PARANOIHELL
- January 16, 2020
- lum
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Paranoihell" is a pixel horror game inspired by PSX-style survival horror games. After her shift, Erica Yu encounters a stranger who disappears, prompting a terror-filled journey home. Players must manage resources, set traps, and explore carefully to survive, all while immersed in a spine-tingling world with pulse-quickening jump scares.
Mac OS
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Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story and surreal aesthetic, making it a must-play for fans of strange and unsettling experiences.
- The sound design and unsettling imagery effectively create a tense atmosphere, enhancing the survival horror experience.
- Paranoihell offers engaging gameplay with multiple endings and a well-executed level design that encourages exploration and replayability.
- The combat can feel simplistic and clunky, leading to moments where players may feel overwhelmed.
- Walking speed is notably slow, which can make exploration feel tedious and frustrating at times.
- Some players found the game to be relatively short, leaving them wanting more content and depth.
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its cryptic nature and open-ended interpretations, encouraging players to engage deeply with the narrative and its themes. The haunting visuals and sound design enhance the overall experience, while multiple rewarding endings provide a compelling reason to revisit the game and piece together its intricate plot.
“I really like the story and aesthetic of this game.”
“The plot may be cryptic and mostly up for interpretation, but I honestly find that a great positive when it comes to going back to it and thinking about what not only the text itself says but how the interweaving game design can tell us about the story.”
“Has many rewarding endings and an excellent story to piece together!”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as intentionally simple, serving to enhance the contrast with more detailed, unsettling elements, which contributes to a haunting atmosphere. While not visually impressive, the aesthetic effectively supports the gameplay and storytelling, showcasing competent design that elevates the overall experience despite its indie roots.
“I really like the story and aesthetic of this game.”
“I liked the vibes, the haunting visuals, the sound design, and the story which leaves it to you to come up with an interpretation.”
“Despite the simple look, which is done on purpose to create a contrast between the less detailed elements and the hyper-detailed uncanny aspects, there is some surprisingly competent survival horror game design on display here that defies its indie status in how well it is done.”
“The graphics aren't that much to look at, but the gameplay and atmosphere are really solid. Despite the simple look (which is done on purpose to create a contrast between the less detailed elements and the hyper-detailed uncanny stuff), there is some surprisingly competent survival horror game design on display here that kind of defies its indie status in how well it is done.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of "Search Party," featuring a similar world and style, with a blend of jarring animations and a nostalgic early Resident Evil atmosphere. While the mechanics are considered average, they effectively create a solid gameplay loop that balances tension and engagement, encouraging players to return and complete the game.
“The gameplay is a basic but well-executed loop that allows for a good degree of depth. While the mechanics may be average, they effectively bring a sense of assuredness to the gameplay loop, balancing the despair of the playthrough with the desire to return and finish the game.”
“The game takes place in the same world and has a nearly identical gameplay style to 'Search Party'.”
“The gameplay has a clock tower/early Resident Evil feel, which adds a unique atmosphere to the experience.”
“The game takes place in the same world and has a nearly identical gameplay style to Search Party.”
“Lots of jarring animations and a clock tower/early Resident Evil feel to the gameplay.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in Paranoihell is effectively crafted, utilizing a stark contrast between simple graphics and detailed, unsettling imagery to enhance the survival horror experience. The sound design plays a crucial role in maintaining tension, with shifts in audio cues that heighten the sense of danger when encountering threats. Overall, the game successfully conveys a sense of madness and decay within its environment, showcasing impressive design for an indie title.
“Sound direction is good, keeping a tense atmosphere the whole while, shifting whenever you're spotted by a zombie or corrupt person, or worse.”
“The graphics may not be impressive, but the gameplay and atmosphere are solid. The simple look is intentional, creating a contrast between the less detailed elements and the hyper-detailed, uncanny aspects, showcasing surprisingly competent survival horror game design.”
“Paranoihell carries its atmosphere very well, with a number of scares and imagery to convey the whole city falling apart in a state of madness.”
