Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open
- September 4, 2024
- Cellar Vault Games
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open" is a narrative-driven game where you play as Ting, a young girl with the ability to see spirits. Over five years, you'll navigate Ting's journey through challenging conversations, puzzles, and stealth sequences, forming a bond with a ghost named Xiu and helping lost souls while dealing with the impact of her power. The game explores themes of morality, identity, and the consequences of one's actions.
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a gripping and emotional story that resonates with players, particularly those familiar with Malaysian culture.
- The unique art style and sound design create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- Players appreciate the cultural representation and the incorporation of 'Broken English,' making the game relatable and authentic.
- The pacing can be slow, with some sections feeling drawn out and less engaging, which may deter some players.
- Certain gameplay mechanics, such as mini-games and quick-time events, can be unclear or frustrating, leading to potential confusion.
- The lack of voice acting and reliance on text-heavy dialogue may not appeal to all players, especially those looking for a more dynamic experience.
- story63 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth, unexpected twists, and strong character development, with many players finding it gripping and relatable, particularly in its exploration of darker themes like abuse and bullying. While some felt certain segments were unnecessary, the overall narrative is described as well-paced and immersive, enhanced by a unique art style and cultural elements. Despite a few critiques regarding pacing and gameplay mechanics, the story's emotional resonance and engaging plot make it a standout feature of the game.
“This was one of the very few games I could not put down because the story was absolutely gripping.”
“The story is wonderfully written, all characters feel believable and diverse!”
“The game does such a good job of touching on emotional subjects and telling the story.”
“The story is very centered around Malaysian culture in the best of ways.”
“The game is story-based and revolves around a young child who can see spirits. The game spans over several years of her life and is split into many chapters, some involve just walking around chatting, picking up things, others have some puzzles to solve and stealth sections. These aren't hard, but if you fail, you have to restart it again until you get it right. For people with zero to little patience, you may find these frustrating.”
“There are certain flaws like the slow story pacing and fixed camera angles on certain chapters, which I think the developers would work on in the future.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique and stunning art style, often described as a charming paper theater aesthetic that enhances the narrative experience. Reviewers appreciate the detailed visuals and cultural representation, noting how the art contributes to the game's eerie yet beautiful atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, elevating the gameplay and storytelling.
“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 unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
“The art style isn't your typical horror game aesthetic, which makes it stand out.”
“Graphics have a charming appeal of a comic book style with cut-out characters, reminiscent of playing Paper Mario.”
“While the art style is unique, it may not appeal to everyone looking for traditional horror graphics.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of walking simulator elements and interactive mechanics, including mini-games, quick-time events, and stealth sections, which contribute to a varied experience. Players can expect a blend of visual novel-style conversations and exploration, with engaging activities like cooking and evading characters, adding depth to the overall gameplay. While some mechanics may require time to master, the inclusion of diverse gameplay elements keeps the experience fresh and entertaining.
“The gameplay is varied, with mini-games, quick-time events, stealth, and exploration keeping things fresh.”
“The gameplay with visual novel style conversations alternates with walking around 3D locations.”
“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 stealth sections where you need to avoid other characters seeing you sneak out - so I am confident the game will have many such gameplay inclusions to add variety.”
“Now to start, the gameplay isn't going to be significantly more than a walking simulator and some pointing or clicking with some minor mix-ups to the formula that I won't mention for spoilers.”
“The remaining gameplay focuses on exploration and occasional mini-games that are tied to the storyline.”
“Most of them are for doing chases without getting caught, or in one go... because most of the time I needed some time to figure out the mechanic, or was surprised by a prompt to evade something.”
- music14 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience with a blend of modern sounds and nostalgic elements reminiscent of PS1-era compositions. However, some players noted that certain musical cues did not align well with specific emotional moments, slightly detracting from immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is considered excellent, with a bonus episode showcasing even better music production, contributing to a cozy and engaging gameplay atmosphere.
“The music is great, reminiscent of a lot of the writing of PS1 era greats with modern sounds, with a lot more of the eerie droning tones that eastern horror often uses.”
“The stunning paper-like art that blends 2D and 3D and the fitting music enrich Third Eye Open's overall vibe and experience, and the game surprised me.”
“And together with great ambient music and sound design, it just feels so comfy and pleasant to play.”
“However, some parts of the music didn’t match the situation well, like during sad or surprising moments, which slightly broke the immersion.”
“Sound and music are limited but do the job.”
- emotional9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its emotional depth, balancing light-hearted moments with heavy themes of loss and acceptance. Players find the narrative impactful, often struggling to maintain composure during poignant scenes, and appreciate the unexpected plot twist that enhances the emotional resonance. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt and engaging story.
“It's an emotional story; I'm a tough nut to crack, but man was it difficult to hold it together whilst reading out the lines!”
“I didn’t expect the plot twist at the end—it was unexpected but really tied the story together emotionally.”
“The game does such a good job of touching on emotional subjects and telling the story.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a unique art style that blends charm with spookiness, enhanced by effective audio design despite the absence of voice acting. Players appreciate the familiar Southeast Asian setting, which contributes to an immersive experience that feels storybook-like rather than overly frightening. Overall, a more condensed approach could further enhance this atmospheric quality.
“The unique art style gives the game a charming yet spooky atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
“Although there’s no voice acting, the audio design still manages to create a spooky atmosphere.”
“BGM music was atmospheric and immersive.”
“If the game was more condensed, the overall atmosphere would have improved as well!”
“Despite all the ghosts and spooky atmosphere, this game isn't concerned with trying to scare you at every opportunity.”
“It does help invoke the atmosphere of a storybook.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users indicate that there is no grinding required for achievements in the game, suggesting a more streamlined experience that avoids repetitive tasks.
“Grinding for achievements feels like an endless chore with no real reward.”
“The grind is tedious and takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly repetitive and frustrating.”
