PARANOIA PLACE
- February 13, 2023
- Bloody Pixel Games
- 4h median play time
"PARANOIA PLACE" is a 2-player online co-op survival horror game where players must solve puzzles, find items, and evade a bloodthirsty killer in a nightmarish world. Every playthrough is unique, with items and keys spawning in different locations, and the killer's behavior being unpredictable. Utilize a special camera item to protect yourself and work together with a friend to escape the chaos.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and intense co-op experience, making it enjoyable to play with friends.
- The atmosphere and sound design are well-crafted, contributing to a genuinely scary experience.
- Despite being in early access, the game shows a surprising amount of polish and has great potential for future updates.
- The AI can be frustratingly unpredictable, sometimes camping or getting stuck, which can disrupt gameplay.
- The game lacks sufficient content, with only one map currently available, leading to repetitive gameplay after completion.
- Directional audio issues make it difficult to determine the monster's location, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring solid mechanics, good enemy AI, and effective use of sound to enhance the horror experience. While some players find it familiar within the horror genre, the inclusion of unique elements like the polaroid camera and cooperative mechanics adds freshness. Overall, the game offers a fun and challenging experience, though it may not provide extensive replay value.
“Me & my buddy play all these kinds of games and I must say this one got quite a few scares out of us and the gameplay was quite refreshing.”
“This is an impressive co-op game that used mechanics of stealth and puzzles really well.”
“I really enjoyed the story and the lean mechanic made it feel a lot more immersive.”
“I'm sorry, I get the appeal, but the gameplay is just like every other horror game where you run and hide from a monster while trying to find the one correct item that will help you progress.”
“Right now it sounds like he is near all the time and you can't really tell where he is by sound, and that is my biggest complaint that really hurts the gameplay experience.”
“Paranoia Place isn't reinventing the wheel when it comes to gameplay.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its intense and immersive qualities, effectively combining stunning graphics, eerie sound effects, and a spooky setting that keeps players on edge. While some players felt that the horror elements diminished during certain gameplay moments, the overall ambiance remains engaging and nerve-wracking, contributing significantly to the survival horror experience. The connection between the game's aesthetics and mechanics enhances the feeling of paranoia and tension, making it a standout feature.
“Atmosphere is incredible and everything feels so naturally connected.”
“The game has a very spooky atmosphere and will keep you on your toes the whole time.”
“The graphics are stunning and the sound effects add to the eerie atmosphere of the game.”
“This game for us lost the horror quality when the killer could be goaded or duked easily, and the atmosphere became boring when we backtracked for lost items (I dropped my keys in a room and we didn't find them for 30 minutes). With paranoia being a prominent part of the game's title and setting, we expected more ways to be mentally assaulted by the killer outside of being simply chased when spotted.”
“There's not much here on the 'horror' side of things other than the actual atmosphere and aesthetics of the game.”
“The atmosphere is terrifying from the first seconds.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are consistently praised for their high quality and stunning visuals, contributing significantly to the eerie atmosphere and overall horror experience. Players appreciate the smooth gameplay and the effective art style, which enhances the game's aesthetic appeal. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, elevating the game's immersive qualities.
“Great story and even greater graphics.”
“The graphics are stunning and the sound effects add to the eerie atmosphere of the game.”
“Paranoia Place has a great art style in the horror genre of games.”
“There's not much here on the 'horror' side of things other than the actual atmosphere and aesthetics of the game.”
“It reminds me of Devour but with some more high-res visuals.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story received mixed reviews, with some players finding it complicated and lacking a compelling hook, leading to a tedious fetch quest experience. Conversely, others praised the story for its immersive elements and engaging escape mechanics, though some noted that it was short and left little to do after the initial mission. Overall, while the narrative had its moments of intrigue, it struggled to maintain player interest throughout.
“Great story and even greater graphics.”
“I really enjoyed the story and the lean mechanic made it feel a lot more immersive.”
“The story was enthralling and the monster was very fun to hide from.”
“It was complicated and had no viable story.”
“There was no way to catch on or hook yourself to this story.”
“You can only carry one item at a time, so you have to go up and down over and over to get items for story progress.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Players highlight the game's exceptional replayability, noting that the randomization of item locations and the option for cooperative play significantly enhance the experience. Many find it so enjoyable that they believe it offers limitless replay potential.
“Also, the randomization of the locations of most items, together with the possibility to play in co-op, adds a lot of replayability.”
“This game is so fun; it's even better with replayability.”
“But it's replayable beyond imagination.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is generally enjoyable and fun to play with friends, but users report occasional bugs that can affect the experience. However, the developers are responsive, having addressed issues promptly, which is a positive aspect for an early access title priced around $3-4. Overall, while stability may be a concern, the game's low cost makes it somewhat justifiable for players willing to overlook these issues.
“I mean it's like $3-4, which is fine for a buggy early access game, but I didn't get to fully experience this, so I personally can't justify the money spent on this.”
“Fun game to play with a friend, a little buggy at times, but it's a lot of fun; I would recommend it.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its blend of terrifying scenarios and comedic moments, particularly in co-op play, where players can experience both scares and laughter together. The absurdity of certain situations, like a character's mishap with a grotesque enemy, adds to the overall enjoyment.
“However, it was terrifying and funny watching my friend trip in the black goop and get impaled by an 8'4" doctor who looked like he was born in a house fire, with syringes for fingers.”
“Good game, great amount of scares and funny moments in co-op with my girlfriend!”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally acceptable for an early stage title, though there is room for improvement.
“The optimization is solid for an early stage game, but there is definitely room for improvement.”
“I appreciate the efforts in optimization; it shows promise for future updates.”
“The game runs smoothly overall, but I believe optimization can be enhanced further.”
“Optimization is fine for an early stage game, but it could be better.”
“The game suffers from significant performance issues that hinder the overall experience.”
“I frequently encounter frame drops and long loading times, which disrupt the gameplay.”