Ossuary
- November 27, 2013
- Future Proof Games
Fall into the place of bones. Urge on the stagnant residents who are lost to corrupt virtue. Use sins as your tools to improve their existence. Expose the cabbages pretending to be people. Learn about the razor blades hidden in your walls.
Reviews
- Ossuary offers a unique and thought-provoking experience, blending philosophy and humor in a fascinating world.
- The writing is rich and engaging, with over 1,300 lines of dialogue that provide depth to the characters and their interactions.
- The game is visually appealing with a simplistic yet detailed art style, creating an atmospheric setting that enhances the overall experience.
- The gameplay is minimal and can feel tedious, often relying on trial-and-error mechanics that may frustrate players.
- Many players found the game short and lacking in emotional closure, with endings that feel unsatisfying and repetitive.
- The initial gameplay can be dull and uninviting, making it hard for some players to stay engaged at the start.
- gameplay24 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Ossuary is primarily text-based and revolves around simple puzzle-solving mechanics, which many players find tedious and lacking depth. While the game presents an intriguing world and thought-provoking themes, it ultimately feels more like a visual novel with minimal interactive elements, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the gameplay does not live up to the game's atmospheric potential, leaving players wanting more engagement.
“Ossuary is a short but interesting little game that, while the gameplay is rather simple and text-based overall, manages to convey a fascinating world with thought-provoking concepts to keep players engaged.”
“The gameplay is text-based puzzle solving.”
“It you're still unsure if you should play this game or not, the demo does a good job introducing you to the mechanics.”
“Ossuary's description and video make it seem like a surreal/creepy horror game, but the gameplay heavily detracts from that feeling.”
“All in all, the biggest flaw in Ossuary is the tedious gameplay.”
“Buyer beware: treat this game as if it were a visual novel with very little to no gameplay.”
- story10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story in Ossuary is praised as its strongest asset, featuring a rich backstory conveyed through extensive dialogue that keeps players engaged. However, players may struggle to recall quests after taking breaks, often needing to restart their progress. Overall, the narrative offers depth and intrigue, enhancing the gaming experience.
“On the other hand, the massive amounts of dialogue give you lots of resources that you can use to piece together the game's backstory and provide enough information to keep the game interesting throughout your journey.”
“I am a sucker for a good story.”
“If you start playing for a couple of hours and then come back to it weeks later, you will have a hard time remembering what quests you were on and will most likely have to create a new save.”
“Your quest in this game is to collect sins and share that corruption with others, hopefully helping them chill out a bit.”
“Ossuary's story is its strongest asset.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are characterized by a simplistic yet detailed artwork that effectively conveys the game's intended atmosphere. While the aesthetic leans towards a horror style, it ultimately serves more to enhance the overall experience rather than evoke genuine fear. Players appreciate the strong visual expression, though some may find the gameplay mechanics detract from the immersive quality.
“The artwork perfectly suits the objective; the graphics are simplistic yet crafted with much attention to detail.”
“It isn't really 'horror.' The aesthetic gives it a 'horror' look but it isn't really.”
“The store page sells this game entirely on the ambience and aesthetic, but you'll spend less time going 'wtf that's messed up!!' and more time going 'uuuuuuugghhhhh why do I have to walk back to that guy.'”
“It isn't really 'horror.' The aesthetic gives it a 'horror' look, but it isn't really.”
“However, it's short, it's weird (not as weird as it thinks it is, but it does alright), it has strong aesthetics, and most importantly, it actually expresses something.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as creepy, surreal, and immersive, effectively blending humor with a haunting ambiance. While some players noted a disappointment with the text-heavy nature, the overall atmospheric experience remains a highlight.
“It is creepy, atmospheric, often surreal, and yet made me laugh multiple times.”
“The disappointment subsided, however, due to the amount of text that is included and the atmosphere the game provided.”
“It's all atmosphere.”
- music6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game features minimal music, relying primarily on ambient noises, which some players initially found unusual. However, as they progressed, many felt that the single soundtrack effectively complemented the game's themes of monotony and exploration, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
“No music, just ambient noises.”
“At first, I found it odd that there was only one soundtrack in the game, but as I played on, I found it more fitting, as if the music were also stuck with the monotony of the world you are exploring in Ossuary.”
“No music, just ambient noises.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its unsettling and ironic tone, blending creepy and surreal elements with moments that evoke genuine laughter. Players appreciate the engaging quests and conversations that contribute to this unique comedic atmosphere.
“Unsettling, ironic, funny, and interesting; I adored the quests, conversations, and themes here.”
“It is creepy, atmospheric, often surreal, and yet made me laugh multiple times.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be significant and nuanced, with themes that resonate deeply. However, there is a common critique regarding the lack of emotional closure in the endings, which leaves some players feeling unsatisfied.
“Looming was one of the first games I played that felt emotionally powerful, yet subtle and thematically complex.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight grinding in "Ossuary" as a significant flaw, describing the gameplay as tedious and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.
“All in all, the biggest flaw in Ossuary is the tedious gameplay.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players note that the game's replayability largely stems from the presence of 26 achievements, particularly the secret ones, which encourage exploration and repeated playthroughs to uncover all content.
“There are 26 achievements, with the majority being secret ones, so I imagine that will be where most of the replayability will come from.”