Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open
- September 4, 2024
- Cellar Vault Games
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StoreThird Eye Open is a coming of age story about a young girl with the ability to see spirits. Will this burgeoning power be a blessing or a curse? Will you be able to save your family and unravel the mystery at the heart of the adventure? Her Power You are Ting, a young girl who is able to see the spirits around her. You form a remarkable friendship with a young ghost, Xiu, who is seeking peace. T…
Reviews
- The game features a unique and beautiful art style that enhances the overall experience.
- It offers a rich narrative that explores deep emotional themes, particularly related to Malaysian culture and family dynamics.
- The gameplay includes a variety of interactive elements that break up the storytelling, making it engaging and immersive.
- The pacing can be slow at times, with sections that focus heavily on slice-of-life elements, which may detract from the horror aspects.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as controls and camera angles, can be awkward and frustrating, particularly during stealth sections.
- There are occasional bugs and typos that can disrupt the experience, although the developers are actively working to address these issues.
- story22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's story is noted for its darker themes, addressing issues like abuse and bullying, while also being deeply rooted in Malaysian culture, making it relatable for Southeast Asian players. Reviewers praise the unique art style, strong production values, and the gradual build-up of tension, which enhances the narrative experience. Although some find the storytelling a bit lengthy, the overall consensus is that the story is engaging, immersive, and well-crafted, with distinct characters and a compelling plot.
“The unique art style, the freshness of non-US narrative, and the steady building tension in the plot make this game a phenomenal narrative.”
“And because of how the beginning is structured (a slow burn to settle you in), you steadily get immersed in the story and its world; the characters felt distinct.”
“The pace of the story starts off slow but it does ramp up at the end.”
“Compared to 7pm, which took place in a single apartment complex and could be finished in about half an hour, Third Eye Open is quite a bit bigger with a longer, drawn-out story that will take at least a couple of hours to finish, and plenty of areas or set pieces along the way.”
“The story is very centered around Malaysian culture in the best of ways.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, characterized by a beautiful papercut-cardboard aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate how the visuals effectively convey tension and cultural elements, particularly from Malaysian and Singaporean backgrounds, while also complimenting the animation and production quality. Overall, the game's graphics are considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to its narrative and immersive atmosphere.
“The graphics are stunning.”
“The unique art style is what first drew me to this game, and it is just beautiful to look at and see in motion.”
“The immediate star of course is the art style - this whole papercut-cardboard aesthetic is done so well, so pretty.”
“Love seeing Malaysian culture being showcased in this unique art style.”
- music6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its blend of nostalgic PS1-era influences and modern sounds, featuring eerie droning tones typical of eastern horror that enhance the drama and tension of the story. Players appreciate the ambient music and sound design, which create a comfortable and immersive experience, often finding themselves humming along. Additionally, a bonus episode showcases an even higher quality of music production, further elevating the overall auditory experience.
“The music is great, reminiscent of a lot of the writing of PS1 era greats with modern sounds, featuring eerie droning tones often used in Eastern horror.”
“Instead, it uses those elements for drama and tension in the story, pairing well with the great soundtrack.”
“Also, the music is very fitting for the whole game; I found myself humming along while playing.”
“The music is repetitive and quickly becomes annoying.”
“I found the soundtrack to be bland and forgettable.”
“The background music doesn't match the game's tone, making it feel disjointed.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game balances light-heartedness with significant emotional themes, offering a pleasant and wholesome story that resonates with players. It is highly recommended for those seeking an engaging emotional experience.
“It is more light-hearted than the latter but still has heavy emotional themes.”
“If you want a pleasant, wholesome story to get lost in, I highly recommend it.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its familiarity, particularly resonating with Malaysian players, while balancing a spooky ambiance without overwhelming the player with constant scares.
“Incredibly familiar atmosphere as a Malaysian, which has been really nice to see.”
“Despite all the ghosts and the spooky atmosphere, this game isn't concerned with trying to scare you at every opportunity.”
“Despite all the ghosts and spooky atmosphere, this game isn't concerned with trying to scare you at every opportunity it can.”
- gameplay2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The gameplay features a mix of visual novel elements and interactive activities, including cooking and stealth sections, which add variety and engagement beyond simple exploration. Players can expect diverse gameplay mechanics that enhance the overall experience.
“At first, I thought it would be strictly a visual novel type game with walking in 3D space, but even in my short time with it, I encountered sudden gameplay sections, such as cooking a BBQ (manually assembling ingredients on a skewer and then cooking it) or even stealth sections where you need to avoid other characters seeing you sneak out. I am confident the game will have many such gameplay inclusions to add variety.”
“The gameplay feels disjointed and lacks a cohesive flow, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I was expecting a more immersive experience, but the gameplay mechanics are clunky and frustrating.”
“The sudden shifts in gameplay style are jarring and disrupt the overall narrative experience.”
