those who enjoy piecing together clues, it may not satisfy players looking for a more compelling or innovative narrative.
“If you enjoy a dark and creepy experience with a story that is a bit of a slow burn, then this is a release well worth picking up.”
“The environment, lighting, and story of the game were really great, with a twist at the end depending on the ending.”
“The story of the game was really interesting and made me seek everywhere to find clues and extra backstory.”
“There aren't any scares unless you find the same three noise 'jumpscares' to be frightening. The story isn't interesting or new, the characters are cliched (and I'm pretty sure voiced by a text-to-speech program), and the gameplay is minimal.”
“There are a lot of in-game clues that you need to watch out for so that you get the whole story, but you can complete the game without those.”
“It has a lot of story which you can find through various items scattered throughout the game, 2 different endings, and an entity that haunts you, aka Mothman.”
- atmosphere12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Ontotis is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of mystery and tension that keeps players on edge. Many reviewers highlight the game's creepy visuals, sound design, and the ability to evoke psychological unease, although some feel that the atmospheric elements could be more varied beyond the recurring thunderstorm. Overall, it is considered a strong point of the game, especially given its low price and the developer's responsiveness to feedback.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, and considering the price, it's an absolute steal in my opinion.”
“The atmosphere is dense with mystery, each clue an eerie breadcrumb leading deeper into the haunting tale of a cursed residence.”
“The atmosphere and the music of this game is absolutely on point and what really made the difference for me.”
“For a game that describes itself as 'focusing on atmosphere,' the only atmosphere is that there's a thunderstorm happening and occasionally a figure appears.”
“The atmosphere is pretty creepy, dark enough that my mind played tricks on me with objects I thought were people but really weren't, and some moments had me a bit on edge despite there being no real need.”
“The atmosphere is dense with mystery, each clue an eerie breadcrumb leading deeper into the haunting tale of a cursed residence.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players finding it heart-pounding and suspenseful, while others criticize it for outdated mechanics and tedious tasks like battery collection. Puzzle-solving elements are appreciated by some, adding a layer of challenge, but the overall execution is marred by frustrating design choices and a lack of originality in both gameplay and narrative.
“The gameplay is heart-pounding, filled with suspense at every turn.”
“The narrative is as compelling as the gameplay is chilling, making 'ontotis' an unforgettable journey that haunts the soul and enlivens the darkest curiosities.”
“The puzzle-solving mechanics are what should be for these kinds of games, and completing all the achievements is a nice challenge to add, gameplay and story-wise.”
“The only issue I had with the gameplay itself was the outside section with two creatures that chase you in an enclosed wooden area that has plenty of spots you will get hung up on, taking damage you otherwise shouldn't have.”
“Lonely is the horror fan who finds collecting batteries to be the most tedious form of gameplay.”
“There aren't any scares unless you find the same three noise 'jumpscares' to be frightening, the story isn't interesting or new, the characters are cliched (and I'm pretty sure voiced by a text-to-speech program), and the gameplay is minimal.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics in Ontotis are generally praised for their quality and ability to create an eerie atmosphere, enhancing the horror experience. While some players noted the need to adjust settings for optimal performance, the visuals contribute positively to the game's immersive storytelling and interactive elements. However, a few reviews mentioned a lack of standout artwork and a gripping narrative, which may detract from the overall visual appeal.
“The spooky vibe had me on edge and the graphics are so good.”
“Ontotis is a really good game, with nice graphics and an eerie atmosphere.”
“Graphically it looks good and there's also some voice acting.”
“I really want to be kind, I just can't; it's too short to warrant any money being spent on it. It has nothing to be fearful of, nothing to really challenge you, no gripping story, and no beautiful artwork to admire.”
“I had to lower the graphic settings way down in order to play in 4K resolution.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly tasks like collecting batteries, to be tedious and unenjoyable, detracting from the overall horror experience and making gameplay feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.
“Lonely is the horror fan who finds collecting batteries to be the most tedious form of gameplay.”
“However, when I attempted to complete the entire game, it was not really scary and more of a tedious chore to try and figure out what to do.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised, particularly for its effectiveness in enhancing the atmosphere, especially towards the end. Reviewers note that it significantly contributes to the overall experience, making it a standout feature.
“The music was really good, especially near the end.”
“The atmosphere and the music of this game are absolutely on point and what really made the difference for me.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game stems from the absurdity of its design choices, such as the lack of gamma settings and the finite light source, which leads to comically frustrating situations when players run out of batteries and must navigate in the dark.
“The designers of this game made some hilariously stupid decisions; no gamma settings and finite light sources mean that if you run out of batteries, you either load a checkpoint or, well... run around blind.”
“The humor in this game is top-notch, with witty dialogue and absurd situations that keep you laughing.”
“I love how the game doesn't take itself too seriously, with plenty of funny moments that break the tension.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting significant issues that hinder performance.
“To begin with, optimization is poor.”
“The game runs poorly on even high-end systems, which is frustrating.”
“There are frequent frame drops and stuttering, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The presence of two distinct endings enhances the game's replayability, encouraging players to experience different outcomes and explore alternative choices.
“Having two endings enhances the replayability.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes makes me want to play through the game multiple times.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the different paths and character interactions.”
“Having two endings helps with replayability.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making it feel repetitive on subsequent playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
